PROJECT OBJECTIVE:

A Titanium tapered bar of 30 in length has a variable cross-

sectional area that decreases linearly from 25 ¿ to 15¿ . It is
2 2

fixed at one end and subjected to an axial concentrated force F

= 250 kip at the free end, as shown in the following figure. It’s
also subjected to a linearly axial distributed load of variable
x
intensity q(x) =0.15 (1 − L ) kip/in. The problem is considered as
one dimensional, and the aim of this project is to find, using
Finite Element Method, the displacement u(x) at any position
on the x-axis.

The differential equation governing this elastic bars problem is

given by:
−d du
dx (
EA ( x )
dx )
−q ( x )=0 ; 0< x < L
 6
Where E is the Titanium’s Young Modulus of 16. 10 psi, A(x) is the
variable cross-sectional area, and q(x) is the intensity of the
axial distributed load.

Part A:
a) Give the expression of the differential equation governing
this problem as a function of x.
b) Give the approximate functions for a quadratic element.
c) Give the elementary stiffness matrix for a quadratic element.
d) Give the elementary load vector for a quadratic element.

Part B:
We’ll calculate the displacement using a Finite Element Model
of one quadratic element.
a) Give the elementary stiffness matrix of the element
representing the whole bar.
b) Give the elementary load vector of the element representing
the whole bar.
c) Give the global matrix form of the Finite Element Model.
d) Give the boundary conditions on the nodal variables (primary
as well as secondary variables).
e) Give the condensed equations of the Finite Element Model.
 L
f) Calculate the displacements at x=L and ¿ 2 .
g) Using the approximation functions, calculate the
L 3L
displacements at x= 4 and ¿ 4 .

Part C:
We’ll calculate the displacement using a Finite Element Model
of two quadratic elements.
a) Give the elementary stiffness matrix of each element.
b) Give the elementary load vector of each element.
c) Give the global Matrix Form of the Finite Element Model.
d) Give the boundary conditions on the nodal variables (primary
as well as secondary variables).
e) Give the condensed equations of the Finite Element Model.
L L 3L
f) Calculate the displacement at x= 4 ; x= 2 ; x= 4 and x=L.
Solution:

Part A:

a) Give the expression of the differential equation governing

this problem as a function of x:

−d du
dx
a( )
dx
+cu ( x )−f ( x ) −q ( x )=0 For 0< x < L

Where: a=EA ( x ) & c=f =0

b) Give the approximate functions for a quadratic element:

[ K e ] + {U e }= {F e }+ {Qe }
Where:
o e : Number of element we are studying.
o K : Elementary coefficient Matrix.
e

o U : Primary Variable Vector.

e

o F : Source Vector.
e

o Q : Secondary Variable Vector.

e
 c) Give the elementary stiffness matrix for a quadratic
element:
xb
d ψ dψ
( )
e e
e
K =∫ ae
ij
i j
+ c e ψ ei ψ ej dx
xa d x dx
he
d ψ dψ
∫( )
e e
e
K =
ij ae i j
+ c e ψ ei ψ ej d x́
0 d x́ d x́

Where:
o a =EA ( x )
e

o ψ ψ : are the Lagrange quadratic interpolation

e
i
e
j

functions.
o c =0 (No axial Distributed Loads).
e

o x ∧x : are the given positions.

a b

o h : Length of the element.

e

d) Give the elementary load vector for a quadratic element:

K 11 K 12 K 13 U e1 Qe1

]) { } { } { }
c

([ K 21 K 22 K 23
K 31 K 32 K 33
U e2 =
U e3
F e . he
6
c + Qe2
c Qe3

Where:
o a =EA e

o h : Length of the bar.

e

o c =F =0 (No axial Distributed Loads).

e e

o c : is a constant number form−∞ till+∞ .

Part B:
 a) Give the elementary stiffness matrix of the element
representing the whole bar:
Let:
3 x́ x́ 2
 ψ ei =1−
he
+2 ( )
he
=ψ ej

he 2 2
−3 4 x́ −3 4 x́ 3 x́ x́ 3 x́ x́ 7 ae 2
e
K =∫ ae
11
0 {( + 2
h e he he he )(
+ 2 + c e 1− +2
he ) [
he ( ) ][ 1−
he
+2
( ) ]}
he
d x́= + c h
3 h e 15 e e

Let:
2
3 x́ x́
 ψ ei =1− ( ) he
+2
he
x́ x́
 ψ =4 ( 1− )
e
j
h h e e

he 2
−3 4 x́ 4 8 x́ 3 x́ x́ x́ x́ −8 ae 2
e
K =∫
12
0 {(
ae +
he h2e )( he h e) [
− 2 +c e 1− +2
he he ( ) ] [ ( ) ]}4
he
1−
he
d x́=
e
+ c e he =K 21
3 he 30

Let:
x́ x́
 ψ ei =4
he ( )
1− =ψ ej
he

he
4 8 x́ 4 8 x́ x́ x́ ae
e
K =∫ ae
22
0 {( −
he h 2e )( h e he ) [
− 2 + ce 4
he(1−
he )][ 4 hx́ ( 1− hx́ )]}d x́=¿ 73 h + 152 c h ¿
e e e
e e
 b) Give the elementary load vector of the element
representing the whole bar:

U en (x) Qen
E . A ( x ) 7 −8 1 c e . Le 4
]) { } {}{ }
2 −1 1

( [
3 ×he
−8 16 −8 +
1 −8 7 ] [
30
2 16 2
−1 2 4
U en+1 ( x ) =
U en+2 ( x )
F e . Le
6
4 + Qen+1
1 Qen+2

Where:
o A ( x )= ( x +2x ) Is the variable cross-sectional area.
e e+ 1

o c =F =0 (No axial Distributed Loads).

e e

o n: Number of node selected.

o e : Number of element selected.

c) Give the global matrix form of the Finite Element Model:

e
K 11 K 12 K 13 U n (x) Fe Qen

[ ]{ } { } { }
K 21 K 22 K 23 U ne +1 (x) = Fne + F n+1
K 31 K 32 K 33 U en +2 (x) F ne
e
+ Qen +1+ Qen
Qen +2

Where:
E . A ( x)
o K= h n
e

o n=(11,12,13,21,22,23,31,32,33)
d) Give the boundary conditions on the nodal variables
(primary as well as secondary variables):

U 1 (x )=0 (Fixed end)

Q 13=F +q (x)

e) Give the condensed equations of the Finite Element

Model:

( K 11 ).U n ( x )+ ( K 12) U n +1 ( x ) + ( K 13 ) U n+2 ( x )=Q1n

( K 21 ).U n ( x )+ ( K 22) U n+1 ( x ) + ( K 23 ) U n+2 ( x )=Q1n +Q1n+ 1

( K 31 ).U n ( x )+ ( K 32) U n +1 ( x ) + ( K 33 ) U n+2 ( x )=Q1n+2

L
f) Calculate the displacements at x=Land x= :
2
 Figure (1): shows a free body diagram of one quadratic element.

U 1n (x) F1 Q1n
E . A ( x ) 7 −8 1
3× he [ 1 −8 7 U 1n +2( x ) ]{
−8 16 −8 U 1n +1( x ) = F n1 + F n+1
F1n
1
} { }{ }
+ Q1n+ 1+Q 1n
Q1n+ 2

25 ×7 25 × (−8 ) 1 ×25 0 0 4500

( 16 х 106 )
3 × ( 30 ) [
20 × (−8 ) 20 ×16 20 × (−8 ) U 2 ( x ) = 0 + 2250
15 ×1 15 × (−8 ) 15 ×7 U 3 ( x ) 0 250000 ]{ } { } { }
( 16 х 106 ) ( 16 х 10 6 )
( 3× ( 30 ) )
× ( 20 ×16 ) .U 2 ( x ) + ( 3 × ( 30 ) )
× ( 20× (−8 ) ) .U 3 ( x )=2250

( 16 х 106 ) ( 16 х 106 )
( 3× ( 30 ) )
× ( 15 × (−8 ) ) . U 2 ( x ) + ( 3 × ( 30 ) )
× ( 15× 7 ) . U 3 ( x )=250000

L
So by solving these two equations we getU 2 ( x ) at x= 2 & U 3 ( x ) at x=L:
 L
(
U 2 x=
2)=0.0157

U 3 ( x=L )=0.0313

Where:
 E=16 х 106
 A=25
A+ A 2 25+15
 A1=
2
=
2
=20

 A2=15
L
 L1= =15
2
 L2=L=30
 F 11=F12=0 (Since there is no axial distributed loads).
 ( 30x )× L=4500 Forx=0.
Q 11=q( x)=0.15 1−

x L
 Q =q(x)=0.15 ( 1− 30 )× L=2250 For x= 2 .
1
2

x
 Q =F +q (x)=0.15 (1− 30 ) × L+250=250000 For x=L .
2
2

g) Using the approximation functions, calculate the

L 3L
displacements at x= 4 and x= 4 :
 Figure (2): shows a free body diagram of one quadratic element.

Given from before:

at x=0 u1=0

at x=L/2 u2=0.0157

at x=L u3=0.0313

Using the following function:

u ( x )=c 1 +c 2 ( x ) +c 3 ( x )2

 At x=0:u ( 0 )=c + c ( 0 ) +c ( 0 ) , thusc =0.

1 2 3
2
1

 At x=L/2:u ( L/2 )=c +c ( L/2 ) +c ( L/2 )

1 2 3
2

Thus, 15 c + 225 c =0.0157

2 3
  At x=L:u ( L )=c +c ( L ) + c ( L )
1 2 3
2

Thus, 30 c + 900 c =0.0313

2 3

So by solving these 2 equations with 2 unknowns we

get:
c 2=1.05 ×10−3

c 3=−2.22×10−7

Therefore the approximation function is:

u ( x )=1.05 ×10−3 ( x )−2.22 ×10−7 ( x )2

L 3L
So by substituting in this equation x= 4 & x= U (x) U (x)
4 we get 4 & 5 :

L
(
U 4 x=
4)=7.86 х 10−3

3L
(
U 5 x=
4 )
=0.024

Part C:

a) Give the elementary stiffness matrix of each element:

 E . A ( x )en 7 −8 1
e

[
[ K ]= 3 ×h −8 16 −8
n
e
1 −8 7 ]
E . A ( x )e+1 7 −8 1
[K e+1
n
[
n
]= 3 × h −8 16 −8
e
1 −8 7 ]

b) Give the elementary load vector of each element:

U en (x ) Qen
E . A ( x )e 7 −8 1
]) { } {}{ }
1

( [
3 ×h e
−8 16 −8
1 −8 7
U en+1 (x) =
U en+2 (x)
Fe . Le
6
4 + Q en +1
1 Q en +2

U e+1
n (x) Qe+1

]){ } {}{ }
7 −8 1 1

( [
n+2
E . A ( x )e+1 e+1
F e . Le
−8 16 −8 U n+1 ( x ) = 4 + Qe+1
3 ×h e+1 6 n+3
1 −8 7 e+1
U n+2 ( x ) 1 Q e+1
n+4

c) Give the global Matrix Form of the Finite Element Model:

 K 111 K 112 K 113 0 0 U en (x) F en Qen

[ ][ ] [ ] [ ]
1 1 1 e e e
K 21 K 22 K 23 0 0 U n +1( x) F n+1 Q n+1
2 K2 2
K 33+ K 11 12 K 13
1
U n +2( x) = F n+2 + F n+2 + Q e+1
e e+1 e
K 131 K 132 n+2
2 2
K 221 K 22 K 23 e+1 e+1
0 0 U n +3( x) F n+3 Q e+1
n+3
2 2
0 0 K 31 K 32 K 33
2 e+1
U n+ 4 ( x)
e+1
F n+4
e+1
Qn +4

eE . A ( x )en
Where: K=n
he

d) Give the boundary conditions on the nodal variables (primary

as well as secondary variables):

U 1 (x )=0 (Fixed end)

Q25=F +q (x)

e) Give the condensed equations of the Finite Element Model:

( K 111 ) U en ( x ) + ( K 112) U en+1 ( x ) + ( K 113) U ne +2 (x)+0+ 0=Qen

( K 121) U en ( x )+ ( K 122 ) U en+1 ( x )+ ( K 123 ) U en+2 (x )+ 0+0=Qen+1
( K 131) U en ( x )+ ( K 132 ) U en+1 ( x )+ ( K 133+ K 211 ) U en+ 2 ( x )+ ( K 212 ) U e+1 2 e+1 e+1
n+3 ( x )+ ( K 13 ) U n +4 ( x)=Q n+2

0+ 0+ ( K 221 ) U en+ 2 ( x )+ ( K 222 ) U e+1 2 e+1 e+1

n+3 ( x ) + ( K 23 ) U n+ 4 (x)=Q n+3

0+ 0+ ( K 231 ) U en+2 ( x )+ ( K 232 ) U e+1 2 e+1 e+1

n+3 ( x )+ ( K 33 ) U n+ 4 (x)=Q n+4

L L 3L
h) Calculate the displacement at x= 4 ; x= 2 ; x= 4 and x=L.
Figure (3): shows a free body diagram of two quadratic element.

A1 ×7 A 2 × (−8 ) A3× 1 0 0 U 1 (x ) 4500

3 ×15
[
( 16 х 106 ) A 1 × (−8 )
A1 ×1
0
0
A 2 × 16
A 2 × (−8 )
0
0
A 3 × (−8 ) 0
A 3 × 14 A 4 × (−8 )
A 3 × (−8 ) A 4 ×16
A 3 × 1 A 4 × (−8 )
0
A 5 ×1
A5 × (−8 )
A5 ×7
][ ] [ ]
U 2 (x )
U 3 (x ) =
U 4 (x )
U 5 (x )
3375
2250
1125
250000
So by solving this matrix we get a 4 equations with 4 unknowns:

( 16 х 106 ) × ( 25 ) × (−8 ) ( 16 х 106 ) × ( 22.5 ) × ( 16 ) ( 16 х 106 ) × ( 20 ) × (−8 )

( 3 × ( 15 ) ) . U1( x )+ ( 3 × ( 15 ) ) . U2( x )+ ( 3 × ( 15 ) ) . U 3 ( x )=3375

( 16 х 106 ) × ( 25 ) × ( 1 ) ( 16 х 106 ) × ( 22.5 ) × (−8 ) ( 16 х 106 ) × ( 20 ) × ( 15 ) ( 16 х 10 6 ) × ( 17.

( 3× ( 15 ) ) . U 1 ( x) + ( 3× ( 15 ) ) .U 2 ( x )+ ( 3 × ( 15 ) ) .U 3 ( x ) +( 3 × ( 15

( 16 х 106 ) × ( 20 ) × (−8 ) ( 16 х 106 ) × ( 17.5 ) × ( 16 ) ( 16 х 106 ) × (15 ) × (−8 )

( 3 × ( 15 ) ) . U3( x )+ ( 3 × ( 15 ) ) . U 4 ( x )+ ( 3 × ( 15 ) ) . U 5 ( x )=1125

( 16 х 106 ) × ( 20 ) × ( 1 ) ( 16 х 106 ) × (17.5 ) × (−8 ) ( 16 х 106 ) × ( 15 ) × ( 7 )

( 3× ( 15 ) ) . U 3 ( x )+ ( 3× ( 15 ) ) .U 4 ( x ) + ( 3 × (15 ) ) . U 5 ( x )=250000

So the solution of these 4 equation gives:

( L4 )=6.56× 10
U 2 x= −3

L
U ( x= )=0.0147
3
2

3L
U ( x=
4 )
4 =0.0201

U 5 ( x=L )=0.0313
Where:
 E=16 х 106
 A1=25
A1 + A3 25+20
 A2=
2
=
2
=22.5
A1 + A5 25+15
 A3 =
2
=
2
=20
A 3 + A 5 20+15
 A 4=
2
=
2
=17.5

 A5 =15
 h e=15
 F 11=F12=F 23 + F 13=F24=F 25=0 ( Since there is no axial forces)
x
 (
Q 11=0.15 1−
30 )× L=4500 at x=0

x L
 (
Q 12=q(x) =0.15 1−
30 )
× L=3375at x= .
4
x L
 (
Q 13 +Q23=q ( x ) =0.15 1−
30 )
× L=2250at x=
2
x 3L
 (
Q 24 =q ( x )=0.15 1−
30 )
× L=1125at x=
4
x
 (
Q 25=F +0.15 1−
30 )× L=0+250=250000at x=L.