Solved Problems

1. Obtain the global stiffness matrix [K] of the assemblage shown in Figure 1 by superimposing
the stiffness matrices of the individual springs. Here 𝑘1 , 𝑘2 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘3 are the stiffnesses of the
springs as shown.

2 3 4

Figure 1
a. Find an expression for the displacements of nodes 3 and 4.
b. Determine the reaction forces at nodes 1 and 2.

Solution:
Discretization into finite elements

𝑘1 Element 1:
(1)
1 2 (1)  f1(1)   k1 −k1  d1(1)x 
𝑓1𝑥 𝑓2𝑥  (1)  =   
x

 f 2 x   −k1 k1  d 2(1)x 

Element 2:
𝑘2
2 3  f 2(2)   k2 −k2  d 2(2)x 
 (2)  =   
(2) (2) x
𝑓2𝑥 𝑓3𝑥
 f 3 x   −k2 k2  d3(2)
x 

Element 3:
𝑘3  f3(3)   k3 −k3  d3(3)x 
3 4
 (3)  =   
x

k3  d 4(3)x 
(3) (3)
𝑓3𝑥 𝑓4𝑥
 f 4 x   − k3

 f1x   k1 − k1 0 0   d1x 
 f   −k k1 + k2 −k2 0  d 2 x 
Assembling the global stiffness matrix  2x   1
 =  
 f3 x   0 −k2 k 2 + k3 − k3   d 3 x 
 f 4 x   0 0 − k3

k3   d 4 x 

(a). Nodes 1 and 4 are fixed, hence from the BC’s, 𝑑1𝑥 = 𝑑4𝑥 = 0 then matrix becomes

 f 2 x   k1 + k2 −k2  d 2 x 
 =  
 f 3 x   − k2 k2 + k3   d3 x 

Introduction to finite element Methods 1

But, 𝑓2𝑥 = 0 and 𝑓3𝑥 = 𝑃
0 = (k1 + k2 )d 2 x − k2 d3 x and P = − k 2 d 2 x + ( k 2 + k3 ) d 3 x
k2 d3 x  k1 + k2 
=  d2 x
k2  k2 
k +k 
d3 x =  1 2  d 2 x
 k2 
Substituting the value 𝑑3𝑥 into the equation
P = − k 2 d 2 x + ( k 2 + k3 ) d 3 x Back substituting the value of 𝑑2𝑥
k +k 
P = − k 2 d 2 x + ( k 2 + k3 )  1 2  d 2 x k +k  k2 .P
 k2  d3 x =  1 2  .
 k2  k1k2 + k1k3 + k2 k3
 − k 2 + k22 + k1k2 + k2 k3 + k1k3  (k1 + k2 ).P
P= 2  d2 x d3 x =
 k2  k1k2 + k1k3 + k2 k3
k 2 .P
d2 x =
k1k2 + k1k3 + k2 k3

(b). In order to find the reaction forces we go back to the global matrix F = [K] {d}

 f1x   k1 − k1 0 0   d1x 
 f   −k k1 + k2 −k2 0  d 2 x 
 2x   1
 =  
 f3 x   0 −k2 k 2 + k3 − k3   d 3 x 
 f 4 x   0 0 − k3

k3   d 4 x 

f1x = k1d1x − k1d 2 x f 2 x = −k1d1x + (k1 + k2 )d 2 x

f1x = −k1d 2 x f 2 x = (k1 + k2 )d 2 x
 k 2 .P   k 2 .P 
f1x = −k1   f 2 x = (k1 + k2 )  
 k1k2 + k1k3 + k2 k3   k1k2 + k1k3 + k2 k3 
− k1k2 P (k1 + k2 )k2 P
f1x = f2 x =
k1k2 + k1k3 + k2 k3 k1k2 + k1k3 + k2 k3

Introduction to finite element Methods 2

 2. For the spring assemblage shown in figure 2, determine he nodal displacements, the forces in
each element, and the reactions. Use the direct stiffness method for all problems.

Figure 2.
Solution:
Discretization into finite elements
Element 1:
4
𝑘1 =10,000=10  f1(1)  −1 d1(1)x 
1 2 4  1
 (1)  = 10    (1) 
x
(1) (1)
𝑓1𝑥 𝑓2𝑥  f2 x   −1 1  d 2 x 

Element 2:
4
𝑘2 =2×10
(2)
2 3 (2)  f 2(2)  4  2 −2  d 2(2)x 
 (2)  = 10    (2) 
x
𝑓2𝑥 𝑓3𝑥
 f3 x   −2 2  d3 x 
Element 3:
𝑘3 = 104
3 4  f3(3)  4  1 −1 d3(3)x 
 (3)  = 10    (3) 
(3) (3) x
𝑓3𝑥 𝑓4𝑥
 f4 x   −1 1  d 4 x 
Assembling the global stiffness matrix
 f1x = ?  1 −1 0 0   d1x = 0 
 f = 450 N   −1 1 + 2 −2 0   d 2 x = ? 
 2x  4 
  = 10  
 f3 x = 0  0 −2 2 + 1 −1  d3 x = ? 
 f 4 x = ?   
0 0 −1 1   d 4 x = 0 
Nodes 1 and 4 are fixed, hence from the BC’s, 𝑑1𝑥 = 𝑑4𝑥 = 0 then matrix becomes
450   3 −2  d 2 x 
 =  
 0   −2 3   d3 x 

From the Second equation, Substituting the value of 𝑑2𝑥 in the first equation
0 = 104 ( −2d 2 x + 3d3 x ) 450 = 104 ( 3d 2 x − 2d3 x )
d 2 x = 1.5d3 x 0.045 = 3(1.5d3 x ) − 2d3 x
0.045 = 2.5d3 x
d 3 x = 0.018m
hence, d 2 x = 1.5d 3 x = 1.5  0.018
d 2 x = 0.027 m

Introduction to finite element Methods 3

➢ The forces in each element,
Element 1:
 f1(1)  4  1 −1  0  x = −270 N
f1(1)
 (1)  = 10   
x

 f2 x   −1 1  0.027  x = 270 N
f 2(1)

Element 2:
 f 2(2)  4  2 −2  0.027  x = 180 N
f 2(2)
 (2)  = 10   
x

 f3 x   −2 2  0.018  x = −180 N
f3(2)

Element 3:
 f3(3)  4  1 −1 0.018 x = 180 N
f3(3)
 (3)  = 10   
x

 f4 x   −1 1   0  x = −180 N
f 4(3)

➢ The reaction forces are obtained using the global matrix assemblage,

f1x = 104  (1 0) + (−1 0.027) + (0  0.015) + (0  0) 

f1x = −270 N
f 4 x = 104  (0  0) + (0  0.027) + (−1 0.018) + (1 0) 
f 4 x = −180 N

Introduction to finite element Methods 4

 3. For the bar assemblage shown in Figure 3, determine the nodal displacements, the forces in
each element, and the reactions. Use the direct stiffness method for these problems.

E =210Gpa
A =4×10−4 𝑚2

Solution:
Both elements have the same Area, Length, and Modulus of Elasticity. Hence
AE 4 10−4 m 2  210 109 N / m 2
= = 84 106 N / m
L 1m

Discretization into finite elements

Element 1: Element 2:
1 2 (1)
2 3 (2)
(1) (2) 𝑓3𝑥
𝑓1𝑥 𝑓2𝑥 𝑓2𝑥

 f1(1)  6  1 −1 d1(1)x   f 2(2)  4  1 −1 d 2(2)x 

 (1)  = 84 10    (1)   (2)  = 84 10    (2) 
x x

 f2 x   −1 1  d 2 x   f3 x   −1 1  d3 x 

Assembling the global stiffness matrix

 f1x = ?   1 −1 0   d1x = 0 
  6   
 f 2 x = 0  = 84 10  −1 2 −1 d 2 x = ? 
 f = −5kN   0 −1 1   d3 x = ? 
 3x 

Nodes 1 is fixed, hence from the BC’s, 𝑑1𝑥 = 0 then matrix will reduce to
 0  6  2 −1 d 2 x 
  = 84 10   
−5000  −1 1   d3 x 

From the first equation, Substituting the value of 𝑑3𝑥 in the first equation
0 = 84 106 (2d 2 x − d3 x ) −5000 = 84 106  −d 2 x + d3 x 
d 3 x = 2d 2 x −5000
= − d 2 x + 2d 2 x
84 106
d 2 x = 5.95 10−5 m
Hence, d3 x = 2d 2 x = 2  5.95 10−5
d3 x = 1.19 10−4 m

Introduction to finite element Methods 5

 ➢ The forces in each element,
Element 1:
 f1(1)  6  1 −1  0  x = −4998 N
f1(1)
 (1)  = 84 10   5
x

 f2 x   −1 1  5.95 10  x = 4998 N
f 2(1)

Element 2:
 f 2(2)  6  1 −1 5.95 10−5  x = −4998 N
f 2(2)
 (2)  = 84 10   −4 
x

 f3 x   −1 1  1.19 10  x = 4998 N

f3(2)

➢ The reaction forces are obtained using the global matrix assemblage,

f1x = 84 106 (1 0) + (−1 5.95 10−5 ) + (0 1.19 10 −4 ) 

f1x = −4998 N −5000 N

4. For the plane trusses with inclined supports shown in Figure 4, solve for the nodal
displacements and element stresses in the bars. Let 𝐴 = 0.0013𝑚2 , 𝐸 = 207𝐺𝑝𝑎, and
L=0.75m. for each truss.

Solution:

➢ All the three elements have the same area

and length hence,

AE 13 10−4 m2  207 109 N / m2

9000N = = 269 106 N / m
L 1m

Figure 4

Discretization into finite elements

Element 1: (Node 1-2)
L
1 = tan −1 ( ) = 45 L1 = 2 L
L
2 2
𝐿1 =ξ2𝐿  2  1 1 1
C = 
2
 = S2 = CS =
𝐿  2  2 2 2

𝜃1 ➢ We will multiply the matrix with 1/ξ2 to get similar expression

1
1 in all the three elements, hence 2ξ2 = 0.35
𝐿

Introduction to finite element Methods 6

  f1(1)
x
  0.35 0.35 −0.35 −0.35 d1x 
(1)

 (1)    
 f1 y  6  0.35 0.35 −0.35 −0.35 d1(1)y 
 (1)  = 269 10  
 f2 x   −0.35 −0.35 0.35 0.35  d 2(1)x 
 f 2(1)y    (1)
   −0.35 −0.35 0.35 0.35  d 2 y 

Element 2: (Node 2-3)

𝜃2 =0°  f 2(2)  0.35 −0.35 −0.35 d 2(2)x 

x  1
 (2)    
3 𝐿2 =𝐿
2
 f2 y  6  0.35 0.35 −0.35 −0.35 d 2(2)y 
 (2)  = 269 10  
 f3 x   −0.35 −0.35 0.35 0.35  d3(2)x 
 f3(2)    (2)
1 = 0  y   −0.35 −0.35 0.35 0.35  d3 y 
C 2 = 1 S 2 = 0 CS = 0

Element 3: (Node 1-3)

3  f1(3)
x
 0 0 0 0   d1(3)
x

 (3)     (3) 
C 2 = 0 S 2 = 1 CS = 0  f1 y  6 0 1 0 −1  d1 y 
 (3)  = 269  10  
𝐿3 =𝐿
 f3 x  0 0 0 0   d3(3)x 
 f3 y   

(3)
 0 −1 0 1   d3(3)y 
𝜃3 =90°

1
➢ Assembling the global stiffness matrix:
 f1x   0.35 0.35 −0.35 −0.35 0 0   d1x 
f   0.35 1.35 −0.35 −0.35 0 −1  d 
 1y     1y 
 f 2 x  
6 −0.35 −0.35 1.35 0.35 −1 0   d 2 x 
  = 269  10   
 f2 y   −0.35 −0.35 0.35 0.35 0 0  d 2 y 
 f3 x   0 0 −1 0 1 0   d3 x 
    
 f3 y   0 −1 0 0 0 1   d3 y 

➢ Applying the boundary conditions

o At node 1 the element is constrained to move only in x-direction only, at Node 2
the element is constrained to move only in x-direction, and at node 3 the element
is fixed which means no movement in the x & y-directions.
o Hence, d1y = d2y = d3x = d3y = 0
➢ The global stiffness matrix after applying the boundary conditions will reduce to,

 f1x  6  0.35 −0.35  d1x 

  = 269  10   
 f2 x   −0.35 1.35  d 2 x 

Introduction to finite element Methods 7

Using the second equation we get, Substituting d1x in the first
0 = 269  10 (−0.35d1x + 1.35d 2 x )
6 equation
9000 = 269  106 (0.35d1x − 0.35d 2 x )
1.35
d1x = d2 x 3.35  10−5 = 0.35(3.86d 2 x ) − 0.35d 2 x
0.35
d1x = 3.86d 2 x d 2 x = 3.35  10−5 m

Hence, back substituting the value we get,

d1x = 3.86(3.35  10−5 )

d1x = 12.93  10−5 m

The usual definition of axial tensile stress is axial force divided by cross-sectional area.
Therefore, axial stress is
x = x
f  d1x 
A d 
  d1 y 
E
Consider the determination of the stress in a truss element.  x =  − C − S C S
L  2x 
 d 2 y 

The stress in element 1: (θ=45°, hence, C=ξ2/2, S=ξ2/2)

12.93  10−5 
 
207  109  2 2 2 2  0 
x = − −  −5 
2  2 2 2 2   3.35  10 
 0 

207  109  2   2 
=  −  12.93  10−5  −   3.35  10 −5  
2  2   2  
= 207  109   −8.14  10 −5 
 x = −1684.98  104 −16.84 Mpa
The stress in element 1: (θ=0°, hence, C=1, S=0) The stress in element 3: (θ=90°, hence, C=0, S=1)

3.35  10−5  3.35  10−5 

   
207  109 207  109  0 
 x2 =  −1 0 1 0


0 
 x =
2
0 −1 0 1  
1 1  0 
 0 
   0 
0
= 207  109 ( −1  3.35  10 −5 ) = 207  109 ( 0 )

 x2 = −693.45  104 −6.93Mpa  x2 = 0

Recall
Introduction to finite element Methods 8