FEA Solution Procedure

(demonstrated with a 1-D bar

element problem)

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

FEA Procedure for Static Analysis

1. Prepare the FE model
a. discretize (mesh) the structure
b. prescribe loads
c. prescribe supports
2. Perform calculations (solve)
a. generate stiffness matrix (k) for each element
b. connect elements (assemble K)
c. assemble loads (into load vector R)
d. impose supports conditions
e. solve equations (KD=R) for displacements
3. Postprocess
MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

1
 Deflection of a Bar Element
• If we fix the left end of a bar (with constant cross
section) it’s end deflection is given by:
PL δ
δ=
AE P

• If the left end is NOT fixed, the relationship

between force and deflection is given by:
AE
(u1 − u 2 ) = F1
L u1 u2
AE
(− u1 + u2 ) = F2 F1 F2
L

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Deflection of a Bar Element

• These two equations can be conveniently expressed in
matrix form as:
AE  1 − 1 u1   F1 
 = 
L  − 1 1  u2  F2 
• The different parts are known as:
AE  1 − 1
k=
L − 1 1 
– the elemental stiffness matrix

u 
– the elemental displacement vector d =  1
u2 
 F1 
– the elemental force vector r= 
 F2 
• This form allows us to easily combine the equations from all elements
of a structure.
MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

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 The 1-D Bar Problem
E.g.
u1 u2 u3 u4
1

2 3 4
P
5

Calculate: - deflections,
- strains,
- stresses, and
- internal forces.
MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

a. Generate Elemental Equations

A1 E1  1 − 1  u1   F1,1  A2 E2  1 − 1 u1   F1,2 

 =   = 
L1 − 1 1  u4  F4 ,1  L2 − 1 1  u2   F2 ,2 
Node number Element number

A3 E3  1 − 1 u2  F2 ,3  A4 E4  1 − 1 u3   F3, 4 

 = 
L3  − 1 1  u3  F3, 3  − 1 1  u  =  F 
L4    4   4 ,4 

A5 E5  1 − 1 u1   F1,5 
 = 
L5  − 1 1  u4  F4 ,5 
MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

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 b. & c. Combine Equations
The global set of equations is obtained by sum-
ming the equations for each force.
In matrix form, the result is:

 A1 E1 A2 E2 A5 E5 A2 E2 A1 E1 A5 E5 
 L + L + L −
L2
0 −
L1
−
L5 
 1 2 5
 u1   R1 
 A2 E2 A2 E2 A3 E3 A3 E3    
− + − 0
 L2 L2 L3 L3   u2   0 
 A3 E3 A3 E3 A4 E 4 A4 E4  u  =  0 
 0 − + −  3  
 L3 L3 L4 L4  u4   P 
 − A1 E1 − A5 E5 −
A4 E4 A1 E1 A4 E4 A5 E5 
+ +
 0
 L1 L5 L4 L1 L4 L5 

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Combined Equations
The different parts are known as:
- the global stiffness matrix (K)
- the global displacement vector (D)
- the global force vector (R)
I.e.: KD=R

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

4
 Combined Loads
• Note also that the internal forces are
balanced by the external applied loads and
reactions:
 F1,1 + F1, 2 + F1,5   R1 
 F +F  0 
   
= 
2, 2 2 ,3

 F3 , 3 + F3 , 4  0 
F4,1 + F4, 4 + F4, 5   P 

• If there are no external loads on a node,

the internal forces must balance to 0.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

d. Support Conditions
• In this example we have one support condition:
u1= 0.
• If we set u1= 0 in the global set of equations, then
the first column of the stiffness matrix is not
necessary, and the bottom 3 equations can be
written as:
 A2 E2 A3E3 A3E3 
 + − 0 
 L2 L3 L3  u2   0 
 − 3 3A E A3E3 A4E4
+ −
A4 E4 u  =  0 
 L3 L3 L4 L4  3   
    
AE A1E1 A4 E4 A5E5  u4   P 
 0 − 4 4 + + 
 L4 L1 L4 L5 
MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

5
 Support Conditions
• As well, the reaction at the boundary can
be solved using the top row equation:
u2 
A2 E2 AE AE  
− 0 − 1 1 − 5 5 u3  = R1
L2 L1 L5  
u4 

• But this must be done after u2, u3 and u4

have been calculated.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

e. Solving for Deflections

• The global matrices (with boundary
condition rows/columns removed) are
solved for deflections (U).
U=K-1F
• In practice, the computer does not actually
calculate K-1 , but solves for U directly,
using some technique such as Guassian
Elimination.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

6
 3.a. Solving for Strain
• Once we know the deflections, we can
calculate the strain for each element.
• In a one dimensional problem, the strain is
given by:
du
ε=
dx
• For the bar,
u2 − u1
ε=
L
MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

3.b. Stress and Internal Force

• Below the yield stress, for a one-
dimensional problem, stress is given by:
σ = Eε
• The force in each bar can be calculated by:

F = σA
or by: AE (u2 − u1 )
F=
L
MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

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 What about Planar (2-D) problems?
• The equation for a bar element with an arbitrary
orientation in planar space is obtained by
transforming the local element coordinate system
to the global coordinate system.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

What about Planar (2-D) problems?

• Mathematically this is done by multiplying
the elemental stiffness equation by a
rotation matrix:

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

8
 Varying cross-section
• A bar element with varying cross-section does
not have constant strain, therefore δ=PL/AE can
not be used.
• We could develop a new equation for a bar with
non-uniform cross-section, but instead, we ap-
proximate the solution with a set of constant
cross-section bar elements.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Distributed Load
• A bar element with distributed loading does not
have constant strain. (δ=PL/AE can not be used.)
• We could develop a new equation for a bar with
distributed loading, but in the Finite Element
Method, we approximate the solution with a set
of bar elements with loaded nodes in between.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

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 Formal Procedure for
Bar and Beam Elements

Another way to calculate the

stiffness matrix!

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Bar Element – Formal Method

• We have shown how to obtain the
elemental stiffness equations for a bar
element using the direct method. We can
also obtain these equations through a more
general, formal procedure.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

10
 Bar Element – Formal Method
For most elements a general formula is used
to calculate k,

where B is the “strain-displacement matrix”

and E is the “material property matrix.”

To obtain B for a bar, we must first find u(x).

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Bar Element – Formal Method

• Let us assume that

(This is correct for a bar with constant cross-section and

no distributed loads.)
• N is called the shape function matrix.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

11
 Bar Element – Formal Method
• The axial strain is given by:

• Thus εx = (u2-u1)/L.
• E is simply the elastic modulus E (a scalar)
• dV is A dx, thus

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Beam Element – Direct Method

• We start with the shape functions.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

12
 Beam Element – Direct Method
• There are two degrees of freedom (dis-
placements) at each node: v and θz. Each
shape function corresponds to one dis-
placement equal to one and all the others
equal to zero.
• Note that everything we do in this course
assumes that the displacements are small.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Beam Element – Direct Method

• Using standard beam deflection formulae and
statics, we solve for one column of k at a time.
• E.g., to solve for column 1 of k:

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

13
 Beam Element – Direct Method
The result is:

which operates on d = [v1, θz1, v2, θz2]T.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Beam Element – Formal Method

• The formal beam element stiffness matrix
derivation is much the same as the bar element
stiffness matrix derivation. We start with the
formula:

• The commonality is that dTkd/2 gives the strain

energy.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

14
 Beam Element – Formal Method

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Beam Element – Formal Method

• Stress is given by:

σ x = My / I

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

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 Beam Element w/Axial Stiffness
• If we combine the above bar and beam
stiffness matrices, we get a general beam
stiffness matrix with axial stiffness.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Uniformly Distributed Loads

can be represented by equivalent loads at
intermediate nodes. Axially:

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

16
 Uniformly Distributed Loads
Laterally:

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Orientating Element in 3-D Space

• Transformation matrices are used to transform
the equations in the element coordinate system
to the global coordinate system, as was shown
for the bar element in 2-D planar space.

MEEM4405 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

17