2D AND 3D ISOPARAMETRIC

ELEMENTS
ISOPARAMETRIC QUADRILATERAL ELEMENTS
Computing
Stiffness matrix and load vector of isoparametric quadrilateral
Example: 8.1 Formulate an isoparametric quadrilateral of 4 nodes
A comparison between the 8- and 9-noded isoparametric quadrilaterals
ISOPARAMETRIC TRIANGULAR ELEMENTS
Example: 8.2 Derive the expression of the Jacobian matrix for an
isoparametric triangle with straight sides
NUMERICAL INTEGRATION IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Numerical integration in quadrilateral domains

Example: 8.3 Integrate numerically the function over a rectangular
element with dimensions 2a x 2b

Solution

Numerical integration over triangles

Example: 8.4 Compute the area of a triangular element with straight sides
by numerical integration

Solution
NUMERICAL INTEGRATION OF THE ELEMENT MATRICES AND VECTORS
COMPUTER PROGRAMMING OF K(e)
AND f(e)
OPTIMAL POINTS FOR COMPUTING STRAINS AND STRESSES

The approximation for the gradients at the Gauss points is one order higher than
anywhere within the element.

The Gauss points are optimal for computing the gradients and the fluxes (i.e. the strain
and the stresses).

Example: 8.5 Verify that a second degree polynomial, and a first degree
polynomial obtained by least square smoothing of the another, take the
same values at the points of the Gauss quadrature of order 2

Solution
Example: 8.6 Verify that a cubic polynomial and a quadratic one obtained
by least square smoothing of the former, take same values at the points of
the 3rd order Gauss Solutionquadrature

Solution
Conclusions
1. The computation of q (or g) at the points of the Gauss quadrature of nth order gives the
exact values

2. The evaluation of q or g at the Gauss quadrature points chosen for the integration of K (e)
yields a solution of one approximation order higher than at any other point within the
element
Optimal points for computation of gradients and fluxes (strains
and stresses)
SELECTION OF THE QUADRATURE ORDER
The quadrature order should suffice to integrate exactly the element area

Examples of spureous quadrature

THE PATCH TEST FOR 2D ELEMENTS
3D ISOPARAMETRIC ELEMENTS
NUMERICAL INTEGRATION IN THREE DIMENSIONS

Hexahedral elements
Tetrahedral elements

NUMERICAL INTEGRATION OF THE ELEMENT MATRICES

Isoparametric hexahedral elements

Isoparametric tetrahedral elements