Finite Element Analysis

of Bidimensional Truss Structures

Consider the truss structure shown in the fallowing figure. Determine:
a) the free displacements;
b) the reactive forces;
c) the axial forces Ni in each bar.
EA is the same for all bars.
E=2.1x106daN/cm2
A=12cm2
P1=10kN
P2=10kN

Step 1: Identification of the finite elements, nodes and the corresponding DOFs.
The structure was divided into 3 finite elements, and the total number of DOFs for the
structure is 6.
The initial data and the nodes coordinates are defined:
ORIGIN := 1
6

E := 2.1 10

A := 12
x 1 := 0

x 2 := 0

x 3 := 600

y 1 := 0

y 2 := 400

y 3 := 0

Step 2: Expressions of the force-displacement relationships, for each finite element.

In order to express the element force-displacement characteristic, the element stiffness matrix for each finite
element is computed.

Element # 1
i := 1
l :=

j := 2

(xj

xi

)2 + (yj

xj xi

cos :=

cos = 0

yi

)2

sin :=

l = 400

yj yi
l

sin = 1

2
( cos) 2
( sin cos)
( cos)
sin cos

2
2
sin cos
( sin)
( sin cos)
( sin)

EA
k1 :=

l
2
2
( sin cos)
sin cos
( cos)
( cos)

2
2
( sin)
sin cos
( sin)
( sin cos)

0
0

0 6.3 104
k1 =
0
0

4
0 6.3 10

4
0 6.3 10

0
0

4
0 6.3 10
0

Element # 2
j := 3

i := 2
l :=

(xj

cos :=

xi

)2 + (yj

xj xi
l

cos = 0.832

yi

)2

sin :=

l = 721.11

yj yi
l

sin = 0.555

2
( cos) 2
( sin cos)
( cos)
sin cos

2
2
( sin)
sin cos
( sin cos)
( sin)

EA
k2 :=

l
2
2
( sin cos)
sin cos
( cos)
( cos)

2
2
sin cos
( sin)
( sin)
( sin cos)

2.419 104

4
1.613 10

k2 =

4
2.419 10

4
1.613 10

1.613 10

2.419 10

1.613 10

2.419 10

1.075 10

1.613 10

1.075 10

4
4

1.613 10

4
1.075 10
4
1.613 10
4
1.075 10
4

1.613 10

i := 1
l :=

j := 3

(xj

cos :=

xi

Element # 3

)2 + (yj

xj xi

yi

)2

sin :=

cos = 1

l = 600

yj yi
l

sin = 0

2
( cos) 2
( sin cos)
( cos)
sin cos

2
2
sin cos
( sin)
( sin cos)
( sin)
EA

k3 :=

l
2
2
( sin cos)
sin cos
( cos)
( cos)

2
2
( sin)
sin cos
( sin)
( sin cos)

4.2 104

0
k3 =
4.2 104

0 4.2 10
0
0

4.2 10

Step 3: Expansion of the elements' stiffness matrices.

Element # 1

k11 , 1

k12 , 1

k13 , 1
k1' :=
k1
4, 1
0

k11 , 2 k11 , 3 k11 , 4 0 0

k12 , 2 k12 , 3 k12 , 4 0
k13 , 2 k13 , 3 k13 , 4 0
k14 , 2 k14 , 3 k14 , 4 0
0

0
0

0
0

0 6.3 104

0
0
k1' =

4
0 6.3 10
0
0

0
0

0 0

0 6.3 10

0 0

0 0

0
4

6.3 10

0 0

0 0

0 0

Element # 2

0
0

k2' :=
0

0
0

0 k21 , 1 k21 , 2 k21 , 3

0 k22 , 1 k22 , 2 k22 , 3
0 k23 , 1 k23 , 2 k23 , 3
0 k24 , 1 k24 , 2 k24 , 3

Element # 3

0
k21 , 4

k22 , 4

k23 , 4
k24 , 4
0

0
k2' =
0

2.419 10

1.075 10

1.613 10

0 1.613 10

0 2.419 10
0

1.613 10

1.613 10

2.419 10

1.613 10

2.419 10

1.075 10

4
1.613 10
4
1.075 10
4
1.613 10
4
1.075 10
0

4
4

1.613 10

 k31 , 1

k32 , 1

0
k3' :=
0

k33 , 1
k3
4, 1

4.2 104

k3' =

4.2 104

k31 , 2 0 0 k31 , 3 k31 , 4

k32 , 2 0 0 k32 , 3
0

0 0

0 0

k33 , 2 0 0 k33 , 3
k34 , 2 0 0 k34 , 3

k32 , 4

0
0

k33 , 4
k34 , 4

0 0 0 4.2 10

0 0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0
0 0 0

0
4

4.2 10

Step 4: Determine the assembled structure stiffess matrix.

K := k1' + k2' + k3'

4.2 104
0

4
0
6.3 10

0
0

K =

4
6.3 10
0

4
0
4.2 10

0
0

4.2 10

6.3 10

0
4

2.419 10

1.613 10

7.375 10

1.613 10

1.613 10

2.419 10

1.613 10

6.619 10

1.613 10

2.419 10

1.075 10

4
1.613 10
4
1.075 10
4
1.613 10

4
1.075 10
0

4
4

1.613 10

Rearranging the assembled structure stiffness matrix:

K := stack ( submatrix ( K , 2 , 2 , 1 , 6) , submatrix ( K , 5 , 6 , 1 , 6) , submatrix ( K , 1 , 1 , 1 , 6) , submatrix ( K , 3 , 4 , 1 , 6) )
K := augment ( submatrix ( K , 1 , 6 , 2 , 2) , submatrix ( K , 1 , 6 , 5 , 6) , submatrix ( K , 1 , 6 , 1 , 1) , submatrix ( K , 1 , 6 , 3 , 4) )

6.3 104

K =

6.3 10

0
4

6.619 10

1.613 10
4

4.2 10

0
4

1.613 10

1.075 10

1.613 10

2.419 10

1.613 10

1.613 10

1.075 10

4.2 10

4.2 10

2.419 10

4
1.613 10
4
1.075 10

4
1.613 10

4
7.375 10
4

6.3 10

0
4

2.419 10

1.613 10

Partitioning the assembled structure stiffness matrix:

Krr := submatrix ( K , 1 , 3 , 1 , 3)

Krn := submatrix ( K , 1 , 3 , 4 , 6)

Knr := submatrix ( K , 4 , 6 , 1 , 3)

Knn := submatrix ( K , 4 , 6 , 4 , 6)

6.3 104
0
0

4
4
Krr =
0
1.613 10
6.619 10

4
4
1.613 10
1.075 10
0

0
6.3 10
0

Krn = 4.2 104 2.419 104 1.613 104

4
4
0
1.613 10
1.075 10

0
4.2 10
0

4
4
Knr =
0
2.419 10
1.613 10

4
4
4
6.3 10 1.613 10 1.075 10

4.2 104

0
0

4
4
Knn =
0
2.419 10
1.613 10

4
4
0
1.613 10
7.375 10

Step 5: Determination of the free displacements and reactive forces.

Free displacements:

0
Pn := 3000 daN
1000

Dn := lsolve ( Knn , Pn)

0
Dn = 0.156 cm
0.048

Reactive forces:
Pr := Krn Dn

3 103

Pr = 3 103

3
2 10

daN

Step 6: Determination of the nodal forces for each finite element.

To ease the computation, we reconstrucy the vectors of the nodal forces and displacements.

0
Dr := 0
0

D := stack ( Dr , Dn)
P := stack ( Pr , Pn)

0
0
D=

0
0.156

0.048

3 103

3 103

2 103
P =

3
3 10

3
1 10

We rearrange the structure external forces and displacements vectors, in the order of the structure
degrees of freedom.

D4 , 1

D1 , 1
D
5, 1
D :=
D6 , 1

D2 , 1

D3 , 1

P4 , 1

P1 , 1
P
5, 1
P :=
P6 , 1

P2 , 1

P3 , 1

0
0.156
D=

0.048
0

0
0

3
3 10

3
3 10
P =
3
1 10

3
3 10

3
2 10

Using the values of the nodal displacements and the element force-displacement characteristic, the nodal forces
and axial forces are computed for each element.
Element # 1
i := 1

j := 2

D2 i 1 , 1

D2 i , 1
d1 :=

D2 j 1 , 1
D

2 j , 1

d1 =
0.156

0.048

F1 := k1 d1

3 103
F1 =

3
3 10
N1 :=

(F11)2 + (F12)2
3

N1 = 3 10

N1' :=

N1' = 3 10

Element # 2
i := 2

j := 3

D2 i 1 , 1

D2 i , 1
d2 :=

D2 j 1 , 1
D

2 j , 1
3
F2 := k2
3 d210

3
2 10

F2 =

3
3 10

3
2 10

(F13)2 + (F14)2

0.156

0.048

d2 =
0

N2 :=

(F21)2 + (F22)2

N2' :=

(F23)2 + (F24)2
3

N2' = 3.606 10

N2 = 3.606 10

Element # 3
i := 1

j := 3

D2 i 1 , 1

D2 i , 1
d3 :=

D2 j 1 , 1
D

2 j , 1

0

0
d3 =
0

0

F3 := k3 d3

0

0
F3 =
0

0
N3 :=

N3 = 0

(F31)2 + (F32)2

N3' :=

N3' = 0

(F33)2 + (F34)2