SNS COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

16AE308 FEM UNIT – IV

JACOBIAN MATRIX

What is a Jacobian matrix?

The Jacobian, J , relates an element length in the Global coordinate system to an element length in
Natural coordinate system. In general, J is a function of ξ ,η and depends on the numerical values
of the nodal coordinates.

It is a matrix that contains the derivatives of the global coordinates with respect to the natural
coordinates of a particular element.

Write the Jacobian for 1-D elements?

In one dimensional domain, the transformation from x-cordinate to ξ -coordinate is given by

L 1

∫ f ( x )dx = ∫ f (ξ ) J d ξ
0 −1

where J is the Jacobian.

In one-dimensional domain, the differential element dx in the global coordinate system x is related
dx
to the differential element d ξ in the natural coordinate system ξ by
= dx = d ξ Jd ξ where J is
dξ
dx d  m  m dN i
called the Jacobian of transformation.=
J =
d ξ=
∑ i i  ∑
d ξ  i 1 =
N =
x
i 1
xi
dξ

For a 1-D 2-noded linear bar element:

N1 =
(1 − ξ ) , N2 =
(1 + ξ ) , J = x1
dN1
+ x2
dN 2  1 1 1 L
= x1  −  + x2   = ( x2 − x1 )   =
2 2 dξ dξ  2 2 2 2

Jacobian for 2D elements

 ∂x ∂y   m dN i dN i   dN1 dN 2 dN m   x1 y1 
∑ ∑
m
 xi y ...  y2 
 ∂ξ =
∂ξ  1 1=
dξ 1 1 i
dξ   dξ dξ d ξ   x2
=J =   =   
 ∂x ∂y   m dN i dN i   dN1 dN 2 dN m   ... ... 
∑ xi dη ∑1 1 yi dη 
m
...  
 ∂η   1 1 =
 ∂η =

 dη
 dη dη   xm ym 

What is the importance of Jacobian matrix?

Geometrically, the Jacobean J represents the ratio of an area element in the real element to the
corresponding area element in the master element, dA ≡ dx dy = J d ξ dη . If J is zero, then a non-
zero area element in the real element is mapped into zero area in the master element, which is
unacceptable. Also if J is negative, a right-handed coordinate system is mapped into a left-handed
coordinate system.

A. NAGAMANI DEPT. OF AERONAUTICAL ENGG 16AE308 FEM