Lecture 5 Introduction

From previous lectures we understood how to formulate the stiffness matrices for the bar element
and the beam element using the three fundamental conditions:
Equilibrium of Forces

Displacement Compatibility

Laws of Material Behavior

However, such a relationship between forces and displacements may not be available for other types of finite
elements and we need another method to formulate element stiffness matrix. The method for general
formulation of finite elements, which we are going to look at, will utilize the principle of virtual work.
Formulation of element stiffness matrix
the first three steps
Six basic steps involved in the derivation of the element stiffness matrix for a finite element. We
are going to start with the first three steps, with particular reference to beam element.

For this class we are going to see just the first three steps:
Step 1
Select a suitable local co-ordinate and node numbering system and define the degrees of freedom for the

element.

The element stiffness matrix in the local co-ordinates is defined by

= (1)

If an element has m nodes and each node has n DOF, the number of DOF for the element will be =

. Then and will have N rows and will be N x N matrix.

Step 1 Specific case for beam element
The beam element has two nodes, each of which has two DOF: a deflection normal to the beam v and a
rotation about the z-axis .

The number of DOF for the beam element is 4. The nodal forces and displacements vectors are,

respectively,
 Step 2
Select a suitable displacement function , , that uniquely defines the state of displacement at all points
within the element.

Represented by a polinomial expression given by the equation (2) in a matrix form. The assumed polinomial must
contain one unknown coefficient for each DOF possessed by the element.

, , = , , (2)

where the vectors of the displacement function , , and unknown coefficients are of order n and N
respectively and the matrix of polynomial function , , is of order n x N.
Step 2 Specific case of beam element
Since the deflection and rotation vary with x only along the beam element, we have

()
21 =
()

Where = 1 + 2 + 3 2 + 4 3

= = 2 + 23 + 34 2

Step 2 Specific case of beam element
Hence,
1
1 + 2 + 3 2 + 4 3 1 2 3 2
() = 2 = 3
2 + 23 + 34 0 1 2 3 2
4
() 24
41
Step 3
Relate the general displacement function , , to the nodal displacements .
When the element has m nodes, the nodal displacements are

(3a)

Hence, = 1 and substituting this expression into (2) yields

, , = (, , ) 1 (3)
Step 3 Specific case of beam element
1 0 0 0
At node 1 (1 ) = (0) =
0 1 0 0
1 2 3
At node 2 (2 ) = () =
0 1 2 32

1 0 0 0
(0) 0 1 0 0
Then = =
() 1 2 3
0 1 2 32
Step 3 Specific case of beam element
As = , we have

1 1 0 0 0 1
1 0 1 0 0 2
2 = 3
1 2 3
2 0 1 2 32 4

The foregoing equation implies that 1 = 1 and 2 = 1 . Thus, we have

Step 3 Specific case of beam element
Solving the system of equations yields:

Rewriting the above results in matrix form produces:

Step 3 Specific case of beam element
Hence,
Summary
The number of unknown coefficients of polynomial for displacement functions vector is equal to the
number of DOF for the element.

Since rotational displacement is the derivative of translational displacement, the rotational

displacement function is dependant on the translational displacement function.

The matrix represents the values of (, , ) at nodes.

The displacement function is related to nodal displacements through rectangular matrix (, , )

1
and the square matrix .