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Rayleigh Ritz Method

This document discusses solving a three bar truss problem using the minimum potential energy principle and the Rayleigh-Ritz method. It first restates the three bar truss problem from an example and calculates the potential energy of the structure in terms of displacements. Taking the derivative of the potential energy with respect to vertical displacement and setting it equal to zero reproduces the same equation as the previous example. The document then introduces the Rayleigh-Ritz method for finite element analysis and expresses displacement variables as approximate functions that satisfy boundary conditions. It states that the total potential energy is assembled and differentiated with respect to the unknown coefficients to solve for displacements and stresses. An example problem is given to illustrate applying Rayleigh-Ritz to

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Shiva Krishna Bhagavatula
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2K views2 pages

Rayleigh Ritz Method

This document discusses solving a three bar truss problem using the minimum potential energy principle and the Rayleigh-Ritz method. It first restates the three bar truss problem from an example and calculates the potential energy of the structure in terms of displacements. Taking the derivative of the potential energy with respect to vertical displacement and setting it equal to zero reproduces the same equation as the previous example. The document then introduces the Rayleigh-Ritz method for finite element analysis and expresses displacement variables as approximate functions that satisfy boundary conditions. It states that the total potential energy is assembled and differentiated with respect to the unknown coefficients to solve for displacements and stresses. An example problem is given to illustrate applying Rayleigh-Ritz to

Uploaded by

Shiva Krishna Bhagavatula
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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140

Finite Element Analysis

LM100
RSu UV =
1
u
23500
10000

N100
T W

OP RS100UV = RS1333
. U
80
Q T W T2.133VW

100

235

Answer

Example 9.4: Solve the three bar truss problem given in Example 8.1 by minimum potential energy principle.
Solution: As given in example 8.1,
l1 = 2.309 m l2 = 2 m and l3 = 4.0 m.

1 = 0.375u + 0.2165v
2 = 0.5u
. u 0.2165v
3 = 0125

and
Strain energy of a bar

1
stress strain volume
2

1
E AL
2

1
EAl 2
2

Potential energy of the structure is


=

1
EAli i2 20v
2

1
EA 2.3094 0.375u + 0.2165v
2
Which is exactly same as in example 8.1.
=

b g

+ 2 0.5u + 4 0125
. u 0.2165v

20v

u = 0.0893u

1
= 0 EA 2.3094 2 0.375u + 0.2165v 0.2165 + 4 0125
. u 0.2165v 0.2165 20 = 0
v
2

gb

This equation is also exactly same as in example 8.1 for vertical virtual displacement. Hence here also

v=

66.048
5898
.
and u =
EA
EA

and member forces are

and

F1=26.045 kN
F2=2.949 kN
F3= - 13.562 kN

Answer

9.5 THE RAYLEIGHRITZ METHOD


The RayleighRitz method of expressing field variables by approximate method clubbed with minimization
of potential energy has made a big break through in finite element analysis. In this article Rayleigh Ritz
method is explained with simple problems.

Assembling Stiffness EquationsVariational Method

141

In 1870 Rayleigh used an approximating field with single degree of freedom for studies on vibration
problems. In 1909 he used approximating field with several functions, each function satisfying boundary
conditions and associating with separate degree of freedom. Ritz applied this technique to static equilibrium
and Eigenvalue problems. The procedure for static equilibrium problem is given below:
Consider an elastic solid subject to a set of loads. The displacements and stresses are to be determined.
Let u, v and w be the displacements in x, y and z coordinate directions. Then for each of displacement component
an approximate solution is taken as

u=

a b x , y , zg for i = 1 to m
i

b g
w = a b x , y , z g for k = m + 1 to m

v=

j x , y , z for j = m1 + 1 to m2

(9.12)

The function i are usually taken as polynomials satisfying the boundary conditions. a are the amplitudes
of the functions. Thus in equation 9.21 there are n number of unknown a values. Substituting these expressions
for displacement in strain displacements and stress strain relations, potential energy expression 9.16 can be
assembled. Then the total potential energy

= a1 , a 2 . .. a m1 , a m1 +1 ... a m2 a m2 +1 ... a m

From the principle of minimum potential energy,

d
= 0 for i = 1 to m .
dai

(9.22)

From the solution of m equation of 9.22, we get the values of all a . With these values of ais and i s
satisfying boundary conditions, the displacements are obtained. Then the strains and stresses can be assembled.
The Rayleigh Ritz procedure is illustrated with small problems below:
Example 9.5: Using RagleighRitz method determine the expressions for deflection and bending moments in
a simply supported beam subjected to uniformly distributed load over entire span. Find the deflection and
moment at midspan and compare with exact solutions.

Solution: Figure 9.8 shows the typical beam. The Fourier series y =

ai sin

m = 1, 3

for simply supported beams since y = 0 and M = EI

d2y

x2

m x
is the ideal function
l

= 0 at x = 0 and x = l are satisfied. For the simplicity

w/unit length

B
l

y
x=0

x=l

Fig. 9.8

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