FEM

By Pooja Bhati
 COMPATIBILITY AND COMPLETENESS REQUIREMENTS

• In finite element analysis, solution accuracy is judged in terms of convergence as the element “mesh” is refined.

• There are two major methods of mesh refinement. In the first, known as h-refinement, mesh refinement refers to

the process of increasing the number of elements used to model a given domain, consequently, reducing individual

element size.

• In the second method, p-refinement, element size is unchanged but the order of the polynomials used as

interpolation functions is increased.

If convergence is not obtained, the engineer using the finite element method has absolutely no indication whether the
results are indicative of a meaningful approximation to the correct solution

Along element boundaries, the field variable and its partial derivatives up to one order less than the highest-order
derivative appearing in the integral formulation of the element equations must be continuous

In structural problems, the requirement of displacement continuity along element boundaries ensures that no gaps or
voids develop in the structure as a result of modeling procedure

In the limit as element size shrinks to zero in mesh refinement, the field variable and its partial derivatives up to, and
including, the highest-order derivative appearing in the integral formulation must be capable of assuming constant
values.
The completeness requirement ensures that a displacement field within a structural element can take on a constant
value, representing rigid body motion,
The term isoparametric is derived from the use of the same shape functions (or interpolation functions) N[] to define the
element’s geometric shape as are used to define the displacements within the element

when the shape function is for the displacement, we use for the description of the nodal coordinate of a point on the
bar element and, hence, the physical shape of the element.

Isoparametric element equations are formulated using a natural (or intrinsic) coordinate system s that is defined by
element geometry and not by the element orientation in the global-coordinate system.
And putting the BC in the above equation we get
Putting X3 =a1

Adding and solving

Putting value of a1, a2 and a3

Change s with eta n u got your equation as per chandrupatla book

 Finding the strain displacement matrix B

Strain is defined as
Multiply and divide by 2 and simplify
 Derivation of the Constant-Strain triangular Element Stiffness Matrix and Equations

, consider the thin plate subjected to tensile surface traction loads TS

Step 1 Select Element Type

we consider the basic triangular element

We use triangular elements because boundaries of irregularly
shaped bodies can be closely approximated in this way, and
because the expressions related to the triangular element are
comparatively simple

Each node has two degrees of freedom—an x and a y displacement. We will let ui and vi represent the node i displacement
components in the x and y directions, respectively.
The two-dimensional element is extremely important for (1) plane stress analysis, which includes problems such as plates
with holes, fillets, or other changes in geometry that are loaded in their plane resulting in local stress concentrations

Here xi, yi xj, yj and xm ym are the known nodal coordinates of nodes i, j, and m, respectively.

We use triangular elements because boundaries of irregularly shaped bodies can be closely approximated in this way, and
because the expressions related to the triangular element are comparatively simple
Step 2 Select Displacement Functions

the general displacement function ψ, which stores the functions u and v, can be expressed as
Expressing
equation
We have now expressed the general displacements as functions of {d}, in terms of the shape functions Ni, Nj, and Nm. The

shape functions represent the shape of ψ when plotted over the surface of a typical element. For instance, Ni represents

the shape of the variable u when plotted over the surface of the element for ui =1 and all other degrees of freedom equal

to zero;.
Step 3 Define the Strain/Displacement and Stress/Strain Relationships

Differentiating

the strains in the element are constant. So it is known as constant strain triangle
Putting values of Ni, Nj and Nm in u,x equation we get
 Stress/Strain relationship

Step 4 Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix and Equations

t =constant

Where area is the determinant of the matrix B= [[Bi][Bj][Bm] ]

we see that [k] is a function of the nodal coordinates and D is function for
mechanical properties E and ν
Step 5 Assemble the Element Equations to Obtain the Global Equations and Introduce Boundary Conditions

for the CST element, the body and surface forces can be
lumped at the nodes with equivalent results
When expressed in Cartesian coordinates, the interpolation functions for the triangular element are
algebraically complex

A point x, y can divide the area A into A1 , A2 and A3 and shapes functions
can be represented in terms of area coordinates also
 Point force Traction force
Body force
treatment of body and Surface Forces

Total potential energy

Strain Energy

Potential energy due to body forces

 ψs represents the field of surface displacements through which the surface tractions act, and S represents the surfaces
over which the tractions TS
we express as ψs = [Ns]{d}, where NS[] represents the shape function matrix evaluated along the surface where the surface
traction acts.
Element with centroidal coordinate axes

the body force at node i is then represented by

Surface Forces
assemblage of the Stiffness Matrix
Element 2 calculations