ethod of Finite Elements II

Assignment #1

Method of Finite Elements II

Consider a steady state heat transfer problem (i.e. is the temperature) in a one dimensional
Method of Finite Elements I
channel (of a unit cross-sectional are) as a fluid flows through it with prescribed velocity
under a temperature gradient

Assignment #1

Handout-Date: 06.03.2017
=
Handin-Date: 0
3 weeks after hand-out
Name:
( = 0) =
Student-Nr.:

( = )=

where is the diffusivity of the fluid.

The analytical solution of the problem is given by

( ) 1
= 0
Professor: ( Prof.
) 1Dr. Eleni Chatzi
HIL E 14.3
where P = is known as the Peclet number.Adrian
Assistant: ChooseEgger
the following parameters: = 1, =
HIL E 13.1
1, = 0 and answer the following questions:
Konstantinos Tatsis
HIL H 33.1
Charilaos Mylonas
HIL H 33.1
Overview

In this assignment, you will solve a simple truss structure (Figure 0.1) using three different methods:

1. Solve the system by hand.

2. Program a simple version of matrix structural analysis in Matlab.
3. Utilize commercial structural analysis software.

6 6 6 6

30 30

50
Figure 0.1: The considered truss structure

The E-modulus of each element is given as E = 200 [GPa], the cross-sections of the chords (dark blue) are given
as A chord = 40 103 [ mm2 ] and the webs (dark red) have a cross-sectional area A web = 25 103 [ mm2 ]. All forces
are given in [ kN ] and all lengths are specified in [ m]. All elements are trusses.

Solving the System by Hand

First, exploit the symmetry to simplify the truss structure. Analyse the structure and calculate (1) the displace-
ments at each node, (2) the internal forces for each truss element and (3) the support reactions. You may consult
the corresponding demo on the class website. For the linear algebra operations, you may use software packages
such as Matlab, Mathematica, MathCAD, Maple and the likes. The steps however, must be easily comprehensible,
documented and reproducible.

Programming Matrix Structural Analysis in Matlab

Having calculated the structures response by hand, you should now be able to implement the same in Matlab,
but now in a structure manner including loops. Your program should only require the following input:

Matrix of nodes
Matrix of elements
Matrix of material properties
Matrix of loads
Matrix of boundary conditions

Once these are specified as input, your program should output the system displacements vector, the internal
forces of each member and the support reactions. To this end, you will likely wish to use Matlabs inbuilt publish
options, which saves the source code and generated output as pdf files.
Include as part of a small report:

A flowchart describing your code

How your program references nodes, elements and associated degrees of freedom (DOF). Which implicit
assumptions does your program make?
How you implemented the boundary conditions
How you implemented the assembly procedure
Verification by Commercial Structural Analysis Software
Use any commercial structural analysis software of your choosing to verify your hand calculation and Matlab
results. Contrast the results obtained with the commercial software to those obtained with Matlab. Include this
as part of the small report.

Extra Credit
Assume a manufacturing error occurred and one of the truss elements is too large in length. Describe qualitatively
how you would incorporate this in your analysis. What additional steps must be included?

Deliverables
Please submit the following in electronic format to Adrian Egger (egger at ibk (dot) baug (dot) ethz (dot) ch):

Hand calculations with all steps discernible

Matlab matrix structural analysis code with output
Your third party structural analysis model with output
A small report summarizing your work as described in the above tasks