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EN3037 – Finite Difference Method

Discussion

by
Dr Allan Mason-Jones
Cardiff School of Engineering

EN3037 - Solid Mechanics - Finite Difference Method

Torsion of a Solid Rectangular Bar 2

• Remember the torsion stress function equation?

 2  2
+ 2 = −2G A=1, B=0, C=1 → Elliptic PDE!
x 2
y

• We discretise the cross-section of the bar as follows:

y

δ δ

2
δ
3 0 1
δ
4

EN3037 - Solid Mechanics - Finite Difference Method Figure 1

Torsion of a Solid Rectangular Bar y
3

• Replacing the first derivatives δ δ

1 −  0 0 − 3 δ
  3 0 1

 
δ
4

     
  − 
   x  i  x  j   2  1 +  3 − 2 0
Figure 1

2

 2   2 
 x  0    2
 x 0
  2   2 +  4 − 2 0
and similarly:  2 
 y 0  2

• And the shear equation is finally:

 2  2 1 +  2 +  3 +  4 − 4 0
+ 2   − 2G
x 2
y  2

EN3037 - Solid Mechanics - Finite Difference Method

Torsion of a Square Bar Point of zero
4

shear stress

0 0 0 0 0

α β α Point of max
0 0 shear stress
β γ β values of η
0 0
α β α
0 0
 max
FDM
 0.875 G  a
0
0 0 0 0 0
Figure 5
• The analytical solution is:  max  1.325 G  a

• So there is an error of about 35% for the numerical solution

• Cause: coarse grid (i.e. the space dicretisation is not ‘fine’

enough)

EN3037 - Solid Mechanics - Finite Difference Method

Problem 5

Use the finite difference method to obtain the applied torque T in terms of the twist per
unit length θ for a shaft of square cross-section of side a as shown in Figure 1. Adopt a
square mesh of spacing a/6 as shown.

Figure 1

EN3037 - Solid Mechanics - Finite Difference Method

Solution 6

EN3037 - Solid Mechanics - Finite Difference Method

Solution 7

EN3037 - Solid Mechanics - Finite Difference Method

Problem 8

A solid prismatic bar of octagonal cross-section is shown in Figure 2. The bar is subjected
to torsion, and the distribution of shear stress is to be investigated using the finite
difference method. Using the finite difference mesh shown obtain an expression for the
resultant shear stress at point P as shown. Compare this resultant shear stress with that
which would occur near the edge of a cylindrical bar of radius 3h.

P
h

Figure 2

EN3037 - Solid Mechanics - Finite Difference Method

Solution 9

−4 4 0 0 0 𝜂𝐴 2
1 −4 1 2 0 𝜂𝐵 2
0 1 −4 0 2 𝜂𝐶 = −𝐺𝜃ℎ2 2
0 2 0 −4 2 𝜂𝐷 2
0 0 1 1 −4 𝜂𝐸
ถ 2
𝑨 𝜼

𝑨𝜼 = 𝑏 ⇒ 𝜼 = 𝐴−1 𝑏

EN3037 - Solid Mechanics - Finite Difference Method