School of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Addis Ababa Institute of Technology

Addis Ababa University
Postgraduate Program in Structural Engineering

CE 6504 – FINITE ELEMENT METHOD IN STRUCTURES  DATE:    December 26, 2014 
PROBLEMS FOR EXERCISE    SUBMIT BY:         January 23, 2015 
 

PLANE STRESS AND PLANE STRAIN PROBLEMS   Page 1 of 3

1. Determine equivalent nodal loads in the vector pr due to the restraint

translation urj in the x direction at node i of a constant strain triangle shown
in the figure.

2. Assume that the coordinates of nodes i, j, and k for a constant

strain triangle are given in the figure. Find the equivalent nodal
loads due to a concentrated force P applied at point m.

3. For the constant strain triangle, determine the equivalent

nodal loads due to a linearly varying force (per unit length)
applied in the x direction along edge jk, as shown in the
figure.

4. The figure shows a bilinear displacement rectangle with a small

rigid-body rotation  about its centroid. Construct the nodal
displacement vector qRB, and check to see whether
pre-multiplication with the matrix B produces a null vector of
strains.

5. Assume a restraint translation ur2 in the x direction at node 2 of a

bilinear displacement rectangle (see figure), and find the
equivalent nodal loads in the vector pr.

Shifferaw Taye | FEM First Semester AY 2014/15

School of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Addis Ababa Institute of Technology
Addis Ababa University
Postgraduate Program in Structural Engineering

CE 6504 – FINITE ELEMENT METHOD IN STRUCTURES  DATE:    December 26, 2014 
PROBLEMS FOR EXERCISE    SUBMIT BY:          January 23, 2015 
 

PLANE STRESS AND PLANE STRAIN PROBLEMS (cont'd) Page 2 of 3

6. For the bilinear displacement rectangle, derive the equivalent nodal

loads due to the parabolically distributed force by = by0 (1-2) per
unit length, applied in the  direction along edge 1-2 as shown in
the figure.

7. Suppose that a bilinear displacement rectangle is subjected to a

temperature change that varies linearly from edge 1-4 to
edge 2-3, as indicated in the figure. Develop equivalent nodal
loads due to such a temperature variation, assuming isotropic
material in plane stress.

8. For a linear-cubic rectangle, find the equivalent nodal loads (four

at each node) due to a concentrated force P applied in the 
direction at point m, where ,  = (-0.5, 0.5), as shown in the
figure.

9. Assume that a linear-cubic rectangle has a temperature change

that varies linearly from edge 1-3 to edge 2-4, as indicated in the
figure. Derive equivalent nodal loads (four at each node) due to
this temperature variation, assuming isotropic material in plane
stress.

Shifferaw Taye | FEM First Semester AY 2014/15

School of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Addis Ababa Institute of Technology
Addis Ababa University
Postgraduate Program in Structural Engineering

CE 6504 – FINITE ELEMENT METHOD IN STRUCTURES  DATE:    December 26, 2014 
PROBLEMS FOR EXERCISE    SUBMIT BY:          January 23, 2015 
 

PLANE STRESS AND PLANE STRAIN PROBLEMS (cont'd) Page 3 of 3 

 
The concrete culvert that is 15 m long and
shown in the figure represents a plane strain
problem, Its geometry consists of half a hexagon
with a semi-circular opening. A uniformly
distributed loading by (force per unit length) is
applied to the top edge as shown in the figure.
Values of the physical parameters are as follow:
L= 1.0 m
t= 1.0 m (1.0 m strip assumed)
by = 5103 kN/m
E= 2107 kN/m2
= 0.3

Analysis of the culvert can be perfumed on the

entire structure or on the half model as shown in
the second figure. The chosen half-model
discretization is shown as network of triangles in
the second figure. Restraints needed for the
analytical model consist of rollers at nodes on
the y-axis (in the plane of symmetry) and
pinned supports at nodes on the x-axis (to fix the
base points).

You are now required to investigate the

following:

a. normal stress x along the line AB,

b. normal stress y' along the line CD,
c. normal stress y along the line EF.
d. sketch stress ratios x /by y' /by and y /by

You may use any computer program for the purpose of analysis.

``

Shifferaw Taye | FEM First Semester AY 2014/15