Introduction to Finite Element

Analysis: Bar and Beam Structures

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 Introduction to
FEM
1. Axial Spring

2. Bar Element

3. Truss Element

4. Beam Element

5. Frame Element 2
 Steps in Finite Element Analysis
1. Discretize and Select Element Type
2. Determine Boundary Conditions (B.C.’s)
3. Derive Element Stiffness Matrix and Equations
4. Assemble Equations and Introduce Boundary
Conditions (B.C.’s)
5. Solve for the Unknown Degrees of Freedom

6. Interpret the Results

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 Finite Element Analysis: Bar Element
E, A, L
 F(i )  =  k  • u(i ) 
    (1) (2)
𝐹1 𝐹2
𝑢1 𝑢2
➢ 𝐹 𝑖 – nodal force matrix
➢ 𝑘 – stiffness matrix
➢ 𝑢 𝑖 – nodal displacement matrix

k − k  EA  1 −1
k  =   =  
 −k k  L  −1 1  4
Finite Element Analysis of Bar Structures

Derive the stiffness matrix [k] for a bar structure

E, A, L

(1) (2)

𝐹1 𝐹2
𝑢1 𝑢2

EA  1 −1
k = 
L  −1 1  5
Finite Element Analysis of Bar Structures

u = a1 + a2 x

at x = 0, u =u1 at x = L, u =u 2
u = a1 + a2 x u = a1 + a2 x
u1 = a1 + a2 (0 ) u2 = u1 + a2 (L )
a1 = u1 u2 − u1
a2 =
L
Finite Element Analysis of Bar Structures

Substituti ng a1 and a2 in u
u = a1 + a2 x
u2 − u1
u = u1 + x
L
u u u = a1 + a2 x
u = u1 − 1 x + 2 x
L L
 x x
u = 1 − u1 +  u2
 L L
u = N1u1 + N 2u 2

x
N1 = 1 −
L
x
N2 =
L
Finite Element Analysis of Bar Structures

u = a1 + a2 x x x
N1 = 1 − , N2 =
L L

Strain − Displacement Matrix, B

 B1  d  N1 
B= = N 
 2
B dx  2
dN 1
B1 = 1 = −
k =  BEB dv
dx L T
dN 2 1
B2 = =
dx L
Finite Element Analysis of Bar Structures

u = a1 + a2 x x x 1 1
N1 = 1 − , N 2 = B1 = − , B2 =
L L L L

k =  BEB T dv but dv = Adx

−1/ L  1 AE  1 −1
L
1
k =  E − Adx =
0
1/ L   L 
L L  −1 1 
Finite Element Analysis of Bar Structures

To Solve for the stress

 = E
u = a1 + a2 x
 = EB u T

 u1 
 = E B1 B2  
u 2 
 1 1   u1 
 = E −
 L L  u 2 
 Example
Determine the stresses in the two bar
assembly shown in the figure below.
Solution

Element 1 Element 2

2 EA  1 − 1 EA  1 − 1
k = k =
L − 1 1  L − 1 1 
1 2
Global matrix

 2 −2 0 
EA 
K= − 2 3 − 1
L  
 0 − 1 1 

Ku=F

 2 − 2 0  u   F 
1 1
EA 
− 2 3 − 1 u  =  F 
L     
2 2

 0 − 1 1  u   F 
3 3
Apply bcs – u1 = 0, u3 = 0 and F2 = P

 2 − 2 0   0   F1 
EA 
− 2 3 − 1 u2  =  P 
L     
 0 − 1 1   0   F3 

3EAu PL
= Pu =
2
2
L 3EA
Stresses
 − 1 1  u 
 = E = EBu = E   
1


  
1 1
L L u 2

u − u E  PL  P
=E 2
= 
1
− 0 =
L L  3EA  3 A
and
 − 1 1  u 
 = E = EBu = E   
2


  
2 2
L L u 3

u −u E PL  P
=E 3
= 0 −
2
=−
L L  3EA  3A
Static Beam Structures
The constitutive equation of the beam element is
 F2(1)  −  u2(1) 
   6 3 L 6 3 L  
 
 M 12(1)  2 D 3L 2 L2 −3L L2 12(1) 
 = 3   

 F2( 2)  L −6 −3L 6 
−3L  u2( 2) 
M   2  
 3 L L 2
−3 L 2 L  
 12( 2)   12( 2) 

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Shape Functions

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 Stiffness Matrix
Formal procedure
• The stiffness matrix for a beam element is:
L
k =  BEIB T dx
0

• Where B – yields curvature d2w/dx2of the beam

element from product Bu.
General form of beam element displacement:

u = 1 + 2x + 3x2 + 4x3

i can be stated in terms of nodal d.o.f.

Finite Element form:

 u2(1) 
 
u = N1 N 4 • 
12 (1) 
N2 N3
 u2(2 ) 
 

 12(2 ) 

Ni - shape function – states the deflected shape associated with a

particular end translation or rotation.
➢ Beam curvature
 u2(1) 
 
d 2u  d 2  12(1) 
K = 2 =  2 N1 N2 N3 N 4  = Bu
dx  dx  u
 2(2 ) 
 

 12(2 ) 
➢ Using given shape function yields:

 6 12 x 4 6x 6 12 x 2 6x 
B = − 2 + 3 − + 2 − 3 − + 2
 L L L 
2
L L L L L
Substituting B and integrating yields:

 6 12 x 4 6x 6 12 x 2 6x 
B = − 2 + 3 − + 2 − 3 − + 2
 L L L 
2
L L L L L
L
k =  BEIB dx T

 12 EI / L3 6 EI / L2
− 12 EI / L 3
6 EI / L 
2

 
6 EI / L2
4 EI / L − 6 EI / L2 2 EI / L 
k=
− 12 EI / L3 − 6 EI / L2 12 EI / L3 − 6 EI / L2 
 
 6 EI / L2
2 EI / L − 6 EI / L2 4 EI / L 
Bending stress - b = My/I, M bending moment from curvature d2u/dx2.

My
Bending Stress,  b =
I
d 2u
M = EI 2 = EIBu
dx
 END

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