WinFElt Manual

Problem description
The problem description section is used to define the problem title and the number of nodes and
elements in the problem. The problem description section is the only section which you cannot repeat
within a given input file. The format for a problem-description is given below.
problem description
[ title = string ]
[ nodes = integer ]
[ elements = integer ]
[ analysis = static | transient | modal | static-thermal | transient-thermal | spectral ]
nodes = integer
elements = integer
These numbers will be used for error checking so the specifications given here must match the actual
number of nodes and elements given in the definition sections. Note that the definitions for nodes and
elements do not have to be given in numerical order, as long as nodes 1 ... m and elements 1 ... n (where
m is the number of nodes and n is the number of elements) all get defined in one of the element and node
definition sections in the file.
analysis = problem type
Defines the type of problem that you wish to solve. Currently it can either be static, transient, staticsubstitution, modal, static-thermal, transient-thermal, or spectral. If you do not specify anything, static
analysis will be assumed.

Analysis parameters
The analysis parameters section is required only if you are doing some type of transient, modal, or
spectral analysis (e.g., analysis=transient, analysis=spectral in the problem description section). For
modal analysis it is simply used to set the type of element mass matrices that will be formed, but for
transient and spectral analyses it contains information that further defines the problem and the
parameters for the numerical integration in time.
analysis parameters
[ alpha = expression ]
[ beta = expression ]
[ gamma = expression ]
[ step = expression ]
[ stop = expression ]
[ Rm = expression ]
[ Rk = expression ]
[ nodes = [ node-list] ]
[ dofs = [ dof-list] ]
[ mass-mode = limped | consistent ]
The alpha, beta, and gamma parameters are used in numerical integration schemes (transient and
transient-thermal analysis). start, stop, and step define the range of time or frequency interest for
transient or spectral analyses. In transient analyses, start is meaningless and duration and dt can be
used as aliases for stop and step, respectively. Rk and Rm are global Rayleigh (stiffness and mass)
damping proportionality constants. The node-list is a comma or white space separated list of node
numbers that are of interest in the analysis. Similarly, the dof-list is a list of the degrees of freedom (Tx,
Ty , Tz, Rx, Ry, and Rz) that are of interest.

An object-definition section defines objects of a specified type. Objects include nodes, elements,
materials, constraints, forces, and distributed loads. Each of these types of objects is discussed below.
Multiple object-definition sections are allowed and the sections may occur in any order.
Nodes
Nodes are points in Cartesian space to which elements are attached. A node must have a constraint and
may have an optional force. A node is identified by a natural number. The syntax is as follows:
nodes
node-definitions
where a node-definition takes the following form:
node-number
[ x = expression ]
[ y = expression ]
[ z = expression ]
[ constraint = constraint-name ]
[ force = force-name ]
[ mass = expression ]
The node-number starts the definition. Each node must have a unique number. If a Cartesian coordinate
is not given then the coordinate of the previous node is used. Similarly, if no constraint is given then the
constraint applied to the previous node is used. As above, the assignments can appear in any order and
any number of times. As indicated above, some objects are identified by their name and some by their
number. Elements and nodes have numbers while materials, forces, loads, and constraints have names.
Elements
Elements are linear, planar, or solid objects which are attached to nodes. Each element must have a
material and may have optional loads. Furthermore, each element has a type, or definition. Like nodes,
elements are identified by a unique natural number. Elements of specific type are defined with the
following syntax:
element-type elements
element-definition
where an element-type is one of the following:
spring
beam
CSTPlaneStrain
iso2d-PlaneStrain
quad-PlaneStrain
timoshenko
brick
rod

truss
beam3d
CSTPlaneStress
iso2d-PlaneStress
quad-PlaneStress
htk
ctg

and an element-definition has the following form:

element-number
nodes = [ node-list ]
[ material = material-name ]
[ load = load-name-list ]
The element-number starts the definition. Each element must have a unique number. If no material is
given then the material applied to the previous element is used. The load-name-Iist is a list of up to three
loads to apply to the element. The node-list is a comma or white space separated list of node numbers.

Each type of element requires a certain number of nodes and in some cases a special "null node" which
is numbered zero may be used to indicate a gap or filler in the list.
Materials
Elements are made of a type of material. Each material has a name and certain physical properties not all
of which may be used by anyone element. The syntax for defining materials is as follows:
material properties
material-definitions
where material-definition has the following form:
material-name
[ E = expression ]
[ Ix = expression ]
[ Iy = expression ]
[ Iz = expression ]
[ A = expression ]
[ J = expression]
[ G = expression ]
[ t = expression ]
[ rho = expression ]
[ nu = expression ]
[ kappa = expression ]
[ Rk = expression ]
[ Rm = expression ]
[ Kx = expression ]
[ Ky = expression ]
[ Ky = expression ]
[ c = expression ]

# Young's modulus
# moment of inertia about x-x axis
# moment of inertia about y-y axis
# moment of inertia about z-z axis
# cross-sectional area
# polar moment of inertia
# bulk (shear) modulus
# thickness
# density
# Poisson's ratio
# shear force correction
# Rayleigh damping coefficient (K)
# Rayleigh damping coefficient (M)
# thermal conductivity in the x-direction
# thermal conductivity in the y-direction
# thermal conductivity in the z-direction
# heat capacitance

The material-name starts the definition. If an attribute of a material is not specified then that attribute is
zero. The assignments may occur in any order.

Constraints
Constraints are applied to nodes to indicate about which axes a node can move. The syntax for defining a
constraint is as follows:
constraints
constraint -definitions
where constraint-definition has the following form:
constraint-name
[ tx = c I u I expression ]
[ ty = c I u I expression ]
[ tz = c I u I expression ]
[ rx = c I u I expression I h ]
[ ry = c I u I expression I h ]
[ rz = c I u I expression I h ]
[ itx = expression ]
[ ity = expression ]
[ itz = expression ]
[ irx = expression ]
[ iry = expression ]
[ irz = expression ]

# boundary translation along x axis

# boundary translation along y axis
# boundary translation along z axis
# boundary rotation about x axis
# boundary rotation about y axis
# boundary rotation about z axis
# initial displacement along x axis
# initial displacement along y axis
# initial displacement along z axis
# initial rotation about x axis
# initial rotation about y axis
# initial rotation about z axis

[ vx = expression ]
[ vy = expression ]
[ vz = expression ]
[ ax = expression ]
[ ay = expression ]
[ az = expression ]

# initial velocity along x axis

# initial velocity along y axis
# initial velocity along z axis
# initial acceleration along x axis
# initial acceleration along y axis
# initial acceleration along z axis

The constraint-name starts the definition. A value of c for a boundary condition indicates that the axis is
constrained; a value of u indicates that the axis is unconstrained. An expression indicates a displacement
(non-zero) boundary condition and may contain the t variable for time varying boundary conditions in
transient analysis problems. The initial displacement, velocity and acceleration specifications are only
used in transient problems. A value of h for a rotational boundary condition indicates a hinge. By default,
all axes are unconstrained.
Forces
Forces, or point loads, may be applied to nodes. The syntax for a force definition is as follows:
forces
force-definitions
where a force-definition has the following form:
force-name
[ Fx = expression ]
[ Fy = expression ]
[ Fz = expression ]
[ Mx = expression ]
[ My = expression ]
[ Mz = expression ]
[ Sfx = expression ]
[ Sfy = expression ]
[ Sfz = expression ]
[ Smx = expression ]
[ Smy = expression ]
[ Smz = expression ]

# force along x axis

# force along y axis
# force along z axis
# moment about x axis
# moment about y axis
# moment about z axis
# frequency-domain spectra of force along x axis
# frequency-domain spectra of force along y axis
# frequency-domain spectra of force along z axis
# frequency-domain spectra of moment about x axis
# frequency-domain spectra of moment about y axis
# frequency-domain spectra of moment about z axis

The force-name starts the definition. If the force or moment is not specified then it is assumed to be zero.
The expressions for forces may be time-varying. Time-varying expressions include the single variable t to
represent the current time in the solution of a dynamic problem or consist of a list of discrete (time, value)
pairs. Frequency varying expressions for spectra can also use w to represent the independent variable
(radial frequency).
Loads
Distributed loads, or loads for short, are applied to elements. The syntax for a defining a distributed load
is as follows:
distributed loads
load-definitions
where a load-definition has the following form:
load-name
[ direction = dir ]
[ values = pair-list ]

# direction
# local nodes and magnitudes

The load-name starts the definition. The dir is one of LocalX, LocalY, LocalZ (local coordinate system),
GlobalX, GlobalY, GlobalZ (global coordinate system), parallel, or perpendicular. The pair-list is a

sequence of pairs. A pair is a node number and an expression enclosed in parentheses. The node
number refers to the position within the element rather than referring to an actual node.
Expressions
An expression can be either constant or time-varying. As discussed above, time-varying expressions
contain the variable t or consist of a list of discrete (time, value) pairs. If a time-varying expression is
given where a constant expression is expected, the expression is evaluated at time zero. An expression
has one of the following forms, where all operators have the precedences and associativities given to
them in the C programming language.
expression ? expression: expression
expression II expression
expression && expression
expression I expression
expression ^expression
expression & expression
expression == expression
expression != expression
expression < expression
expression > expression
expression <= expression
expression >= expression
expression << expression
expression >> expression
expression + expression
expression -expression
expression * expression
expression / expression
expression % expression
-expression
! expression
~ expression
( expression )
sin ( expression )
cos ( expression )
tan ( expression )
pow ( expression, expression )
exp ( expression )
log ( expression )
log10 ( expression )
sqrt ( expression )
hypot ( expression, expression )
floor ( expression )
ceil ( expression )
Cmod ( expression, expression )
Cabs ( expression )
number
t

# in-line conditional
# logical or
# logical and
# integer inclusive or
# integer exclusive or
# integer and
# equality
# inequality
# less than
# greater than
# less than or equal
# greater than or equal
# integer shift left
# integer shift right
# addition
# subtraction
# multiplication
# division
# integer remainder
# arithmetic negation
# logical negation
# integer bitwise negation
# enforce precedence
# sine
# cosine
# tangent
# power (exponentiation)
# exponential
# natural logarithm
# base-IO logarithm
# square root
# Euclidean distance
# floor
# ceiling
# floating point remainder
# absolute value
# literal value
# current time

Finally, a discretely valued expression has the following syntax, where the optional + indicates that the list
represents one cycle of an infinite waveform.
( expression ',' expression ) ...[ + ]

Below are a few examples of loading expressions:

F (lbs)

F (lbs)

500

1500

t(s)

t(s)
5

10

15

20

F (fmod(t ,1.0) 0.5 ? 3000 * fmod(t ,0.5) :

F 100 * fmod(t ,5.0)

3000 * (0.5 - fmod(t ,0.5)))

F (0,0.0) (4.99,500.0)

F (0,0.0) (0.5,1500.0)(1,0)

F (lbs)

F (lbs)

2000

1500

t(s)

t(s)
2

10

F (0,2000) (1.99,2000) (2,0) (3.99,0)

F (fmod(t ,4.0) 2.0 ? 2000 : 0)

12

F t 3 ? 650/ 3 * t :
(t 9 ? 650 : (t 12 ? 650/ 3 * (12 t ) : 0))
F (0,0.0) (3,650) (9,650) (12,0) (13,0)

Use WinFElt to determine the nodal displacements and the element stresses.

Assume plane stress conditions. Let E = 30 x 106 psi, = 0.30, and t = 1 in.
Consider the following discretization of two plane stress CST.

WinFElt input file:

problem description
title="CST Sample Problem (Logan 6.2, p.356)" nodes=4 elements=2
nodes
1 x=0
2 x=0
3 x=20.0
4 x=20.0

y=0.0
y=10.0
y=10.0
y=0.0

constraint=pin
constraint=pin
constraint=free force=point
constraint=free force=point

CSTPlaneStress elements
1 nodes=[1,3,2] material=steel
2 nodes=[1,4,3] material=steel
material properties
steel e=30e06 nu=0.30 t=1.0
forces
point fx=5000
constraints
pin tx=c ty=c
free tx=u ty=u
end

WinFElt output file:

** CST Sample Problem (Logan 6.2, p.356) **
Nodal Displacements
----------------------------------------------------------------------------Node #
DOF 1
DOF 2
DOF 3
DOF 4
DOF 5
DOF 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0.00060958 4.1633e-06
0
0
0
0
4
0.0006637 0.00010408
0
0
0
0
Element Stresses
------------------------------------------------------------------------------1:
1004.8
301.44
2.4019
1004.8
301.43
0.19566
2:
995.2
-1.201
-2.4019
995.2
-1.2068
-0.13812
Reaction Forces
----------------------------------Node #
DOF
Reaction Force
----------------------------------1
Tx
-5000
1
Ty
-3002.4
2
Tx
-5000
2
Ty
3002.4