BDA 31003

FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

Laboratory Session 2
Axial Element
Tapered Bar Problem
Figure below shows a tapered bar problem. The bar has 3 segments
with non-uniform cross-section. All the dimensions and material
properties are given below. Find all the nodal displacements and
elemental forces.

A1 = 0.0036 m2
A2 = 0.0025 m2
A3 = 0.0009 m2
A4 = 0.0004 m2
E = 70 Gpa
ν = 0.3

L1 = L2 = L3 = 0.25 m

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…Tapered Bar Problem

• This problem will give students good understanding on how to approach

a tapered bar problem by using axial element.
• Axial element has constant cross section. To use axial element, outer,
inner or average cross-sectional approach can be used.

Outer approach
Solution

Exact method ≈ Average approach?

Inner approach

Number of elements

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…Tapered Bar Problem
• The information given is only the cross section areas. It is assume the
element is a square bar, the sides for A1, A2, A3 and A4 are 0.06 m,
0.05 m, 0.03 m and 0.02 m respectively.
Cross-Section Area (m2)
Segment
Outer Inner Average
1 0.0036 0.0025 0.0031
2 0.0025 0.0009 0.0017
3 0.0009 0.0004 0.0007

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3 Stages of FEA

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Type of Analysis Selection

l From the main screen, double click Analysis

(default Static 3D).

Double click!

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…Type of Analysis Selection
l A Global Properties dialog appears, then under General tab,
select 2D > Static 2D. The reason to select 2D (2-Dimensional) is
because the bar will be modeled as axial elements in x-y plane.

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Defining Material Properties
l Since there are 3 segments with different geometries, we will
create 3 components (1 component for every segment). Right
click on Component & Materials menu and select New
component. Repeat this step twice to create 3 components.
Then, rename the component to Segment 1, Segment 2 and
Segment 3 respectively.

Create component Rename component

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Material Properties > Geometric
l In menu, Right click on Segment_1 <0 elements>, then select
Assign new material. In Geometric tab, click the radio button on
General section and fill in the Cross sectional area.

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Material Properties > Mechanical
l Switch to Mechanical tab. Select Isotropic material and fill in the
Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio values in the boxes
provided. Then Close the dialog.

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Defining Material Properties

l Repeat the steps 3 times to

create 3 materials (1 material
for every segment).

l After completing all the steps,

your menu should look like this.

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Creating Geometrical Model

l On the main screen, select New node tab then enter the
coordinates of the 4 nodes of the bar on x-y plane.

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…Creating Geometrical Model

l To view in x-y plane, to re-size the model to fit

the screen and to show the node numbers,
click all the following tabs.

XY view Fit to screen Show node and

element numbers

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…Creating Geometrical Model

l All 4 nodes with the node numbers in x-y plane.

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Creating Element
l To create the axial elements, click
the New element icon .
l In the Add Element dialog, select
line2 element.
l Enter 2 node numbers separated
by a comma. Example: 1,2
l Click Add button to create an
element in between.
l Repeat the steps to create all 3
elements. Click Close button when
finish.
l Alternatively, you can click on node
1 then node 2, node 2 then 3 and
node 3 then node 4 to create the
axial elements.

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l You will have all 3 elements as follows:

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Assigning Material Properties to Element

l Using the mouse, click the Select elements icon above the
element model.

l Then, left click on element 1 until it turns blue. Keep the cursor on
element 1 and then right click. The dialog box as seen below will
appear. Select Element properties.

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Assigning Material Properties to Element

l In the Element Properties dialog, assign the component to the

associated element number. Example: Segment_1 to element 1.
Then click the OK button. Repeat the step for element 2 and
element 2.

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…Refining Element Size

l Click on Show element surfaces icon .

l If all the steps have been done correctly, you will get surface
figure as follows:

l Click on Show element edges icon to change back to the

element view.

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Checking Element List

l You can also verify the element shape, component and material
from the Element List. Go to Mesh tools > Node/Element List.

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Applying Constraints
l The left end of the bar is fixed to the wall which means the
displacement along the X-axis for node 1 must be constrained to
zero.
l Using the mouse, click the Select node icon above the element
model then select all the nodes at the left end. The nodes will turn
blue when selected.

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Applying Constraints
Right click on the Loads & Constraints menu, them select New
Displacement in the list. Click X and set the value as 0.

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Renaming the Constraints (Optional)

To rename the constraint, go to Name Selections, bring the cursor

on Unnamed <1 nodes>, right click then select Rename. Change the
name to Displx in the dialog, then click OK. Now the name should
change to Displx <1 nodes>.

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Applying Load
l A horizontal load of magnitude 250 N in the negative X-direction
is applied at Node 2.
l Make sure the Select nodes button is selected.
l Select Node 2.

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…Applying Load

l Right click on the Loads & Constraints menu, them select New
force in the list. Click X and set the value as -250.

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…Applying Load
l A horizontal load of magnitude 250 N in the negative X-direction
is applied at Node 2.
l Repeat the previous steps.
l Make sure the Select nodes button is selected.
l Select Node 4.

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…Applying Load

l Right click on the Loads & Constraints menu, them select New
force in the list. Click X and set the value as -250.

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Renaming the Loads (Optional)
l To rename the load, go to Name
Selections, bring the cursor on
Unnamed <1 nodes>, right click
then select Rename. Change the
name to Forcex-250 in the dialog,
then click OK. Now the name
should change to Force-x <1
nodes>.
l Repeat the step for Unnamed(2)<1
nodes>. Rename to Forcex+1000.

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The Completed FE Model

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Solving Stage
l To solve the model click the solve button OR go to File menu
then select Solve.

OR

l Don't forget to save your work. Go to File and click Save as. Key
in a suitable file name.

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…Solving Stage
l After the solver has finished, click the Post Processor button to
see the result to to animation and other viewing results.

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Post-Processing Stage

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Post-Processing Stage

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ACTIVITY 1
A bar structure that consists three sections of different dimensions and materials. The
left end is spring that is fixed to the wall, at the centre is homogeneous-bar while at
the right is a tapered-bar with free end. A longitudinal load of 200 kN is applied to the
bar at the point connecting the homogeneous and tapered sections. The cross section
area and the Young’s Modulus of elasticity of the sections are as below. Determine
the nodal displacements and the elemental forces in the bar. Assume the free end will
reach the wall on the right.

E1 = 69GPa E2 = 101 GPa v = 0.3

A2 A2
A1

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Answer

l FE Model

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Answer…

l Nodal displacements

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Answer…

l Elemental forces

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FINISH!!!

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