CENG-6502 [FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS IN STRUCTURES]

SECTION TWO
ANALYTICAL COMPUTATION
Overview of the project
This project deals with the two dimensional steel plate element having a central stress free hole.
It is because a plane-stress problem (analysis), which loads are acting in its plane resulting local
stress concentration.

Fig-(2.1) - plate with a hole surface tractions under a state of plain stress
At the hole we will have a maximum stress concentration and the stress concentration factor can
be checked as
𝑎
𝐾 = 1+2
𝑏
Where; a and b are the longitudinal and transverse diameter of the hole and under uniform
tension the maximum stress around the hole is three times higher than the previous one.
That is,
σ max = k* σ

Fig- (2.2) - stress concentration around a hole due to surface traction, T.

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This result is true for plain stress of which the higher stress concentration will occur while crack
exists because of abrupt stress disturbances and hence the presence of hole disturbs the state of
stress in a plate.
The concept of two dimensional state of stress for plain stress is necessary to understand fully
the development and applicability of the stiffness matrix for the above plain -stress element.
Therefore, we will procedurally present the necessary steps in the finite element method
formulation with explanations.
Modeling and the discretization of steel-plate
Modeling is the simulation of a physical structure or physical process by means of a substitute
analytical or numerical construct. It is not only simply preparing a mesh of nodes and elements
but also support conditions are very important. In this specific project before modeling the plain-
stress problem we will use problem reduction approach using axes of symmetry applied to a
plate with a hole subjected to tensile forces.

Fig (2.3 )-Problem reduction using axes of symmetry

The modeling should be good enough to get the results as close to actual behavior of the steel-
plate as possible .And to make modeling of the plate to be good we have to come up with
suitable number, shape and size of the sub-regions, which involves dividing the one -quarter
steel plate in to an equivalent system of finite element associate with nodes called
discretization.
The discretization of one continuous system problem can be approached by defining the
aspect ratio, as ratio of largest to smallest size in discretized subdivision (element). However,
our system is a bit difficult to make the aspect ratio closer to one that yields better results
because of the availability of hole at the center of the plate, it is still possible to get good results

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by using higher order element with a practical number of degree of freedoms around the hole
and reasonable number of elements with a good aspect ratio for the rest part.
Then, the above plain-stress finite element model of one-quarter of the steel plate with the
supporting conditions will be

Fig-(2.4)-finite element model of one-quarter of the steel plate

As we have seen from the support, modeling type can be interpreted as; supporting condition
along the Y-axis shows pin-support and are placed at all nodes and along the X-axis they are
rollers. Realistically, no supports are stiff. But to find nodal displacements and element stresses
in the upper one-quarter steel plate it is better to model supports suited to the intent of traction ,T
versus the response of the plate (i.e. knowing about how element behave) and therefore , we
need to prevent motion of the plate along the Y-axis but , allowed to translate only in the X-
direction.

Finite Element Analysis of the Steel Plate

Finite element analysis is a computational techniques used to obtain approximate solutions of
boundary value problems in the structure system. The analysis of steel plate in a finite element
method by displacement formulation can be computed by computerized model-based simulation
process involves sequence of steps. For this specific project we will present manually in a
procedural manner how does the finite element method work and later under this we will show
all computerized computational detail graphically and tabulated results.
Hence, from the above discretized finite element model let us select element 23 and 24. But
before that we have to change and re-arrange the distributed traction tensile force to the
corresponding nodal force as follows.

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f-1=(L1/2)*T = 50N
L-1
f-2=(L1/2+L2/2)*T = 100N
L-2
f-3=(L2/2+L3/2)*T = 100N
L-3
f-4=(L3/2)*T = 50N
Fig-(2.5)-Nodal force arrangement.
Where,
L-1 = L-2 = L-3 = L = 0.01m
Then the elements 23 and 24 which are three nodded triangular elements will have
corresponding nodal force of;

Fig-(2.6)-Discretized element nodal forces

And to find the nodal displacements and element stresses we need to check nodal continuity
detail for each element.
That is, for the two elements the global nodal numbers are:

Fig-(2.7)-Element nodal continuity detail

Again for each element the global versus local nodal numbers are
Determination of interpolation / Shape Function

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Since the triangular elements on the above has only exterior nodes, the value of the non-nodal
points (that is, in the element interior) can be approximated by interpolating the nodal values by
computing the values of the filed variables at the nodes.
Hence, to describe the field variable by approximate relation we need to identify the
interpolation/ shape functions.
Then, the shape function terms are

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𝑎1 + 𝑏1𝑥 + 𝑐1𝑦 𝑎2 + 𝑏2𝑥 + 𝑐2𝑦 𝑎3 + 𝑏3𝑥 + 𝑐3𝑦

𝑁1 = 𝑁2 = 𝑁3 =
2𝐴 2𝐴 2𝐴
Where,
a1= x2y3 - x3y2, a2= x3y1 - x1y3 , a3= x1y2 - x2y1
b1= x2- y3, b2= y3 – y1, b3= y1 - y2
c1= x3- y2, c2= x1 - x3, c3= x2 – x1

Again,
1 𝑥1 𝑦1
2𝐴 = (1 𝑥2 𝑦2)
1 𝑥3 𝑦3
Then, let as proceed with one by one.
The local nodal coordinates for element -1 are:
1(x1, y1), 2(x2, y2), 3(x3, y3) = 1(0.01, 0), 2(0.01, 0.01), 3(0, 0.01)
The unknown variables are:
a1= 1x10-4 a2= -1x10-4 a3= 1x10-4
b1= 0.01 b2= 0.01 b3= -0.01
c1= -0.01 c2= 0.01 c3= 0
1 0.01 0
2𝐴 = (1 0.01 0.01)
1 0 0.01
= (0.01x0.01)
=1x10-4
Therefore;
N1= 1+100x-100y, N2= -1+100x+100y and N3=1-100x

Hence, the field (i.e. the nodal displacement vector) is given by:

𝑈(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑁1 0 𝑁2 0 𝑁3 0 {𝛿}𝑒
𝑈(𝑥, 𝑦) = { }=[ ]
𝑉(𝑥, 𝑦) 0 𝑁1 0 𝑁2 0 𝑁3

Defining Element Stiffness Matrix

1 𝑏1 0 𝑏2 0 𝑏3 0
[𝐵] = [ 0 𝑐1 0 𝑐2 0 𝑐3 ]
2𝐴 𝑐1 𝑏1 𝑐2 𝑏2 𝑐3 𝑏3

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100 0 100 0 −100 0

=[ 0 −100 0 100 0 0]
−100 100 100 100 0 −100

Because of the problem is a plane stress problem, the elasticity, matrix will be evaluated as:
1 𝜈 0
𝐸 𝜈 1 0
[𝐷] = 2
[ 1 − 𝜈]
1−𝜈
0 0
2
But, from the given data the material is steel plate and we will use the material coefficients to be
adopted in calculations from EBCS-3, 1995, section 3.
Therefore,
Modulus of elasticity (E) = 210 Gpa,
Poison’s ratio (ν) = 0.3
1 0.3 0
210 ∗ 109 0.3 1 0
[𝐷] = 2
[ 1 − 0.3]
1 − 0.3
0 0
2

23.07 6.92 0
10
= 10 [ 6.92 23.07 0 ]
0 0 8.08
Then, the element stiffness matrix will be given by:

[𝐾]𝑒 = ∭[𝐵]𝑇 [𝐷] [𝐵]𝑑𝑣

[𝐾]𝑒 = (𝑡 ∗ 𝐴)[𝐵]𝑇 [𝐷] [𝐵]

Where,
t = thickness of plate = 0.01m,
A = area of triangular element = 0.5(0.01*0.01) m2 = 5*10-5m2

u2 v2 u3 v3 u4 v4
15.577 -7.500 7.500 -0.577 -11.538 4.038 u2
-7.500 15.577 0.577 -7.500 3.462 -4.038 v2
K-1 = 108 * 7.500 0.577 15.577 7.500 -11.538 -4.038 u3
-0.577 -7.500 7.500 15.577 -3.462 -4.038 v3
-11.538 3.462 -11.538 -3.462 11.538 0.000 u4
4.038 -4.038 -4.038 -4.038 0.000 4.038 v4

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In a similar way for element-2, the nodal coordinates are:

1(x1, y1), 2(x2, y2), 3(x3, y3) = 1(0, 0), 2(0.01, 0), 3(0, 0.01)
The unknown variables are:
a1= 1x10-4 a2= 0 a3= 0
b1= -0.01 b2= 0.01 b3= 0
c1= -0.01 c2= 0 c3= 0.01
1 0 0
2𝐴 = (1 0.01 0 )
1 0 0.01
= (0.01x0.01)
=1x10-4

−100 0 100 0 0 0
[𝐵] = [ 0 −100 0 0 0 100 ]
−100 −100 0 100 100 0
Therefore, the stiffness matrix for element-2 is:
u1 v1 u2 v2 u4 v4
15.577 7.500 -11.538 -4.038 -4.038 -3.462 u1
7.500 15.577 -3.462 -4.038 -4.038 -11.538 v1
K-2 = 108 * -11.538 -3.462 11.538 0.000 0.000 3.462 u2
-4.038 -4.038 0.000 4.038 4.038 0.000 v2
-4.038 -4.038 0.000 4.038 4.038 0.000 u4
-3.462 -11.538 3.462 0.000 0.000 11.538 v4
Thus, the global stiffness matrix will be:
u1 v1 u2 v2 u3 v3 u4 v4
15.58 7.50 -11.54 -4.04 0.00 0.00 -4.04 -3.46 u1
7.50 15.58 -3.46 -4.04 0.00 0.00 -4.04 -11.54 v1
-11.54 -3.46 27.12 -7.50 7.50 -0.58 -11.54 7.50 u2
KG = 108 * -4.04 -4.04 -7.50 19.62 0.58 -7.50 7.50 -4.04 v2
0.00 0.00 7.50 0.58 15.58 7.50 -11.54 -4.04 u3
0.00 0.00 -0.58 -7.50 7.50 15.58 -3.46 -4.04 v3
-4.04 -4.04 -11.54 7.50 -11.54 -3.46 15.58 0.00 u4
-3.46 -11.54 7.50 -4.04 -4.04 -4.04 0.00 15.58 v4
Then, using the equation of the nodal force,
{𝐹} = [𝐾]{𝛿}
Where,

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0
0
100
𝐹= 0 N
50
0
0
[ 0 ]

15.58 7.50 -11.54 -4.04 0.00 0.00 -4.04 -3.46 u1 0

7.50 15.58 -3.46 -4.04 0.00 0.00 -4.04 -11.54 v1 0
-11.54 -3.46 27.12 -7.50 7.50 -0.58 -11.54 7.50 u2 100
8
KG = 10 * -4.04 -4.04 -7.50 19.62 0.58 -7.50 7.50 -4.04 * v2 = 0
0.00 0.00 7.50 0.58 15.58 7.50 -11.54 -4.04 u3 50
0.00 0.00 -0.58 -7.50 7.50 15.58 -3.46 -4.04 v3 0
-4.04 -4.04 -11.54 7.50 -11.54 -3.46 15.58 0.00 u4 0
-3.46 -11.54 7.50 -4.04 -4.04 -4.04 0.00 15.58 v4 0

But, to reduce the matrix we need to use Gaussian elimination by applying boundary conditions.
That is.
U1 = V1 = V2 = U4 = V4 = 0
Then, the reduced matrices are:
27.12 7.5 −0.58 𝑈2 100
108 ∗ [ 7.5 15.58 7.5 ] ∗ [ 𝑈3 ] = [ 50 ]
−0.58 7.5 15.58 𝑉3 0
Then,
(27.12 U2 + 7.5 U3 -0.58 V3) = 100-6.................................................... 1
(7.5 U2 +15.5U3 +7.5V3) = 0.5*10-6 ....................................................2
(-0.58U2 +7.5U3 +15.58 V3) = 0 ........................................................3
From equation 3
V3 =0.037U2 -0.481 U3
Then, substituting in to equation 1 and 2;
U2 =3.06*10-8 m, U3=2.186*10-8m, V3= - 0.938*10-8m

Therefore, the displacement vector is:

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𝑈1 0
𝑉1 0
𝑈2 3.063
{𝛿} = 𝑉2 = 0 ∗ 10−8
𝑈3 2.186
𝑉3 −0.938
𝑈4 0
[ 𝑉4] [ 0 ]
Determination of Elemental Stresses
The stresses in the elements will be computed as:
{𝜎}𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡1 = [𝐷][𝐵]{𝛿𝑖1}
𝑈2 3.063
𝑉2 0
𝑈3 2.186
{𝜎}𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡1 = [𝐷]([𝐵])𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡1 ∗ = ∗ 10−8
𝑉3 −0.938
𝑈4 0
{[ 𝑉4 ] [ 0 ] }
𝜎𝑥 1.146
{𝜎}𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡1 = { 𝜎𝑦 } = { 0.146 } 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2
𝜏𝑥𝑦 −0.146

{𝜎}𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡2 = [𝐷][𝐵]{𝛿𝑖2}
𝑈1 0
𝑉1 0
𝑈2 3.063
{𝜎}𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡2 = [𝐷]([𝐵])𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡2 ∗ = ∗ 10−8
𝑉2 0
𝑈4 0
{[ 𝑉4] [ 0 ] }
𝜎𝑥 0.707
{𝜎}𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡2 = { 𝜎𝑦 } = {0.212} 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2
𝜏𝑥𝑦 0

Therefore, the principal stresses and principal angles for each of triangular element are obtained by:
𝜎𝑥 + 𝜎𝑦 𝜎𝑥 − 𝜎𝑦 2
𝜎1 = + √[( ) + (𝜏𝑥𝑦)2 ]
2 2
𝜎𝑥 + 𝜎𝑦 𝜎𝑥 − 𝜎𝑦 2
𝜎2 = − √[( ) + (𝜏𝑥𝑦)2 ]
2 2
And the principal angle is:
2 ∗ 𝜏𝑥𝑦
θp = 0.5 ∗ tan−1 [ ]
𝜎𝑥 − 𝜎𝑦
Hence, for the element -1;

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1.146 + 0.146 1.146 − 0.146 2

𝜎1 = + √[( ) + (−0.146)2 ]
2 2
= 1.168 N/mm2

1.146 + 0.146 1.146 − 0.146 2

𝜎2 = − √[( ) + (−0.146)2 ]
2 2
= 0.126 N/mm2
2 ∗ (−0.146)
θp = 0.5 ∗ tan−1 [ ]
1.146 − 0.146
= -8,710
Again for the element -2;
0.707 + 0.212 0.707 − 0.212 2
𝜎1 = + √[( ) + (0)2 ]
2 2
= 0.495 N/mm2

0.707 + 0.212 0.707 − 0.212 2

𝜎2 = − √[( ) + (0)2 ]
2 2
= 0 N/mm2

2 ∗ (0)
θp = 0.5 ∗ tan−1 [ ]
0.707 − 0.212
= 00

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