Lecture 3 N. M.

Anoop Krishnan

IIT Delhi

CVL757: Finite element methods

Lecture 4

N. M. Anoop Krishnan
Block IV, Room No. 314
Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Email: krishnan@iitd.ac.in
IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements 1
Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Bar element
• Represented by a straight line of length L (with a finite area A
and elastic modulus E) with nodes on each ends
• E.g.: axially loaded bar can be represented by a bar element with
nodal loads F1 and F2 and nodal (axial) displacements u1 and u 2

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Bar element

𝐴𝐸 𝐴𝐸
𝑢% − 𝑢' = 𝐹% and 𝑢' − 𝑢% = 𝐹'
𝐿 𝐿

𝑘 −𝑘 𝑢% 𝐹%
𝑢 = or 𝐤 𝐮 = −{𝐫}
−𝑘 𝑘 ' 𝐹'
where k = AE/L

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Bar element
• 𝐤 is the element stiffness matrix. Size depends on the degrees
of freedom. For a two-noded bar element with only axial
displacements 𝐤 is a 2 x 2 matrix.
• −{𝐫} represents the loads applied by an element to the
structure. Here, –ve sign is because F1 and F1 are applied to the
elements.
• For a stiffness matrix: A column of 𝐤 is the vector of loads that
must be applied to an element at its nodes to maintain a
deformation state in which the corresponding nodal d.o.f has
unit value while all other nodal d.o.fs are zero
• Example: let u1 = 0 and u2 = 1
𝑘 −𝑘 𝑢% 𝑘 −𝑘 0 −1 𝐹%
𝑢 = =𝑘 =
−𝑘 𝑘 ' −𝑘 𝑘 1 1 𝐹'

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Element to structure

• Consider a structure with two uniform elastic bars attached end

to end. Stiffness of the elements are k1 and k2. The equation of
the whole structure is
𝐊 𝐔 = 𝐑
where 𝐊 is the structure or global stiffness matrix

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Global stiffness matrix

• Global stiffness matrix can be obtained by the rule stated earlier:
𝑘% −𝑘% 0 𝑢% 𝐹%
−𝑘% 𝑘% + 𝑘' −𝑘' 𝑢' = 𝐹'
0 −𝑘' 𝑘' 𝑢; 𝐹;

This process could be challenging for large structures

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements
Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Assembly
• An alternative way to obtain [K] is as follows.
• Number each of the nodes, while assuming they are not yet
connected.
• Expand each of the matrix to the structure size consistent
with the numbering as

• Adding these two matrices yield the global matrix

• This process is called assembly and is typically used to obtain
the structure matrix
IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements
Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Boundary conditions
• Support conditions are generally called as the boundary
conditions
• This will be reflected in the structure matrix by restricting
certain displacements
• For example, if the left end of the structure is fixed, then u1 = 0
• Thus, the structure matrix can be reduced as
𝑘% + 𝑘' −𝑘' 𝑢' 𝐹'
𝑢 =
−𝑘' 𝑘' ; 𝐹;
• In computer software, the [K] matrix is assembled using the
addition process. Process involves generation of a null matrix,
followed by insertion of coefficients for each element at the
respective locations in [K]. The efficiency of a finite element
code is determined largely by this process.

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Beam element
• A beam element has two nodes with two degrees of freedom
per node: translation and rotation

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Beam element
• Element stiffness matrix can be constructed using the rule
mentioned earlier, that is, a column of the stiffness matrix
corresponds to the loads required to produce unit displacement
in the corresponding node
• Assume the element as a
cantilever beam fixed at 2 and
loaded at 1 with force k11 and
moment k21 such that v1 = 1 and θ=% = 0
𝑘%% 𝐿; 𝑘'% 𝐿'
𝑣% = 1: − =1
3𝐸𝐼B 2𝐸𝐼B
𝑘%% 𝐿' 𝑘'% 𝐿
𝜃B% = 0: − + =0
2𝐸𝐼B 𝐸𝐼B
• Solve for 𝑘%% and 𝑘'% . Then use equilibrium equations to obtain
𝑘;% and 𝑘E% . Continue the procedure for other d.o.f
IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements
Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Beam element
• The final element stiffness matrix is obtained as

Homework: Derive the stiffness matrix for the beam element

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements
Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Generalization
• Add translation to bending and rotation, expanding [K] to 6 x 6

where X = AE/L and Y corresponds to the beam elements

• This can be further extended by including transverse shear
deformation representing a Timoshenko beam instead of the
Euler-Bernoulli. The Y values will be accordingly modified

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Generalization
• If the element is oriented arbitrarily along an axis (x’,y’,z’) in a
global coordinate (x,y,z), a rotational transformation need to be
applied to [k’] to get [k] w.r.t (x,y,z)

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Generalization
𝑢%F = 𝑢% cos 𝛽 + 𝑣% sin 𝛽
F cos 𝛽 sin 𝛽 0 0
in matrix form, 𝐝 = 𝐓 {𝐝} where 𝐓 =
0 0 cos 𝛽 sin 𝛽

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Generalization
Similarly, 𝐫 = 𝐓 𝑻 𝐫′
Equation in local coordinates: 𝐤 F 𝐝F = − 𝐫′
Substituting for 𝐝F = 𝐓 {𝐝} and multiply both sides by 𝐓 𝑻

Equation in glocal coordinates: 𝐤 𝐝 = − 𝐫

Where 𝐤 = 𝐓 𝑻 𝐤 F [𝐓]

– Problem 1: Obtain [k] in global coordinates for the bar element,

assuming [k’] in local coordinates.

– Problem 2: Apply the same technique to obtain the global [k]

matrix for the beam element.

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 3 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Summary
Ø Bar, beam elements

Ø Element stiffness matrix

Ø Assembly and global stiffness matrix

Ø Global and local coordinates

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements