Introduction to FEM

11
Variational
Formulation of
Bar Element

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 1
 Introduction to FEM

Bar Member - Variational Derivation

;;
;;
Cross section

;;
z

P
Longitudinal axis
x

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 2
 Introduction to FEM

Bar Member (cont'd)

cross section
x axial rigidity EA
;;;
q(x) u(x)
P

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 3
 Introduction to FEM

The Bar Revisited - Notation

Quantity Meaning
x Longitudinal bar axis *
(.)' d(.)/dx
u(x) Axial displacement
q(x) Distributed axial force, given per unit of bar length
L Total length of bar member
E Elastic modulus
A Cross section area, may vary with x
EA Axial rigidity
e = du/dx = u' Infinitesimal axial strain
σ = E e = E u' Axial stress
F = A σ = EA e = EA u' Internal axial force
P Prescribed end load
_
* x is used in this Chapter instead of x (as in Chapters 2-3)
to simplify the notation

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 4
 Introduction to FEM

Tonti Diagram of Governing Equations

Displacement
Prescribed Axial Distributed
BCs
end displacements axial load
displacements u(x) q(x)

Kinematic e=u' F'+q=0 Equilibrium

Axial F = EA e Axial Force BCs Prescribed

strains force end loads
e(x) Constitutive F(x)

unknown given (problem data)

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 5
 Introduction to FEM

Potential Energy of the Bar Member

(before discretization)

Internal energy (= strain energy)

 L  L  L
U= 1
2
Fe d x = 1
2
( E Au')u' d x = 1
2
u' E Au' d x
0 0 0

External work  L
W = qu d x
0

Total potential energy

Π= U− W

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 6
 Introduction to FEM

Concept of Kinematically Admissible Variation

u(x)+δu(x) δu(x)
u
u(L)
u(x)
x
u(0) = 0
L

δu(x) is kinematically admissible if u(x) and u(x) + δu(x)

(i) are continuous over bar length, i.e. u(x) ∈ C 0 in x ∈ [0, L].

(ii) satisfy exactly displacement BC; in the figure, u(0) = 0

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 7
 Introduction to FEM

The Minimum Potential Energy (MPE) Principle

The MPE principle states that the actual displacement solution

u* (x) that satisfies the governing equations is that which renders
the TPE functional Π[u] stationary:

δΠ = δU − δW = 0 iff u = u*

with respect to admissible variations u = u* + δu of the exact

displacement solution u* (x)

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 8
 Introduction to FEM

FEM Discretization of Bar Member

u 1, f1 u 2, f2 u 3, f3 u 4, f4 u 5, f5
(1) (2) (3) (4)

1 2 3 4 5

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 9
 Introduction to FEM

FEM Displacement Trial Function

u 1, f1 u 2, f2 u 3, f3 u 4, f4 u 5, f5

(1) (2) (3) (4)

1 2 3 4 5

End node 1 assumed fixed

u
u5
u4 u(x)
u2 u3 x
u1 = 0
Axial displacement plotted normal to x
for visualization convenience

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 10
 Introduction to FEM

Total Potential Energy Principle

and Decomposition over Elements

δΠ = δU − δW = 0 iff u = u* (exact solution)

(1) (2) (N e)
But Π= Π + Π + ... + Π
(1) (2) (N e)
and δΠ = δΠ + δΠ + ... + δΠ = 0
From fundamental lemma of variational calculus,
each element variation must vanish, giving

δΠe = δU e − δW e = 0

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 11
 Introduction to FEM

Element Shape Functions

1 (e) 2
= Le
x- = x γ- x1
-
1− x/
1 Ne
i
0
-
x/
Nje 1
0

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 12
 Introduction to FEM

Element Shape Functions (cont'd)

Linear displacement interpolation:

e
e e
u 1
ue (x) = N1e u1e + N2e u2e = [ N1 N2 ] e = N ue
u2

in which
x−x1 e x−x1
N1e = 1 − = 1 − ζ, N2 = =ζ
 
x−x1
ζ
= dimensionless (natural) coordinate


IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 13
 Introduction to FEM

Displacement Variation Process Yields

the Element Stiffness Equations

e
Π = Ue − W e
{ Ue = 1
2
(u e )T

W e = (u e ) T f e
Ke ue

 e T  e e e
δΠ = 0 e
δu K u − f = 0
(Appendix D)
since δu e is arbitrary [...] = 0

Ke u e = f e

the element stiffness equations

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 14
 Introduction to FEM

The Bar Element Stiffness

 
U =
e 1
2
e E A e dx e = u'
0
     
1 −1 1 u e1
U = e 1
[ u1 u2 ] [ −1 1] dx
2
0  1  u e2
     
e EA 1 −1 u 1e  T
U e= 1
[ u 1e u 2 ] dx = 1
ue Ke u e
2
0 2 −1 1 ue2 2

     
EA 1 −1
Ke = E A BT B d x = dx
0 0 2 −1 1

If EA is constant over element

 
EA 1 −1
Ke =
 −1 1

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 15
 Introduction to FEM

The Consistent Nodal Force Vector

    
e
   
e T

1−ζ  T
W = q u dx = (u e )T NTq d x = u q d x = ue f e
0 0 0 ζ

Since ue is arbitrary

   
1−ζ
fe = q dx
0 ζ

x−x1
in which ζ
=


IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 16
 Introduction to FEM

Bar Consistent Force Vector (cont'd)

If q is constant along element

    

1− ζ 1/2
fe = q dx = q
0 ζ 1/2

the same result as with EbE load lumping (i.e., assigning

one half of the total load to each node)

IFEM Ch 11 – Slide 17