CRICOS No.

000213J
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Theory & Applications in Structural,
Geotechnical and Water Engineering
Finite Element Method
(computer simulations)
Dampers within
a shear wall
Water seepage under a dam
structure
FE of human skeleton
FEA of
composite floors
CRICOS No. 000213J
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Use of FEM in analysis & design
Complex systems in many areas of engineering
cannot be analysed by the usual methods
FE modelling of underground power scheme FE modelling of dampers in a shear wall
simple methods can be incorrect or lead to
very expensive and/or unsafe designs
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As an example, consider a
deep beam 10m long x 4m
deep with multiple supports
and an opening.

Usual beam theory will not
apply and FEM is the answer.

This is a simple example in
FE analysis and we will study
this in class
Cantilevered deep beam in a
high-rise building
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Topics Covered
Basis of FE method

Modelling & element types

Applications in structural, geotechnical & water
engineering

Advanced topics
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Why another method and what can it do
Complex systems requires a new method

Need a computer based method to solve large
systems.

Applications in structural engineering include:
analysis of dams, shells, deep beams with
openings, floor plates, bridge decks, etc
CRICOS No. 000213J
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Basis of method
Divide structure into a number of parts (elements)

Understand & analyse one part or element at a
time
Figure FE Analysis of a wall bracket under point load
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Basis of method contd.
Approximate the variation of the displacement
(or other property) within an element by a
polynomial. The order of polynomial depends on
number of DOF in element

Apply appropriate loads and support conditions
=> governing eqn. for that element.

Do likewise for all the other elements

Computer solution

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Theory of FEM
Extension of stiffness method used in bar type
structures (eg; Space Gas)

Each structure or system has nodes

3 Degrees of freedom (DOF) at each node in a
planar structure.




They are: horizontal and vertical
translations and rotation about
axis normal to structure

Node i
u
xi
u
yi

zi
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Theory of FEM contd.

In bar (or beam) type structures we can derive
force vs displacement relations or stiffness
coefficients at each node (basis of stiffness method)

Eg: At a node in a beam, the stiffness
coefficients are:
linear or axial stiffness = AE/L
A Cross
sectional
area
E, L

F
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Theory of FEM contd.

lateral or shear stiffness =12EI/L
3







1
E, I, L
These and similar stiffness coefficients form a stiffness matrix
1
E, I, L
bending stiffness = 4EI/L
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Theory of FEM contd.
In complex structures, it is not possible to
derive such simple equations and hence we
use the FEM

We assume an approximate behaviour within
an element (polynomial)

Then use an energy based procedure to
determine the stiffness relations

The total energy is minimised to derive the
governing (stiffness) equations
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Theory of FEM contd.
Total energy of an element has 2 parts (static
analysis) internal strain energy & external work

External work W = force x displacement at each
node

Internal strain energy U depends on structural
action and number of degrees of freedom
For axial deformation: U = F x axial displacement
For bending deformation: U = M x rotation
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The start: Line or 1D elements, with 1 dof at each
node => equations for a single spring or axial element:
spring with nodes 1 and 2 has stiffness k

axial displacements at nodes = u
1
, u
2

axial forces at nodes = F
1
, F
2
1
2
F
2
, u
2
F
1
, u
1
k
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Equation for spring element
contd.
External work, W = F
i
u
i
= F
1
u
1
+ F
2
u
2


Internal strain energy, U = k(u
2
u
1
)
2

Net energy
= W U = (F
1
u
1
+ F
2
u
2
) - (u
2
u
1
)
2


Differentiate wrt. u
1
and u
2
, one at a time
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Equation for spring element contd.

governing equations
F
1
= ku
1
ku
2
and

F
2
= -ku
1
+ ku
2

)
`

=
)
`

2
1
2
1
u
u
k k
k k
F
F
{F
e
} = Load vector, [k
e
] = element stiffness matrix
{U
e
} = Displacement vector
{ } | |{ }
e e e
U k F =
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Equations for 2 springs
2 springs with stiffness k
1
and k
2

system has 3 nodes, node 2 is common

nodal displacements = u
1
, u
2
and u
3

nodal forces = F
1
, F
2
and F
3

1
F
2
, u
2 F
1
, u
1
k
1
2
3
F
3
, u
3
k
2
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Equations for 2 springs - contd.
External work, W = F
i
u
i
= F
1
u
1
+ F
2
u
2
+ F
3
u
3

Internal strain energy,
U = k
1
(u
2
u
1
)
2
+ k
2
(u
3
u
2
)
2

Differentiate = (W U) wrt displacements
u
1
, u
2
and u
3
governing equations
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Equations for 2 springs contd.

Upon differentiation we obtain
F
1
= k
1
u
1
-

k
1
u
2
+ 0u
3
F
2
= - k
1
u
1
+ (k
1
+k
2
)u
2
k
2
u
3

F
3
= 0u
1
- k
2
u
2
+ k
2
u
3


[K] =system stiffness matrix, {F} = load vector, {U} = displacement vector

(
(
(

+

=

3
2
1
2 2
2 2 1 1
1 1
3
2
1
0
) (
0
u
u
u
k k
k k k k
k k
F
F
F
{ } { } U K F ] [ =
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Equations for system with 3 springs
4 nodes, 4 nodal forces and 4 nodal
displacements

We can write down the governing equations by
observing the pattern
1
F
2
, u
2 F
1
, u
1
k
1
2
3
F
3
, u
3
k
2
4
F
4
, u
4
k
3
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3 springs using a similar procedure
We need to apply the boundary (or support
conditions) and the loads before we solve - see
numerical example

(
(
(
(

+
+

=

4
3
2
1
3 3
3 3 2 2
2 2 1
1 1
4
3
2
1
0 0
0
0
0 0
u
u
u
u
k k
k k k k
k k k k
k k
F
F
F
F
CRICOS No. 000213J
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Analogous Systems Extending the application of the FEM to
other disciplines
Example 1: truss or axial element (1 dof/node)
spring force F
2
= k(u
2
u
1
) -(1)

strain in truss element c = (u
2
u
1
)/L

stress in truss element = Ec = E(u
2
u
1
)/L

force F
2
in truss element = Ao = AE(u
2
u
1
)/L -(2)
F
2
, u
2
1
2
F
1
, u
1
k
F
1
, u
1
F
2
, u
2
A, E, L 1 2
Spring element Truss element
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Analogous systems contd.
Example 1: truss or axial element (1 dof/node) contd.
comparing equations (1) and (2), we obtain the
equivalent spring stiffness k = AE/L





| |
(

=
1 1
1 1
L
AE
k
e
Hence earlier equations for spring element are
applicable to a truss or axial element when spring
stiffness k is replaced by AE/L
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Ground water flow is governed by Darcys law:
Velocity of flow v = k* (dh/dx)
k* = coeff. of permeability, h = hydraulic head and x is the distance along the
flow (NB: use proper signs)




Analogous systems contd.
Example 2 : porous media (seepage) element (1 dof/node)
V
2
, h
2
V
1
, h
1
L x
k
Here, v
1
, v
2
, and h
1
, h
2
are dependant and
independent variables at nodes (similar to
displacements and forces in structural elements)
CRICOS No. 000213J
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Analogous systems contd.
Example 2 : porous media (seepage) element contd.
For this 2 dof (h
1
, h
2
) element, assuming linear
variation: dh/dx = (h
2
- h
1
)/L

v
2
= k* (h
2
-h
1
)

/L
i.e. equivalent stiffness, k = k*/L

Earlier equations for spring element are applicable
to a porous media element when spring stiffness
k is replaced by k*/L
CRICOS No. 000213J
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FE Modelling & analysis

Modelling a structure (or a system) involves
proper choice of element types

The choice of element type will depend on
structural action. Eg: beam elements used for
frames and plate elements for slabs (and decks)

There are 6 standard steps common to all types
of elements for the derivation of the governing
equations stiffness matrix
CRICOS No. 000213J
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Step 1. Geometry and DOF
Derivation of stiffness matrix
illustrated for beam (1D or line) element
w
1
, (F
1
)
w
2
, (F
2
)

1
, (M
1
)
2
, (M
2
)
Node 1 Node 2
2 DOF / node
Total of 4 DOF in element - w
1
, u
1
, w
2
, u
2
{o
e
}
T
= {w
1
, u
1
, w
2
, u
2
} and {F
e
}
T
= {F
1
, M
1
, F
2
, M
2
}
{F
e
} = [k
e
]{o
e
} [k
e
] = ?
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Stiffness matrix for beam element contd.
Step 2. Choice of displacement function

4DOF

w = o
1
+ o
2
x + o
3
x
2
+ o
4
x
3
-

eqn (1) or

w = [f(x)]{o} - eqn (2)


= dw/dx = 0 + o
2
+ 2o
3
x + 3o
4
x
2
- eqn (3)

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Stiffness matrix for beam element contd.
Step 3. Displacement of internal point in terms
of nodal displacement interpolation
functions

Substitute nodal co-ordinates x = 0 and x = L in
eqns (1) and (3)

w
1
= 1 o
1
+ 0 o
2
+ 0 o
3
+ 0 o
4

1
= 0 o
1
+ 1 o
2
+ 0 o
3
+ 0 o
4
w
2
= 1 o
1
+ L o
2
+ L
2
o
3
+ L
3
o
4

2
= 0 o
1
+ 1 o
2
+ 2L o
3
+ L
2
o
4


{o
e
} = [A]{o} or {o} = [A]
-1
{o
e
} - eqn (4)
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Stiffness matrix for beam element, Step 3 -
contd.
From Eqn. (2), w = [f(x)]{o}

and Eqn. (4), {o} = [A]
-1
{o
e
};

{w} = [f(x)] [A]
-1
{o
e
} - eqn (5)
or
{w} = {N} {o
e
} - eqn (6)

where {N} = vector of interpolation functions
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Stiffness matrix for beam element contd.
Step 4. Strain(s) in terms of nodal displacements
{o
e
}
Note: [A]
-1
and {o
e
} are independent of x and only terms in [f(x)] are differentiated
with respect to x
For beam bending, strain c is measured by
curvature, i.e.
c = 1/R = d
2
w/dx
2
- eqn (7)

Using eqn (5), w =[f(x)] [A]
-1
{o
e
} and eqn (7),

{c} = (d
2
/dx
2
[f(x)]) [A]
-1
{o
e
} or

{c} = [B] {o
e
} -eqn (8)
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Stiffness matrix for beam element contd.
Step 5. Stress in terms of nodal displacements
{o
e
}
If we let [D] = EI, and since c =d
2
w/dx
2
we have

{o} = [D] {c} - eqn (9)
For beam element stress is expressed in terms of
the bending moment,

i.e., {o} = M = EI d
2
w/dx
2
(simple beam theory)
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Stiffness matrix for beam element, Step 5 -
contd.
Using eqns (8) and (9) we obtain

{o} = [D] [B] {o
e
} - eqn (10)
equation 8 {c} = [B] {o
e
}
equation 9 {o} = [D] {c}
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Stiffness matrix for beam element contd.
Step 6. Form net energy and determine
governing equations by minimising
}
= u Md U
2
1
= W (external work) - U (internal strain energy) - eqn (11)
and as, 2
2
1
dx
w d
dx
d
R
= =
u
}
= dx
dx
w d
M U
2
2
2
1
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Stiffness matrix for beam element, Step 6 -
contd.
{ } { }
}

= H
L
e T T e e
T
e
dx B D B F
0
} ]{ ][ [ ] [ ] [ o o o
{ } { }
e
T
e
F W

= o
From eqn (8), {c} = [B] {o
e
} and (10), {o} = [D] [B] {o
e
}
}
= dx U
T
} { } {
2
1
c o Internal strain energy,
External work,
CRICOS No. 000213J
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Stiffness matrix for beam element, step 6
contd.
Minimising with respect to {o
e
} and setting to
zero, we get


0 } { ] ][ [ ] [ } {
) (
0
= =
c
H c
}

L
e T e
e
dx B D B F o
o
Hence the governing equation is: [k
e
] {o
e
} = {F
e
}
and the element stiffness matrix is:
}
=
L
e T e
dx B D B F
0
} ]{ ] ][ [ ] [ [ } { o
[k
e
]
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Stiffness matrix for beam element contd.
}
=
L
T e
dx B D B k
0
] ][ [ ] [ ] [
Stiffness matrix for a beam element
(
(
(
(

=
2 2
2 2
3
4 6 2 6
6 12 6 12
2 6 4 6
6 12 6 12
] [
L L L L
L L
L L L L
L L
L
EI
k
e
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Steps in the development of governing
equations static analysis
There are 6 steps common to all elements

Step 1. Geometry and DOF: define nodal
displacement and force vectors {o
e
}

and {F
e
}



Step 2. Fit a displacement function (depends on no.
of DOF)

Step 3. Get internal displacements {o} in terms of
nodal displacements {o
e
} =>interpolation
function [N]
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Steps in the development. contd.
Step 4. Strain vs (nodal) displacement relations
(depends on type of structural action)

Step 5. Stress vs strain relations (depends on type
of deformation) and then
stress vs of nodal displacements

Step 6. Get net energy and minimise w.r.t. o
e

governing equations and stiffness matrix k
e

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(
(
(
(

=
2
3 2
3 2 1 0
1
0 0 1 0
0 0 0 1
] [
L L
L L L
A
Return
| |
(
(
(
(

2 3 2 3
2 2
1
1 2 1 2
1 3 2 3
0 0 1 0
0 0 0 1
L L L L
L L L L
A
Matrix [A] and [A]
-1
for beam elements