Finite Element Method (FEM)

Module Code:

Lecture on Multi Physics of FEM, 15 September 2019

By: Dr. Mesay Alemu Tolcha

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, JiT, Ethiopia.

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Interpolation function for 1D...

1D Linear and quadratic Elements

• Linear Element
N1 N2

1 2 1 2
Figure 1: Linear Element and Corresponding Shape Function

φ(x) = N1 φ1 + N2 φ2 (1)

• Quadratic Element ...

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Interpolation function for 1D

N2 N3
N1

1 2 3 1 2 3
Figure 2: Quadratic Element and Corresponding Shape Function

1D Linear and quadratic Elements

φ(x) = N1 φ1 + N2 φ2 + N3 φ3 (2)
where
3 2
N1 (x) = 1 − x + 2 x 2
L L  
4x  x x 2x
N2 (x) = 1− , N3 (x) = −1 3/29
L L L L
Non-Linear Approximation Scheme/Structure

Quadratic Approximation Scheme

u1 u2 u3 u(x)
x
1 2 3
x
L 1 2 3

To approximate elastic displacement

u = a1 + a2 x + a3 x 2 (3)
Accordingly,
u1 = a 1 (4)
L L2
u2 = a 1 + a 2 + a3 (5)
2 4
u3 = a1 + a2 L + a3 L2 (6)
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Non-Linear Approximation Scheme/Structure...

Equation (4) and (5) put into Eq.(6) and final

u = φ1 (x)u1 + φ2 (x)u1 + ψ3 (x)u3
Then  
h  u1 
i 
u = φ1 φ2 φ3 u2 = [N] {d}
 

u3


Element equation (Assignment prove %)

    
7 −8 1   u1  F1 
 
AE  
−8 16 −8 u2 = F2 (7)

3L  
  
 
1 −8 7 u3 F3


[N] = Approximation Function, {d}= Nodal displacement matrix

and φk (x)= Lagrange interpolation function
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Interpolation function for 1D...

Observation of the above equations leads to generalized

development of shape functions. Let s = Lx , then for the above
element we have r1 = 0, r2 = 0.5, r3 = 1.

The shape functions can have the form,

N1 = C1 (r − r2 )(r − r3 )

N2 = C2 r (r − r3 )

N3 = C3 r (r − r2 )

where C1 = 2, C2 = 4, C3 = 2

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Two-Dimensional Elements

Exercise
• Develop shape functions for four node element and prove that

C1 = − 29 , C2 = 27
2 , C3 = − 27
2 , C4 =
9
2
• Triangular Elements

3 5 7
a) b) c)
8
6
6 4 9 10
5

1 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 4
Figure 3: 2D Triangular Elements with: a) Three Nodes, b) Six Nodes, and c) Ten
Nodes.

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Two-Dimensional Elements...
3(x3 , y3 )

2(x2 , y2 )
1(x1 , y1 )
Figure 4: 2D Triangular Element with Three Nodes

For this two dimensional element with three nodes, the field
variable φ is written as
φ(x, y ) = a0 + a1 x + a2 y (8)
There are three shape functions for this three node element and
equation (8) can be rewritten as,
φ(x, y ) = N1 (x, y )φ1 + N2 (x, y )φ2 + N3 (x, y )φ3
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Two-Dimensional Elements...

where
1
N1 (x, y ) = A ((x2 y3 − x3 y2 ) + (y2 − y3 )x + (x3 − x2 )y )
2
1
N2 (x, y ) = A((x3 y1 − x1 y3 ) + (y3 − y1 )x + (x1 − x3 )y )
2
1
N3 (x, y ) = A((x1 y2 − x2 y1 ) + (y1 − y2 )x + (x2 − x1 )y )
2
 
1 x1 y1
A = 12 1 x2 y2  is area of the triangle.
 

1 x3 y3

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Two-Dimensional Elements...

3
A1
L1 = A
A2
L2 = A
A2 A1
A3
P L3 = A
A3
2 L1 + L2 + L3 = 1.0
1
Figure 5: Area Coordinates

The area coordinates can be used as shape functions as

φ(x, y ) = L1 φ1 + L2 φ2 + L3 φ3 (9)

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Two-Dimensional Elements...

Six-Node Triangular Element

L3 = 0.0
3 3
L2 = 0.5
6 5 6 5
L1 = 1

4 2 4 2
1 1
Figure 6: Six Node Element

The field variable φ for this element is written as

φ(x, y ) = a0 + a1 x + a2 y + a3 x 2 + a4 xy + a5 y 2 (10)

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Two-Dimensional Elements...

Or interms of the shape functions,

6
X
φ(x, y ) = Ni (x, y )φi (11)
1
• The shape functions can be given interms of the area
coordinates as

N1 = L1 (2L1 − 1); N2 = L2 (2L2 − 1); N3 = L3 (2L3 − 1)

N4 = 4L1 L2 ; N5 = 4L2 L3 ; N6 = 4L1 L3

• The area coordinates have great advantage in simplifying

integrations as
Z
a!b!c!
L1a L2b L3c dA = 2A (12)
A (a + b + c + 2)!

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Two-Dimensional Elements...

Rectangular Elements
For rectangular element shown in Figure 7, variation of field
variable φ is given by Eq.(13)
φ(x, y ) = a0 + a1 x + a2 y + a3 xy (13)

4(x4 , y4 ) 3(x3 , y3 )

1(x1 , y1 ) 2(x2 , y2 )

Figure 7: Rectangular Element

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Two-Dimensional Elements...

In terms of the nodal values of φ, Eq.(13) can be written as

 −1  
1 x1 y1 x1 y1 φ1
h i 1 x2 y2 x2 y2  φ2 
 
φ(x, y ) = 1 x y xy  (14)
 
1
  
x3 y3 x3 y3  φ3 
1 x4 y4 x4 y4 φ4

Natural Coordinates
• To reduce the complexity of expressing φ in terms of nodal
values, natural coordinates shown in Figure 8 are used.

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Two-Dimensional Elements...

4(x4 , y4 ) 3(x3 , y3 ) 4(−1, 1) 3(1, 1)

s s
b r r

y 1(x1 , y1 ) 2(x2 , y2 ) 1(−1, −1) 2(1, −1)

y
x a
x
Figure 8: Natural Coordinates

Where,
x −x y −y
r= , s= (15)
a b
x1 + x2 y1 + y2
x= , y= (16)
2 2
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Two-Dimensional Elements...

The interpolation functions can now be given by,

1
N1 (r , s) = (1 − r )(1 − s) (17a)
4
1
N2 (r , s) = (1 + r )(1 − s) (17b)
4
1
N3 (r , s) = (1 + r )(1 + s) (17c)
4
1
N4 (r , s) = (1 − r )(1 + s) (17d)
4
Hence,
φ(x, y ) = φ(r , s) = N1 (r , s)φ1 +N2 (r , s)φ2 +N3 (r , s)φ3 +N4 (r , s)φ4
(18)
Exercise
Develope interpolation functions for 8 node rectangular elements
using natural coordinates.
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Three-Dimensional Elements

Three-dimensional elements can be extended from

two-dimensional ones.
Tetrahedrons are extensions of triangular elements, while
Parallelopipeds are extensions of rectangular elements.

Four-Node Tetrahedral Element

3 3
a) b)

2 2
P

4 4
1 1
Figure 9: a) A Four-Node Tetrahedral Element. b) A four-node tetrahedral
element, showing an arbitrary interest point defining four volumes. 17/29
Three-Dimensional Elements...

Volume Coordinates
Referring to Figure 9 b), we can create volume coordinates as

V1 = Vol (P234), V2 = Vol (P134), V3 = Vol (P124), ... (19)

The volume coordinates are defined as

V1 V2 V3 V4
L1 = , L2 = , L3 = , L4 = (20)
V V V V
The total volume V is given by,
 
1 x1 y1 z 1
11 x2 y2 z2 

V =  (21)
6 1 x3 y3 z3 


1 x4 y4 z 4

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Three-Dimensional Elements...

The field variable φ is given by,

φ(x, y , z) = L1 φ1 + L2 φ2 + L3 φ3 + L4 φ4 (22)
The good feature of the volume coordinates is that it simplifies
integrals.

Eight-Node Brick Element

8 (-1,1,-1) s (1,-1,-1)
a) 7 b)
2c

4 3
r
6 t
5
2b

y 1 2a 2 (-1,-1,1) (1,-1,1)

x
Figure 10: Brick Elements with a)Global and b)Natural Coordinates
z 19/29
Three-Dimensional Elements...

The natural coordinates are given by,

x −x y −y z −z
r= ,s = ,t = (23)
a b c
Coordinate of the centroid is given by,
x1 + x2 y1 + y2 z1 + z2
x= ,y = ,z = (24)
2 2 2
The interpolation functions corresponding to each node is given by
1
N1 = (1 − r )(1 − s)(1 + t) (25a)
8
1
N2 = (1 + r )(1 − s)(1 + t) (25b)
8
1
N3 = (1 + r )(1 − s)(1 − t) (25c)
8

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Three-Dimensional Elements...

1
N4 = (1 − r )(1 + s)(1 − t) (26a)
8
1
N5 = (1 − r )(1 − s)(1 − t) (26b)
8
1
N6 = (1 + r )(1 − s)(1 − t) (26c)
8
1
N7 = (1 + r )(1 + s)(1 − t) (26d)
8
1
N8 = (1 − r )(1 + s)(1 − t) (26e)
8

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Isoparametric Formulation

Isoparametric Formulation I
• In cases of complex geometries, regular shape elements may
not fit the boundaries.
• This situation is handled by mapping the natural coordinates
in to irregular shape elements actual coordinates.
4(x4 , y4 )
3(x3 , y3 )
4(-1,1) 3(1,1)

1(x1 , y1 )
2(x2 , y2 )
1(-1,-1) 2(1,-1) y

x
Figure 11: Mapping of Parent Element to Isoparametric Element 22/29
Isoparametric Formulation...

Isoparametric Formulation II

• Each coordinate in the isoparametric element can be obtained

interms of the shape functions in natural coordinates as,
n
X
x= Ni (r , s)xi (27a)
i =1
X n
y= Ni (r , s)yi (27b)
i =1

The field variable φ is obtained in the usual way as,

n
X
φ(x, y ) = φ(r , s) = Ni (r , s)φi (28)
i =1

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Isoparametric Formulation

Isoparametric Formulation III

• Derivatives of the interpolation functions with respect to the
global coordinates are important in FEM analysis. But the
interpolation functions are mostly given interms of the natural
coordinates. Then there should be some form of
transformation.
∂Ni ∂Ni ∂x ∂Ni ∂y
= + (29a)
∂r ∂x ∂r ∂y ∂r
∂Ni ∂Ni ∂x ∂Ni ∂y
= + (29b)
∂s ∂x ∂s ∂y ∂s
Or in more compact form,
 
" # ∂x ∂y " ∂N #
∂Ni
∂r  ∂r ∂r  ∂xi
∂Ni =  ∂x  ∂Ni (30)
∂y
∂s ∂y
∂s ∂s 24/29
Isoparametric Formulation...

Isoparametric Formulation IV

• construct the element stiffness matrix, determine the strain,

which is defined in terms of the derivative of the displacement
with respect to x.
• The displacement u, however, is now a function of r so we
must apply the chain rule of differentiation to the function u
as follows:
du du dx du du dx
= ε= ⇒ εx =  (31)
dr dx dr dx dr dr
u2 −u1
The derivative of u with respect to r is: du
dr = 2

x2 −x1
The derivative of x with respect to r is: dx
( =) 2 =
dr
L
2
h i u
1 1
Therefore the strain is: {εx } = −1
L L
u2 25/29
Isoparametric Formulation...

Since {ε} the strain-displacement matrix [B] is:

h i
B = −1 1 (32)
L L

• Recall that use of linear shape functions results in a constant

[B] matrix, and hence, in a constant strain within the element.
• For higher-order elements, such as the quadratic bar with three
nodes, [B] becomes a function of natural coordinates r.
• The stress matrix is again given by Hooke’s law as:
{σ} = E {ε} = E [B]{d} (33)
• The stiffness matrix is
ZL
[K ] = [B]T E [B] Adx (34)
0
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Isoparametric Formulation...

• However, in general, we must transform the coordinate x to r

because [B] is, in general, a function of r
• Accordingly, Equation (30) can be written as following using
jacobian matrix, [J].
" # " #
∂Ni ∂Ni
∂x = [J]−1 ∂x (35)
∂Ni ∂Ni
∂y ∂s

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Axisymmetric Elements

Axisymmetric Elements I
• Three-dimensional problems with symmetric nature about an
axis can be reduced to two-dimensional problems.
• Figure 12 shows an example of geometric configuration of such
problems. These kinds of problems are known as axysymmetric
problems.

Axisymmetric Element
(r3 , z3 )
z

x z
(r1 , z1 ) (r2 , z2 )
x
Figure 12: Axisymmetric Element 28/29
Axisymmetric Elements...

Axisymmetric Elements II
• The field variable φ is obtained as,
n
X
φ(r , z) = Ni (r , z)φi (36)
i =1

• Integration of a function in axisymmetric geometry is,

Z Z
F (r , θ, z) = f (r , θ, z)dV = f (r , θ, z)rdrddz (37)
V

• For axial symmetry,

Z
F (r , z) = 2π f (r , z)rdrdz (38)

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