Example Problems

#1) Determine the shape functions of 3-node triangular element shown below using the area
coordinate approach. [Hint: use 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 0.5 × (𝑥 . 𝑦 − 𝑥 . 𝑦 ) for triangles 1-2-3].
𝟑 (4, 7)

𝐴
𝐴 P (3.85, 4.8)
𝐴 𝟐 (7, 3.5)
𝑦
𝑥 𝟏 (1.5, 2)
Solution
-Area of triangles are,
𝐴 = 0.5 × [(1.5 − 4) × (3.5 − 7) − (7 − 4) × (2 − 7)] = 11.875
𝐴 = 0.5 × [(3.85 − 4) × (3.5 − 7) − (7 − 4) × (4.8 − 7)] = 3.5625
𝐴 = 0.5 × [(1.5 − 4) × (4.8 − 7) − (3.85 − 4) × (2 − 7)] = 2.375
𝐴 = 0.5 × [(1.5 − 3.85) × (3.5 − 4.8) − (7 − 3.85) × (2 − 4.8)] = 5.9375
-then, shape functions of element are,
.
𝑁 = = .
= 0.3
.
𝑁 = = = 0.2
.
.
𝑁 = = = 0.5
.

#2) Consider the 3-noded triangular element shown below. Express the integral for the area-moment
of inertia 𝐼 = ∬ 𝑦 . 𝑑𝐴 as 𝐼 = 𝒚 . 𝑹. 𝒚 where 𝒚 = [𝑦 , 𝑦 , 𝑦 ] is a vector of 𝑦-coordintes
of the 3-nodes, and 𝑹 is a (3 × 3) matrix. Also find 𝑹-matrix.
Hint: Interpolate 𝑦 using the shape functions, 𝑵 .

𝑦 𝟑 (𝑥 , 𝑦 )

𝑑𝐴

𝑦 𝟐 (𝑥 , 𝑦 )
𝟏 (𝑥 , 𝑦 )
𝑥

Solution
- the area-moment of inertia of 3-noded triangular element
𝐼 = ∬ 𝑦 . 𝑑𝐴 = ∬ (𝑦 . 𝑦). 𝑑𝐴 --(*)
where 𝑦 = (𝑁 . 𝑦 + 𝑁 . 𝑦 + 𝑁 . 𝑦 ) = 𝑵. 𝒚
𝒚 = [𝑦 , 𝑦 , 𝑦 ] , 𝑵 = [𝑁 , 𝑁 , 𝑁 ]
and, 𝑦 = 𝒚 .𝑵
-substituting 𝑦 and 𝑦 into Eq.(*),
𝐼 = 𝒚 . ∬ (𝑵 . 𝑵). 𝑑𝐴 . 𝒚

1
 𝑁 𝑁 𝑁 .𝑁 𝑁 .𝑁
and, 𝑵 . 𝑵 = 𝑁 . [𝑁 𝑁 𝑁 ] = 𝑁 .𝑁 𝑁 𝑁 .𝑁
𝑁 𝑁 .𝑁 𝑁 .𝑁 𝑁
𝑁 𝑁 .𝑁 𝑁 .𝑁
thus, 𝐼=𝒚 . ∬ 𝑁 .𝑁 𝑁 𝑁 . 𝑁 . 𝑑𝐴 . 𝒚
𝑁 .𝑁 𝑁 .𝑁 𝑁
where ∬ 𝑁 . 𝑑𝐴 = ∬ 𝑁 . 𝑑𝐴 = ∬ 𝑁 . 𝑑𝐴 =

∬ 𝑁 . 𝑁 . 𝑑𝐴 = ∬ 𝑁 . 𝑁 . 𝑑𝐴 = ∬ 𝑁 . 𝑁 . 𝑑𝐴 =
-substituting these integrals, we have
⎡ ⎤
⎢ ⎥
 𝐼 = 𝒚 .⎢ ⎥ . 𝒚 = 𝒚 . 𝑹. 𝒚
⎢ ⎥
⎣ ⎦
2 1 1
where 𝑹= . 1 2 1
1 1 2

#3) For triangular element shown below, obtain the strain-displacement relation matrix 𝑩 and
determine the strains 𝜀 , 𝜀 and 𝛾 . Note: 𝒒 and coordinates have the same units.
Nodal displacements of the element are,
𝒒 = [𝑞 𝑞 𝑞 𝑞 𝑞 𝑞 ] = [0.001 − 0.004 0.003 0.002 − 0.002 0.005]
𝑞
(2, 7) 𝑞
𝟑
𝑞
𝑞 𝟐 𝑞
𝟏 (8, 4)
𝑦 𝑞
𝑥 (1, 1)

Solution
- Jacobian operator is,
𝑥 𝑦 (1 − 2) (1 − 7) −1 −6
𝑱= = =
𝑥 𝑦 (8 − 2) (4 − 7) 6 −3
and, det 𝑱 = 𝑥 . 𝑦 − 𝑥 .𝑦 = (1 − 2) × (4 − 7) − (8 − 2) × (1 − 7) = 39
then, the strain-displacement relation matrix is
𝑦 0 𝑦 0 𝑦 0 −3 0 6 0 − 3 0
𝑩 = . 0 𝑥 0 𝑥 0 𝑥 = . 0 −6 0 −1 0 7
𝑱
𝑥 𝑦 𝑥 𝑦 𝑥 𝑦 −6 − 3 − 1 6 7 − 3

2
 0.001
⎧ −0.004 ⎫
𝜀 −3 0 6 0 − 3 0 ⎪ ⎪
𝜀 0.003
and, 𝜺= = 𝑩 .𝒒 = . 0 − 6 0 − 1 0 7 .
0.002 ⎬
𝛾 −6 − 3 − 1 6 7 − 3 ⎨
⎪ −0.002 ⎪
⎩ 0.005⎭
𝜀 0.021 5.3846
 𝜀 = . 0.057 = 14.615 × 10
𝛾 −0.014 −3.5897

#4) For a two-dimensional triangular element, the stress-displacement matrix 𝑫. 𝑩 appearing in the
element stress expression 𝝈 = 𝑫. 𝑩 . 𝒒 is given by:
2500 2200 − 1500 1200 − 4400 1000
𝑫. 𝑩 = 5500 4000 4100 2600 − 1500 1200 𝑁⁄𝑚𝑚
2000 2500 − 4000 1800 2200 4400
If the coefficient of linear expansion is 𝛼 = 10 × 10 /℃, the temperature rise of the element is
100℃ , the volume of the element is 𝑉 = 𝑡 . 𝐴 = 25 𝑚𝑚 , determine the equivalent
temperature load 𝜽 for the element.
Solution
𝑓
𝑓
𝟑
𝑓
𝑓 𝟐 𝑓
𝟏
𝑓

-Element equivalent temperature nodal load is given by (∆𝑇 = 100℃),

𝛼. ∆𝑇
𝜽 = 𝑡 . 𝐴 . 𝑩 . 𝑫. 𝜀 = 𝑡 . 𝐴 . 𝑩 . 𝑫. 𝛼. ∆𝑇
0
𝑓 2500 5500 2000 8
⎧𝑓 ⎫ ⎡ 2200 4000 2500 ⎤ ⎧ 6.2 ⎫
⎪ ⎪ ⎢ ⎥ 10 × 10 × 100 ⎪ ⎪
𝑓 −1500 4100 − 4000 ⎥ 2.6
 𝜽 = = 25 × ⎢ × 10 × 10 × 100 =
⎨𝑓 ⎬ ⎢ 1200 2600 1800 ⎥ 0 ⎨ 3.8 ⎬
⎪𝑓 ⎪ ⎢−4400 − 1500 2200⎥ ⎪−5.9⎪
⎩𝑓 ⎭ ⎣ 1000 1200 4400⎦ ⎩ 2.2 ⎭

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#5) For the plane stress problem shown below, determine the deflection at point of load application
using one element model. Find also element stress, 𝜎 .
Take: 𝑡 = 10 𝑚𝑚, 𝐸 = 70 × 10 𝑁⁄𝑚𝑚 and  = 0.3
100 𝑁
30 𝑚𝑚
50 𝑁

20 𝑚𝑚

Solution
-Considering one-element model shown below
𝑦 𝑄 100 𝑁
𝑄 50 𝑁 𝑄
𝟐 (0, 20) 𝟏 (30, 20)
20 𝑚𝑚 𝑄
𝑄
𝑄
𝑥
𝟑 (0, 0)
30 𝑚𝑚

-Constitutive matrix for plane stress problem,

1  0 1 0.3 0 1 0.3 0
𝑫 = (  ).  1 0 =
×
. 0.3 1 0 = 76.923 × 10 . 0.3 1 0
( ) ( . )
0 0 0 0 0.35 0 0 0.35
-Jacobian matrix and its determinant are,
𝑥 𝑦 30 20
𝑱= =
𝑥 𝑦 0 20
and det 𝑱 = 30 × 20 = 600
thus, area of element
𝐴 = det 𝑱⁄2 = 600⁄2 = 300𝑚𝑚
-then, strain-displacement relation matrix
𝑦 0 𝑦 0 𝑦 0 20 0 − 20 0 0 0
𝑩 = . 0 𝑥 0 𝑥 0 𝑥 = . 0 0 0 30 0 − 30
𝑱
𝑥 𝑦 𝑥 𝑦 𝑥 𝑦 0 20 30 − 20 − 30 0
and, element stiffness matrix and global stiffness matrix
𝑲 = 𝒌 = 𝑡 . 𝐴 . 𝑩 . 𝑫. 𝑩
20 0 0
⎡ 0 0 20 ⎤
⎢ ⎥ 1 0.3 0 20 0 − 20 0 0 0
−20 0 30
 𝑲 = 641.025 × ⎢ ⎥ × 0.3 1 0 × 0 0 0 30 0 − 30
⎢ 0 30 − 20 ⎥ 0 0 0.35 0 20 30 − 20 − 30 0
⎢ 0 0 − 30 ⎥
⎣ 0 − 30 0 ⎦

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 20 6 0
⎡ 0 0 7 ⎤
⎢ ⎥ 20 0 − 20 0 0 0
−20 − 6 10.5 ⎥
 𝑲 = 641.025 × ⎢ × 0 0 0 30 0 − 30
⎢ 9 30 − 7 ⎥ 0 20 30 − 20 − 30 0
⎢ 0 0 − 10.5⎥
⎣ −9 − 30 0 ⎦
1 2 3 4 5 6
400 0 − 400 180 0 − 180 1
⎡ 0 140 210 − 140 − 210 0 ⎤ 2
⎢ ⎥
−400 210 715 − 390 − 315 180⎥ 3
 𝑲 = 641.025 × ⎢
⎢ 180 − 140 − 390 1040 210 − 900 ⎥ 4
⎢ 0 − 210 − 315 210 315 0 ⎥ 5
⎣ −180 0 180 − 900 0 900 ⎦ 6
and, element nodal force vector and global force vector
𝑭 = [𝐹 𝐹 𝐹 𝐹 𝐹 𝐹 ] = [50, −100, 0, 0, 0, 0] 𝑁
-Eliminating rows and columns corresponding to support d.o.f (BC’s), modified global stiffness
matrix and global force vector
1 2
400 0 50 1
𝑲 = 641.025 × and 𝐹=
0 140 −100 2
-Substituting these into finite element equation,
𝑲. 𝑸 = 𝑭
400 0 𝑄 50
 641.025 × . =
0 140 𝑄 −100
Solving for unknown nodal displacement d.o.f ,
𝑄 = 0.195 × 10 𝑚𝑚 and 𝑄 = −1.1143 × 10 𝑚𝑚
Therefore, vertical deflection is -0.0011143 mm down and horizontal deflection is 0.000195 mm
to the right. Thus, element nodal displacements are,
𝒒 = [𝑄 𝑄 𝑄 𝑄 𝑄 𝑄 ] = [0.195, −1.1143, 0, 0, 0, 0] × 10 𝑚𝑚
-Element stress for one-element model,
0.195
⎧−1.1143⎫
𝜎 1 0.3 0 20 0 − 20 0 0 0 ⎪ ⎪
𝜎 0
𝝈 = = 𝑫. 𝑩 . 𝒒 = 0.1282 × 0.3 1 0 . 0 0 0 30 0 − 30 .
0
𝜎 0 0 0.35 0 20 30 − 20 − 30 0 ⎨ ⎬
⎪ 0 ⎪
⎩ 0 ⎭
0.195
⎧−1.1143⎫
20 0 − 20 9 0 −9 ⎪ ⎪ 0.50
0
 𝝈 = 0.1282 × 6 0 −6 30 0 − 30 × = 0.15
⎨ 0 ⎬
0 7 10.5 − 7 − 10.5 0 −1.00
⎪ 0 ⎪
⎩ 0 ⎭
𝜎 0.50
 𝝈 = 𝜎 = 0.15 𝑁⁄𝑚𝑚
𝜎 −1.00

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and, reaction forces at supports
𝑄
𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 ⎧𝑄 ⎫ 𝑓
⎪ ⎪
𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 𝑄 𝑓
𝑹 = 𝑲. 𝑸 − 𝑭 = . −
𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 ⎨𝑄 ⎬ 𝑓
𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 ⎪𝑄 ⎪ 𝑓
⎩𝑄 ⎭
0.195
𝑅 −400 210 715 − 390 − 315 180 ⎧−1.1143⎫ 0
𝑅 ⎪ ⎪
180 − 140 − 390 1040 210 − 900 0 0
 = 0.641 × . −
𝑅 0 − 210 − 315 210 315 0 ⎨ 0 ⎬ 0
𝑅 −180 0 180 − 900 0 900 ⎪ 0 ⎪ 0
⎩ 0 ⎭
𝑅 −312.003 −199.994
𝑅 191.102 122.496
 = 0.641 × = 𝑁
𝑅 234.003 149.996
𝑅 −35.100 −22.499

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 Assignment-4
#1) Assemble the load vector 𝑭( × ) at the three nodes on the inner boundary of 2D continuum made
up of 𝐶𝑆𝑇 elements shown below, which is subjected to a pressure 𝑝 = 0.9𝑀𝑃𝑎. 𝑡 = 5 𝑚𝑚.

Nodal Coordinates:
1 (15, 0)
75°
2 (12.9904, 7.5)
3 (7.5, 12. 9904)
75°

75°

75°

#2) Solve the plane-stress problem shown below using three different mesh divisions. Compare your
deformation and stress results with the values obtained from elementary beam theory, ∆ =
. . ..
− = −0.4571𝑚𝑚 and 𝜎 =𝜎 = = = 400 𝑁⁄𝑚𝑚 . Use FE Program CST.
Take: thickness 𝑡 = 10 𝑚𝑚, 𝐸 = 70 × 10 𝑁⁄𝑚𝑚 and  = 0.33

#3) Model a half of the disk with a hole and subjected to point load as shown below and find the
major and minor dimensions after application of load. Also, plot the distribution of maximum
stress along 𝐴𝐵. Use FE Program CST for analysis.

7
#4) For the plate with a hole under plane-stress as shown below, find the deformed shape of the hole
and determine the maximum stress distribution along 𝐴𝐵 by using stresses in the elements
adjacent to the line. Use mesh generation program MESHGEN to discritize the plate and
Program CST for FE analysis. Consider one-quarter of a plate for analysis from symmetry.
Take: 𝑡 = 1 𝑖𝑛., 𝐸 = 30 × 10 𝑝𝑠𝑖 and  = 0.3

#5) A large flat surface of steel body is subjected to a line-load of 100 𝑙𝑏⁄𝑖𝑛. Assuming plane-strain
problem, consider an enclosure as shown below and determine the deformation of the surface and
stress distribution in the body. Note: Choose small elements close to the load and assume that
deflection at 10 𝑖𝑛. away is negligible. Use FE Program CST for analysis.