ASSIGNMENT 4

BEAM ELEMENT

AE5030 Advanced Finite Element Method

By:

Budi Aji Warsiyanto 23620014

Lecturer:

Dr. Ir. Muhamad Giri Suada

AEROSPACE ENGINEERING STUDY PROGRAM

FACULTY OF MECHANICAL AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

BANDUNG INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

2020
1. PROBLEM
The taper beam element illustration is given as in Figure 1-1 and its properties are shown in Table
1-1. From this information, the deformation value of the beam element can be calculated using finite
element methods (Abaqus software). To support the solution of the finite element method, setup or
modeling views are required. The setup or modeling consists of the geometric (coordinates), material
property, load, and mesh.
Table 1-1. Beam structure properties and load
Parameter Value
Modulus of elasticity, E 100000 N/mm2
Length, L 1080 mm
Root height, H0 270 mm
Tip height, HL 90 mm
Thickness, t 10 mm
Load, P 10 N

𝐇𝟎 𝐇𝐱 𝐇𝐋

𝐏
𝐱

Figure 1-1. A beam element structure

2. SOLUTION
To solve this problem, the structure must be divided into several elements consisting of a length (𝑑𝑥 )
and height (𝐻𝑥 ). Therefore, an equation is needed to determine the dimensions of the height based on
continuous length. Figure 2-1 shows an element used to determine a continuous length equation (Eq. (1))
to calculate the value of 𝐻𝑥 .

𝐇𝐱

𝐝𝐱
Figure 2-1. Beam element discretization

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 𝑥 2
𝐻𝑥 = 𝐻0 − .𝐻
𝐿 3 0
(1)
2𝑥
𝐻𝑥 = 𝐻0 (1 − )
3𝐿

The Abaqus application is used as a finite element (numeric) solution to the problem in the beam
element above. Abaqus was chosen because it is one of the advanced applications for analyzing a structure.
The process using the finite element method application is divided into three, namely pre-processing,
solution, and post-processing. In addition, several modules are used to set up numerical modeling of beam
elements. The following shows the module used to perform numerical modeling:
a. Part (geometry)
In this module, the structural model is created based on the dimensions of length 𝐿 shown in Table
1-1, namely 1080 mm. Figures 2-2 (a), (b), (c), and (d) show the different elements in the beam
structure, namely 2, 5, 10, and 20 elements are created in millimeters (mm) unit. For more elements (40,
80, and 160) it is not displayed because the details of the dimension of the elements are close to each
other so that they appear stacked. The difference of elements is intended to approximate the beam
element which has a tapered shape. This aims to determine the effect of the number of elements on the
deformation value obtained from the finite element method computation.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)
Figure 2-2. Difference in dimensions per element based on the number of elements: (a) 2, (b) 5, (c)
10, and (d) 20 elements

b. Property
The modulus of elasticity, 𝐻𝑥 and thickness 𝑡 is inputted on this module. Figures 2-3 (a), (b), (c),
and (d) show the beam element that has inputted its properties so that it has an area that extends along
𝑥-axis. The thickness visualization extends along 𝑧-axis so that it is not visible on the figure. This figure
is only an illustration of the profile (rendering) of the beam element to show that the model matches the
property intended by the user. The non-rendered beam structure model is shown in Figure 2-3 (e).

2
 Hx

x
L
(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)
Figure 2-3. Rendering of (a) 2, (b) 5, (c) 10, (b) 20 elements and (e) non-rendering beam element that
have inputted by the property

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c. Step
The step is used to determine the type of simulation, whether static or dynamic. In this assignment,
the static simulation type linear perturbation is used because the force 𝑃 given has a constant value by
time and the problem is still in the scope of linear analysis. Figure 2-4 shows the setup used in this
module. "Nlgeom: Off" is chosen because the structure does not experience large displacement during
loading.

Figure 2-4. Setup in the module step

d. Load
Figure 2-5 (a) shows the beam element that has applied boundary conditions and loads in the form
of concentrated force (CF). Figures 2-5 (b) and (c) show the boundary condition setup which
constrained from movement in all directions (ENCASTRE).

BC

(a)

(b) (c)
Figure 2-5. Setup on "Module Load": (a) illustration of the beam with 160 elements that have applied
boundary conditions, (b) boundary conditions, and (c) load

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e. Mesh
The mesh module is used to define the mesh setup, such as the size or number and type (structured,
unstructured) of the elements. In this assignment, because the beam elements are modeled with a one-
dimensional line, only the size or number of elements can be determined. Figures 2-6 (a), (b), (c), and
(d) show the difference of element and node numbers on an element beam. More elements are not
displayed because the node and element labels are too many so that appears stacked. The coordinates of
each node from Figure 2-6 are shown in Table 2-1 based on the difference of elements is created in the
Part module (see Figure 2-1 and attachment for details). Figure 2-7 shows the element type of the
beam structure model, namely B21.
node element

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)
Figure 2-6. The number of elements and nodes in the beam structure: (a) 2, (b) 5, (c) 10, and (b) 20
elements

Table 2-1. The coordinates for each node in the 10 and 20 element beam structures
10 elements 20 elements
Coordinate Coordinate Coordinate Coordinate
Node Node Node Node
(x, y) (x, y) (x, y) (x, y)
1 (0, 0) 7 (648, 0) 1 (0, 0) 12 (594, 0)
2 (108, 0) 8 (756, 0) 2 (54, 0) 13 (648, 0)
3 (216, 0) 9 (864, 0) 3 (108, 0) 14 (702, 0)
4 (324, 0) 10 (972, 0) 4 (162, 0) 15 (756, 0)
5 (432, 0) 11 (1080, 0) 5 (216, 0) 16 (810, 0)
6 (540, 0) 6 (270, 0) 17 (864, 0)
7 (324, 0) 18 (918, 0)
8 (378, 0) 19 (972, 0)
9 (432, 0) 20 (1026, 0)
10 (486, 0) 21 (1080, 0)
11 (540, 0)

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 Figure 2-7. The element type of beam structure

f. Job
The job module is used to perform the computation process (running) modeling that has been created.
Figure 2-8 shows the job manager in the Abaqus application.

Figure 2-8. Job manager

2.1.1 Results
The simulation results are maximum deformation in 𝑦-direction (U2) which is displayed in the form
of visualization and curves (graphs) are plotted based on the difference in the number of elements. Figure
2-9 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) shows the deformation value of the beam structure based on the color
gradient and the difference in the number of elements, namely 2, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 elements,
respectively. The color gradient is described by blue which indicates the minimum deformation value and
progressively increases to red which indicates the maximum deformation value. The negative sign indicates
the direction of the deformed structure, which is the deformation moves in the negative 𝑦-direction due to
the force which is also in the negative 𝑦-direction. The “Min” notation in the figure refers to the legend
which shows the red color as the minimum value. Figure 2-10 shows the comparison of the maximum
deformation values for different elements. It can be seen that more elements provide a maximum
deformation value that is increasingly converging (values tend to be constant).

6
(a)

(b)

(c)

7
 (d)

(e)

(f)

(g)
Figure 2-9. Visualization of the deformation of the beam structure for (a) 2, (b) 5, (c) 10, (d) 20, (e) 40,
(f) 80, and (g) 160 elements

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 x 10-3
16 Deformation

Deformation (mm)
14
12
10
8
6
4
0 40 80 120 160
Element numbers
Figure 2-10. The maximum deformation values based on the difference of element numbers

ATTACHMENT
The mesh coordinates for the varying number of elements will be different. The following is the data
for the creating of the beam structure geometry with the different number of elements:
• Two (2) elements

Coordinate 𝐇𝐱 𝐀𝐱
Node
(x, y) (mm) (mm2)
1 0, 0
180 1800
2 540, 0
3 1080, 0 90 900

• Five (5) elements

Coordinate 𝐇𝐱 𝐀𝐱 Coordinate 𝐇𝐱 𝐀𝐱
Node Node
(x, y) (mm) (mm2) (x, y) (mm) (mm2)
1 0, 0 4 648, 0 162 1620
234 2340
2 216, 0 5 864, 0 126 1260
3 432, 0 198 1980 6 1080, 0 90 900

• Forty (40) elements

Coordinate 𝐇𝐱 𝐀𝐱 Coordinate 𝐇𝐱 𝐀𝐱
Node Node
(x, y) (mm) (mm2) (x, y) (mm) (mm2)
1 0, 0 22 567, 0 175.5 1755
265.5 2655
2 27, 0 23 594, 0 171 1710
3 54, 0 261 2610 24 621, 0 166.5 1665
4 81, 0 256.5 2565 25 648, 0 162 1620
5 108, 0 252 2520 26 675, 0 157.5 1575

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 6 135, 0 247.5 2475 27 702, 0 153 1530
7 162, 0 243 2430 28 729, 0 148.5 1485
8 189, 0 238.5 2385 29 756, 0 144 1440
9 216, 0 234 2340 30 783, 0 139.5 1395
10 243, 0 229.5 2295 31 810, 0 135 1350
11 270, 0 225 2250 32 837, 0 130.5 1305
12 297, 0 220.5 2205 33 864, 0 126 1260
13 324, 0 216 2160 34 891, 0 121.5 1215
14 351, 0 211.5 2115 35 918, 0 117 1170
15 378, 0 207 2070 36 945, 0 112.5 1125
16 405, 0 202.5 2025 37 972, 0 108 1080
17 432, 0 198 1980 38 999, 0 103.5 1035
18 459, 0 193.5 1935 39 1026, 0 99 990
19 486, 0 189 1890 40 1053, 0 94.5 945
20 513, 0 184.5 1845 41 1080, 0 90 900
21 540, 0 180 1800

• Eighty (80) elements

Coordinate 𝐇𝐱 𝐀𝐱 Coordinate 𝐇𝐱 𝐀𝐱
Node Node
(x, y) (mm) (mm2) (x, y) (mm) (mm2)
1 0, 0 42 553.5, 0 177.75 1777.5
267.75 2677.5
2 13.5, 0 43 567, 0 175.5 1755
3 27, 0 265.5 2655 44 580.5, 0 173.25 1732.5
4 40.5, 0 263.25 2632.5 45 594, 0 171 1710
5 54, 0 261 2610 46 607.5, 0 168.75 1687.5
6 67.5, 0 258.75 2587.5 47 621, 0 166.5 1665
7 81, 0 256.5 2565 48 634.5, 0 164.25 1642.5
8 94.5, 0 254.25 2542.5 49 648, 0 162 1620
9 108, 0 252 2520 50 661.5, 0 159.75 1597.5
10 121.5, 0 249.75 2497.5 51 675, 0 157.5 1575
11 135, 0 247.5 2475 52 688.5, 0 155.25 1552.5
12 148.5, 0 245.25 2452.5 53 702, 0 153 1530
13 162, 0 243 2430 54 715.5, 0 150.75 1507.5
14 175.5, 0 240.75 2407.5 55 729, 0 148.5 1485
15 189, 0 238.5 2385 56 742.5, 0 146.25 1462.5
16 202.5, 0 236.25 2362.5 57 756, 0 144 1440
17 216, 0 234 2340 58 769.5, 0 141.75 1417.5
18 229.5, 0 231.75 2317.5 59 783, 0 139.5 1395
19 243, 0 229.5 2295 60 796.5, 0 137.25 1372.5
20 256.5, 0 227.25 2272.5 61 810, 0 135 1350
21 270, 0 225 2250 62 823.5, 0 132.75 1327.5
22 283.5, 0 222.75 2227.5 63 837, 0 130.5 1305
23 297, 0 220.5 2205 64 850.5, 0 128.25 1282.5

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 24 310.5, 0 218.25 2182.5 65 864, 0 126 1260
25 324, 0 216 2160 66 877.5, 0 123.75 1237.5
26 337.5, 0 213.75 2137.5 67 891, 0 121.5 1215
27 351, 0 211.5 2115 68 904.5, 0 119.25 1192.5
28 364.5, 0 209.25 2092.5 69 918, 0 117 1170
29 378, 0 207 2070 70 931.5, 0 114.75 1147.5
30 391.5, 0 204.75 2047.5 71 945, 0 112.5 1125
31 405, 0 202.5 2025 72 958.5, 0 110.25 1102.5
32 418.5, 0 200.25 2002.5 73 972, 0 108 1080
33 432, 0 198 1980 74 985.5, 0 105.75 1057.5
34 445.5, 0 195.75 1957.5 75 999, 0 103.5 1035
35 459, 0 193.5 1935 76 1012.5, 0 101.25 1012.5
36 472.5, 0 191.25 1912.5 77 1026, 0 99 990
37 486, 0 189 1890 78 1039.5, 0 96.75 967.5
38 499.5, 0 186.75 1867.5 79 1053, 0 94.5 945
39 513, 0 184.5 1845 80 1066.5, 0 92.25 922.5
40 526.5, 0 182.25 1822.5 81 1080, 0 90 900
41 540, 0 180 1800

• One hundred and sixty (160) elements

Coordinate 𝐇𝐱 𝐀𝐱 Coordinate 𝐇𝐱 𝐀𝐱
Node Node
(x, y) (mm) (mm2) (x, y) (mm) (mm2)
1 0, 0 82 546.75, 0 178.875 1788.75
268.875 2688.75
2 6.75, 0 83 553.5, 0 177.75 1777.5
3 13.5, 0 267.75 2677.5 84 560.25, 0 176.625 1766.25
4 20.25, 0 266.625 2666.25 85 567, 0 175.5 1755
5 27, 0 265.5 2655 86 573.75, 0 174.375 1743.75
6 33.75, 0 264.375 2643.75 87 580.5, 0 173.25 1732.5
7 40.5, 0 263.25 2632.5 88 587.25, 0 172.125 1721.25
8 47.25, 0 262.125 2621.25 89 594, 0 171 1710
9 54, 0 261 2610 90 600.75, 0 169.875 1698.75
10 60.75, 0 259.875 2598.75 91 607.5, 0 168.75 1687.5
11 67.5, 0 258.75 2587.5 92 614.25, 0 167.625 1676.25
12 74.25, 0 257.625 2576.25 93 621, 0 166.5 1665
13 81, 0 256.5 2565 94 627.75, 0 165.375 1653.75
14 87.75, 0 255.375 2553.75 95 634.5, 0 164.25 1642.5
15 94.5, 0 254.25 2542.5 96 641.25, 0 163.125 1631.25
16 101.25, 0 253.125 2531.25 97 648, 0 162 1620
17 108, 0 252 2520 98 654.75, 0 160.875 1608.75
18 114.75, 0 250.875 2508.75 99 661.5, 0 159.75 1597.5
19 121.5, 0 249.75 2497.5 100 668.25, 0 158.625 1586.25
20 128.25, 0 248.625 2486.25 101 675, 0 157.5 1575
21 135, 0 247.5 2475 102 681.75, 0 156.375 1563.75

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22 141.75, 0 246.375 2463.75 103 688.5, 0 155.25 1552.5
23 148.5, 0 245.25 2452.5 104 695.25, 0 154.125 1541.25
24 155.25, 0 244.125 2441.25 105 702, 0 153 1530
25 162, 0 243 2430 106 708.75, 0 151.875 1518.75
26 168.75, 0 241.875 2418.75 107 715.5, 0 150.75 1507.5
27 175.5, 0 240.75 2407.5 108 722.25, 0 149.625 1496.25
28 182.25, 0 239.625 2396.25 109 729, 0 148.5 1485
29 189, 0 238.5 2385 110 735.75, 0 147.375 1473.75
30 195.75, 0 237.375 2373.75 111 742.5, 0 146.25 1462.5
31 202.5, 0 236.25 2362.5 112 749.25, 0 145.125 1451.25
32 209.25, 0 235.125 2351.25 113 756, 0 144 1440
33 216, 0 234 2340 114 762.75, 0 142.875 1428.75
34 222.75, 0 232.875 2328.75 115 769.5, 0 141.75 1417.5
35 229.5, 0 231.75 2317.5 116 776.25, 0 140.625 1406.25
36 236.25, 0 230.625 2306.25 117 783, 0 139.5 1395
37 243, 0 229.5 2295 118 789.75, 0 138.375 1383.75
38 249.75, 0 228.375 2283.75 119 796.5, 0 137.25 1372.5
39 256.5, 0 227.25 2272.5 120 803.25, 0 136.125 1361.25
40 263.25, 0 226.125 2261.25 121 810, 0 135 1350
41 270, 0 225 2250 122 816.75, 0 133.875 1338.75
42 276.75, 0 223.875 2238.75 123 823.5, 0 132.75 1327.5
43 283.5, 0 222.75 2227.5 124 830.25, 0 131.625 1316.25
44 290.25, 0 221.625 2216.25 125 837, 0 130.5 1305
45 297, 0 220.5 2205 126 843.75, 0 129.375 1293.75
46 303.75, 0 219.375 2193.75 127 850.5, 0 128.25 1282.5
47 310.5, 0 218.25 2182.5 128 857.25, 0 127.125 1271.25
48 317.25, 0 217.125 2171.25 129 864, 0 126 1260
49 324, 0 216 2160 130 870.75, 0 124.875 1248.75
50 330.75, 0 214.875 2148.75 131 877.5, 0 123.75 1237.5
51 337.5, 0 213.75 2137.5 132 884.25, 0 122.625 1226.25
52 344.25, 0 212.625 2126.25 133 891, 0 121.5 1215
53 351, 0 211.5 2115 134 897.75, 0 120.375 1203.75
54 357.75, 0 210.375 2103.75 135 904.5, 0 119.25 1192.5
55 364.5, 0 209.25 2092.5 136 911.25, 0 118.125 1181.25
56 371.25, 0 208.125 2081.25 137 918, 0 117 1170
57 378, 0 207 2070 138 924.75, 0 115.875 1158.75
58 384.75, 0 205.875 2058.75 139 931.5, 0 114.75 1147.5
59 391.5, 0 204.75 2047.5 140 938.25, 0 113.625 1136.25
60 398.25, 0 203.625 2036.25 141 945, 0 112.5 1125
61 405, 0 202.5 2025 142 951.75, 0 111.375 1113.75
62 411.75, 0 201.375 2013.75 143 958.5, 0 110.25 1102.5
63 418.5, 0 200.25 2002.5 144 965.25, 0 109.125 1091.25
64 425.25, 0 199.125 1991.25 145 972, 0 108 1080
65 432, 0 198 1980 146 978.75, 0 106.875 1068.75
66 438.75, 0 196.875 1968.75 147 985.5, 0 105.75 1057.5

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67 445.5, 0 195.75 1957.5 148 992.25, 0 104.625 1046.25
68 452.25, 0 194.625 1946.25 149 999, 0 103.5 1035
69 459, 0 193.5 1935 150 1005.75, 0 102.375 1023.75
70 465.75, 0 192.375 1923.75 151 1012.5, 0 101.25 1012.5
71 472.5, 0 191.25 1912.5 152 1019.25, 0 100.125 1001.25
72 479.25, 0 190.125 1901.25 153 1026, 0 99 990
73 486, 0 189 1890 154 1032.75, 0 97.875 978.75
74 492.75, 0 187.875 1878.75 155 1039.5, 0 96.75 967.5
75 499.5, 0 186.75 1867.5 156 1046.25, 0 95.625 956.25
76 506.25, 0 185.625 1856.25 157 1053, 0 94.5 945
77 513, 0 184.5 1845 158 1059.75, 0 93.375 933.75
78 519.75, 0 183.375 1833.75 159 1066.5, 0 92.25 922.5
79 526.5, 0 182.25 1822.5 160 1073.25, 0 91.125 911.25
80 533.25, 0 181.125 1811.25 161 1080, 0 90 900
81 540, 0 180 1800

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