MANE 4240 & CIVL 4240

Introduction to Finite Elements

Practical considerations
in FEM modeling
Prof. Suvranu De
Reading assignment:

Logan Chap 7 + Lecture notes
Summary:

Aspect ratio and element shapes
Use of symmetry
Natural subdivisions at discontinuities
Stress equilibrium in FEM solutions
2002 Brooks/Cole Publishing / Thomson Learning
Figure 7-1a (a) Beam with
loading: effects of the aspect
ratio (AR) illustrated by the
five cases with different
aspect ratios
Aspect ratio = longest
dimension/ shortest
dimension
Aspect ratio and element shapes
2002 Brooks/Cole Publishing / Thomson Learning
Figure 7-1b (b) Inaccuracy of solution as a function of the aspect
ratio (numbers in parentheses correspond to the cases listed in
Table 7-1)
2002 Brooks/Cole Publishing / Thomson Learning
Figure 7-2 Elements with poor shapes
Avoid abrupt changes in element sizes
Abrupt change in
element size
Gradual change in
element size
Examples of how NOT to connect elements
2002 Brooks/Cole Publishing / Thomson Learning
Figure 7-3 Use of symmetry applied to a soil mass subjected to
foundation loading (number of nodes = 66, number of elements
= 50) (2.54 cm = 1 in., 4.445 N = 1 lb)
Use of symmetry in modeling
2002 Brooks/Cole Publishing / Thomson Learning
Figure 7-4 Use of symmetry applied to a uniaxially loaded
member with a fillet
2002 Brooks/Cole Publishing / Thomson Learning
Figure 7-5 Problem reduction
using axes of symmetry applied
to a plate with a hole subjected
to tensile force
Natural subdivisions at discontinuities
Look before you leap!
1. Check the model that you have developed:
Boundary conditions
Loadings
Symmetry?
Element aspect ratios/shapes
Mesh gradation

2. Check the results
Eyeball
Anything funny (nonzero displacements where they should be zero?)
Are stress concentrations in places that you expect?
Comparison with known analytical solution/literature

3. If you remesh the same problem and analyze, do the solutions converge?
(specifically check for convergence in strain energy)

Stress equilibrium in FEM analysis
Example:
80cm
1
2
2
( ) 1
40
x
A x sqcm
| |
= +
|
\ .
Consider a linear elastic bar with varying cross section
P=3E/80
x
The governing differential (equilibrium) equation
( ) 0 (0,80)
d du
E A x for x
dx dx
| |
= e
|
\ .
Boundary conditions
80
( 0) 0
3
80
x cm
u x
du E
EA P
dx
=
= =
= =
Analytical solution
3 1
( ) 1
2
1
40
exact
u x
x
| |
|
=
|
|
+
|
\ .
Eq(1)
E: Youngs modulus
Lets us discretize the bar using a 2-noded (linear) bar element. The finite element
approximation within the bar is
1 1 2 2
( ) ( ) ( )
FEM
x x
u x N x u N x u = +
where the shape functions
1
2
( ) 1
80
( )
80
x
N x
x
N x
=
=
If we incorporate the boundary condition at x=0
2 2 2
( ) ( )
80
FEM
x x
x
u x N x u u = =
Does this solution satisfy the equilibrium equation (Eq 1)?
2
2
2
2
1
40
( ) 1 ??
80 80 40
FEM
x
x
x
u d du d d x
E A x E u
dx dx dx dx
| |
| |
+ |
|
| |
| |
\ .
|
= = + =
|
|
|
\ .
\ .
|
|
\ .
Conclusion: The FEM displacement field does NOT satisfy the equilibrium
equations at every point inside the elements.

However, the solution gets better as the mesh is refined.
Stress equilibrium in FEM analysis
To obtain exact solution of the mathematical model in solid
mechanics we need to satisfy
1. Compatibility
2. Stress-strain law
3. Stress-equilibrium
at every point in the computational domain.

In a FE model one satisfies the first 2 conditions exactly.
But stress-equilibrium is NOT satisfied point wise.
Question: Then what is satisfied?
Let us compute the FEM solution using a bar element
The stiffness matrix is
80
0
2
( )
1 1
1 1 80
1 1
13
1 1 240
x
E A x dx
K
E
=
(
=
(

(
=
(

}
The system equations to solve are
1 1
2
1 1
13
1 1 240
x x
x
u f
E
u P
(
=
` `
(

) )
With u
1x
=0; we solve for
2
240 240 3 9
13 13 80 13
x
P E
u cm
E E
| || |
= = =
| |
\ .\ .
(Note that the exact solution for the displacement at node 2 is 1cm!!)
Let us now compute the nodal forces due to element stresses using the formula
f Kd =
1 1
13
1 1 240
E
K
(
=
(

0
9
13
d


=
`

)
3
0
1 1
13
80
9
1 1 3 240
13
80
E
E
f Kd
E

(

= = =
` `
(

)

)
1. Element equilibrium
2. Nodal equilibrium
P=3E/80
1
3
80
x
E
f =
2
3
80
x
E
f =
Two observations
The following two properties are ALWAYS satisfied by the
FEM solution using a coarse or a fine mesh

Property 1: Nodal point equilibrium
Property 2. Element equilibrium
El #4 El #3
El #1
El #2
P

PROPERTY 1: (Nodal point equilibrium) At any node the
sum of the element nodal point forces is in equilibrium with the
externally applied loads (including all effects due to body forces,
surface tractions, initial stresses, concentrated loads, inertia,
damping and reaction)
How to compute the nodal reaction forces for a given finite element?
( )
}
}
}
=
=
|
.
|

\
|
= =
e
e
e
V
T
V
T
V
T
dV B
dV d B D B
d dV B D B d k f
t
}
=
e
V
T
dV B f t
Once we have computed the element stress, we may obtain the
nodal reaction forces as
El #4 El #3
El #1
El #2
P
This is equal in
magnitude and in the
same direction as P
Sum of forces equal externally applied load (=0 at this node)
Nodal point equilibrium implies:
PROPERTY 2: (Element equilibrium) Each element is in
equilibrium under its forces f
i.e., each element is under force and moment equilibrium
e.g.,
F
3x
F
2x F
1x
F
4x
F
1y
F
2y
F
3y
F
4y
Define | |
T
d 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 =
( )
0 0 = = =
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
}
}
d B
dV B d
dV B d f d
e
e
V
T T
V
T T T
c
t
t

1 2 3 4
T
x x x x
d f F F F F = + + +
But
since this is a rigid
body
displacement, the
strains are zero
Hence
1 2 3 4
0
x x x x
F F F F + + + =
as a rigid body displacement in x-direction
Example (Finite Element Procedures, Bathe 1996)
NOTE: In a finite element analysis

1. Stress equilibrium violated inside each element
2. Stresses are discontinuous across elements
3. Stresses are not in equilibrium with the applied traction



2002 Brooks/Cole Publishing / Thomson Learning
Figure7-10 Example 6.2, illustrating violation of equilibrium of
a differential element and along the diagonal edge between two
elements (the coarseness of the mesh amplifies the violation of
equilibrium)
2002 Brooks/Cole Publishing / Thomson Learning
Figure 7-11 Convergence of a finite element solution based on the
compatible displacement formulation
Hence a finite element analysis can be interpreted as a process in
which
1. The structure or continuum is idealized as an assemblage of
elements connected at nodes pertaining to the elements.

2. The externally applied forces are lumped to these nodes to
obtain the equivalent nodal load vectors

3. The equivalent nodal loads are equilibriated by the nodal point
forces that are equivalent to the element internal stresses.

4. Compatibility and stress-strain relationships are exactly
satisfied, but instead of force equilibrium at the differential level,
only global equilibrium for the complete structure, of the nodal
points and of each element under its nodal point forces is
satisfied.