Debre Berhan University

College of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Department
Introduction to Finite Element Method
Work Sheet-1

1. For the assembly of springs shown below, determine the global stiffness matrix using
the system assembly procedure.

2. For the spring system given in Figure below,

a. Number the elements and nodes.
b. Assemble the global stiffness and force matrix.
c. Partition the system and solve for the nodal displacements.
d. Compute the reaction forces.

3. In the spring assembly of Figure below, forces F 2 and F 4 are to be applied such that
the resultant force in element 2 is zero and node 4 displaces an amount δ =1∈¿.
Determine (a) the required values of forces F2 and F4, (b) displacement of node 2,
and (c) the reaction force at node 1.

4. A steel rod subjected to compression is modeled by two bar elements, as shown in

Figure below. Determine the nodal displacements and the axial stress in each
element. What other concerns should be examined?

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5. Consider the truss structure given in Figure below. Nodes A and B are fixed. A force
equal to 10 N acts in the positive x-direction at node C. Coordinates of joints are given
in meters. Young’s modulus is E=1011 Pa and the cross-sectional area for all bars are
−2 2
A=2× 10 m .
a. Number the elements and nodes.
b. Assemble the global stiffness and force matrix.
c. Partition the system and solve for the nodal displacements.
d. Compute the stresses and reactions.

6. Figure below shows a two-member plane truss supported by a linearly elastic spring.
The truss members are of a solid circular cross section having d=20 mm and E = 80
GPa. The linear spring has stiffness constant 50 N /mm.
a. Assemble the system global stiffness matrix and calculate the global
displacements of the unconstrained node.
b. Compute the reaction forces.
c. Compute the stresses in bars.

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7. Given the three-bar structure subjected to the prescribed load at point C equal to
1000 N as shown in Figure below. The Young’s modulus is E=1011 Pa, the cross-
sectional area of the bar BC is 2 ×10−2 m2and that of BD and BF is 10−2 m2. Note that
point D is free to move in the x-direction. Coordinates of joints are given in meters.
a. Construct the global stiffness matrix and load matrix.
b. Partition the matrices and solve for the unknown displacements at point B and
displacement in the x-direction at point D.
c. Find the stresses in the three bars.
d. Find the reactions at nodes C, D and F.

8. The plane truss shown in Figure below is composed of members having a square
15 mm ×15 mm cross section and modulus of elasticity E=69 GPa.
a. Assemble the global stiffness matrix.
b. Compute the nodal displacements in the global coordinate system for the loads
shown.
c. Compute the axial stress in each element.

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9. Determine the displacement components at node 3 and the element forces for the
plane truss shown in Figure below. Let A=50× 10−4 m2 and E=210GPa for all
elements.

10. a. Assemble the stiffness matrix for the assemblage shown in Figure below by
superimposing the stiffness matrices of the springs. Here k is the stiffness of
each spring.
b. Find the x and y components of deflection of node 1

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