Introduction to Finite Element Method

Judy P. Yang (楊子儀)

Oct. 4, 2016

Department of Civil Engineering

National Chiao Tung University (NCTU)
 Chapter 4 Direct Approach:
Bar Structures
• 4.1 Bar Structures
• 4.2 Element Equation
• 4.3 Assembly
• 4.4 Element Force
• 4.5 Examples
 4.1 Bar Structures
• Bar
– A simple structural element that carries only axial forces and
is subjected to axial deformation (lengthening or shortening)

d
• Bar structure
– All elements have the same axis (co-axial axis)
– The applied axial load has the same axis as the bar
• If the bar elements have different axes, the structure is
termed a truss
 4.1 Bar Structures
• Consider a linear bar element
– The bar has cross-sectional area 𝐴 and length 𝐿 with Young’s modulus 𝐸 in
undeformed (unloaded) and deformed (loaded) conditions

– In the FE representation, the element has 2 degrees of freedom (DOFs),

one at each node, which can only be displaced in the direction of axial
load

f1 , u1 f 2 , u2
 4.1 Bar Structures
• Assume that no distributed loads act on the bar, from force
equilibrium
– 𝑇 = 𝜎𝐴 = 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
• Stress-strain relation
– 𝜎 = 𝐸𝜀
• Strain-displacement relation
𝑑𝑑
– 𝜀=
𝑑𝑑
𝑑𝑑
• Combining the above equations gives 𝐸𝐴
𝑑𝑑
= 𝑇 = 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
𝑑 𝑑𝑑
– 𝐸𝐸 =0
𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑
• Assumptions
– The bar cannot sustain shear force (only axial force exists)
– Any effect of transverse displacement is ignored
– Hooke’s law applies
 4.1 Bar Structures
• Assume a linear displacement function 𝑢
– 𝑢 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 𝑥
– The number of coefficients 𝑎𝑖 in the displacement function is
equal to the total number of DOFs associated with the
element
– BCs: 𝑢(0) = 𝑢1 , 𝑢(𝐿) = 𝑢2
𝑢2 −𝑢1
• 𝑢= 𝑥 + 𝑢1
𝐿
𝑥 𝑥 𝑢1 𝑢
• In matrix form, 𝑢 = 1 − 𝐿 𝐿 𝑢2 = 𝑁1 𝑁2 𝑢1
2
• Interpolation function
𝑥 𝑥
– 𝑁1 = 1 − , 𝑁2 =
𝐿 𝐿

– The linear displacement function 𝑢 plotted over the bar

element
 4.2 Element Equation
• Recall mechanics of materials
– Strain-displacement relation
𝑑 𝑢2 −𝑢1
• 𝜀= = d
𝐿 𝐿
– Stress-strain relation
• 𝜎 = 𝐸𝜀 f1 , u1 f 2 , u2
– Relate force and stress
• 𝑇 = 𝜎𝐴

• Sign convention
– 𝑓2 = 𝑇 (1)
– 𝑓1 = −𝑇 (2)
 4.2 Element Equation
• Nodal force
𝐸𝐸
– 𝑓2 = 𝑇= 𝑢2 − 𝑢1 (1)
𝐿
𝐸𝐸
– 𝑓1 = −𝑇 = 𝑢1 − 𝑢2 (2)
𝐿
– In matrix form
𝑓1 𝐸𝐸 1 −1 𝑢1
– =
𝑓2 𝐿 −1 1 𝑢2
• The element equation for the bar
• Hold for the force and displacement along the 𝑥 axis
• This equation is similar to the spring element if the spring
𝐸𝐸
stiffness is set as
𝐿
 4.2 Element Equation
• Element stiffness equation
𝐸𝐸 1 −1 𝑢1 𝑓1
𝑢 =
𝐿 −1 1 2 𝑓2

• 𝒌𝒌 = 𝒇
𝐸𝐸 1 −1
• 𝒌= element stiffness matrix
𝐿 −1 1
𝑢1
• 𝒖= 𝑢 nodal displacement vector for the element
2
𝑓1
• 𝒇= element force vector
𝑓2
 4.3 Assembly
• Assemble the element equations
– Obtain the global stiffness matrix and the global
force vector by using nodal force equilibrium,
force/deformation, and displacement compatibility
equations
– 𝑲 = ∑𝑛𝑒=1 𝒌𝑒
– 𝑭 = ∑𝑛𝑒=1 𝒇𝑒
where 𝒌𝑒 and 𝒇𝑒 are element stiffness matrices and
force vectors in global coordinates
– 𝑲𝑲 = 𝑭
• Solve for global displacement 𝒅
 4.4 Element Force
• After solving for displacements…
– Element force
𝑓1 𝐸𝐸 1 −1 𝑢1
• =
𝑓2 𝐿 −1 1 𝑢2
– Strain
𝑑 𝑢2 −𝑢1
•𝜀= =
𝐿 𝐿
– Stress
• 𝜎 = 𝐸𝜀
 4.5 Examples
• Example 1
– Consider a two-element bar structure
F2 F3

2 3

F2 F3

– Solution
EA ( 30 ×10 )1
6

=k1 = 1
= 106 lb in
L 30

k2 =
EA2
=
( 30 ×106 ) 2 = 2 ×106 lb in
L 30
 4.5 Examples
• element 1
 k1 −k1   u1   f1(1) 
 −k    =  (1) 
 1 k1  u2   f 2 
• element 2
 k2 − k2  u2   f1(2) 
= 
 −k
 2 k2   u3   f 2(2) 
• Assembly: structural (global) equation
 k1 −k1 0   u1   F1 
 −k k1 + k2 −k2  u2  =
F 
 1  2
 0 − k2 k2  u3   F3 

• BCs: 𝑢1 = 0
 1 −1 0   0   F1   3 −2  u2  100000 
106  −1 3 −2  u2  =100000  106 
−   u  = 100000 
   2 2  3  
 0 −2 2  u3  100000  ⇒= u2 0.2in=
, u3 0.25in
 4.5 Examples
• Reaction force
F1 =
−k1u2 =
−200000lb

• Internal forces in element 1

 f1(1)  6  1 −1  u1   −200000 
 (1)  =
10  −1 1  u   200000 
 f2    2  
2

• Internal forces in element 2

 f1(2)  6  2 −2  u2   −100000 
 (2)  =
10  −2 2   u   100000 
 f2    3  

2 3
 4.5 Examples
• Example 2
– Consider a three-element bar structure

= 1in 2 , E= 30 ×106 psi for all members

A

– Find nodal displacements and element internal

forces
– Solution
=
EA
k =
( 30 ×10 =
)1
6

600000 lb in
L 50
 4.5 Examples
• element 1
 1 −1  u1   f1(1) 
600000     =  (1) 
 −1 1   2   f 2 
u
• element 2
 1 −1 u2   f1(2) 
600000     =  (2) 
 −1 1   3   f 2 
u
• element 3
 1 −1  u3   f1(3) 
600000 
−  u  =  (3) 
 1 1   4   f2 
• Assembly: structural (global) equation
 1 −1 0 0   u1   F1 
 −1 2 −1 0  u   F 
600000   2 =  2
 0 −1 2 −1  u3   F3 
    
 0 0 −1 1  u4   F4 
 4.5 Examples
• Structural (global) equation
 1 −1 0 0   u1   F1 
 −1 2 −1 0  u   F 
600000   2 =  2
 0 −1 2 −1  u3   F3 
    
 0 0 −1 1  u4   F4 
• BCs: 𝑢1 = 𝑢4 = 0
 2 −1 u2   −10000 
600000 
−   u  =  10000 
 1 2  3  
u2 =−0.0056in, u3 = 0.0056in
• Reaction forces
F1 =
−600000u2 =
3360lb
F4 =
−600000u3 =
−3360lb
 4.5 Examples
• Internal forces in element 1
 f1(1)   1 −1  u1   3360 
 (1)  =
600000  −1 1  u   −3360 
 f2    2  

• Internal forces in element 2

 f1(2)   1 −1 u2   −6720 
 (2)  =
600000  −1 1   u   6720 
 f2    3  

• Internal forces in element 3

 f1(3)   1 −1  u3   3360 
 (3)  =
600000  −1 1  u   −3360 
 f2    4  
 4.5 Examples
• Example 3
– Consider a three-element bar structure

= 1in 2 , E= 30 ×106 psi for all members

A

– Find nodal displacements and element internal

forces
– Solution
=
k
EA
=
( 30 ×10 =
)1
6

600000 lb in
L 50
 4.5 Examples
• element 1
 1 −1  u1   f1(1) 
600000     =  (1) 
 −1 1   2   f 2 
u
• element 2
 1 −1 u2   f1(2) 
600000     =  (2) 
 −1 1   3   f 2 
u
• element 3
 1 −1  u3   f1(3) 
600000 
−  u  =  (3) 
 1 1   4   f2 
• Assembly: structural (global) equation
 1 −1 0 0   u1   F1 
 −1 2 −1 0  u   F 
600000   2 =  2
 0 −1 2 −1  u3   F3 
    
 0 0 −1 1  u4   F4 
 4.5 Examples
• Structural (global) equation
 1 −1 0 0   u1   F1 
 −1 2 −1 0  u   F 
600000   2 =  2
 0 −1 2 −1  u3   F3 
    
 0 0 −1 1  u4   F4 
• BCs: 𝑢1 = 0
 2 −1 0  u2   −10000 
600000  −1 2 −1 u3  =  10000 
 
 0 −1 1  u4   0 
⇒=u2 0in, = u3 0.0167in, = u4 0.0167in

• Reaction forces
= F1 600000 ( u1=
− u2 ) 0lb
 4.5 Examples
• Internal forces in element 1
 f1(1)   1 −1  u1 = 0  0 
 (1)  =
600000  −1 1  u = 0  0 
 f2    2   

• Internal forces in element 2

 f1(2)   1 −1  u2 = 0   −10000
 (2)  =
600000     
 f2   −1 1  u3 = 0.0167   10000 

• Internal forces in element 3

 f1(3)   1 −1  u3 = 0.0167  0 
 (3)  =
600000  −1 1  u = 0.0167  0 
 f2    4   