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Finite Element Method



THE FINITE ELEMENT
METHOD
for readers of all backgrounds
G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
CHAPTER 3:
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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CONTENTS
STRONG AND WEAK FORMS OF GOVERNING EQUATIONS
HAMILTONS PRINCIPLE
FEM PROCEDURE
Domain discretization
Displacement interpolation
Formation of FE equation in local coordinate system
Coordinate transformation
Assembly of FE equations
Imposition of displacement constraints
Solving the FE equations
STATIC ANALYSIS
EIGENVALUE ANALYSIS
TRANSIENT ANALYSIS
REMARKS
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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STRONG AND WEAK
FORMS OF GOVERNING
EQUATIONS
System equations: strong form, difficult to solve.
Weak form: requires weaker continuity on the
dependent variables (u, v, w in this case).
Weak form is often preferred for obtaining an
approximated solution.
Formulation based on a weak form leads to a set
of algebraic system equations FEM.
FEM can be applied for practical problems with
complex geometry and boundary conditions.

Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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HAMILTONS PRINCIPLE
Of all the admissible time histories of
displacement the most accurate solution makes the
Lagrangian functional a minimum.

An admissible displacement must satisfy:
The compatibility equations
The essential or the kinematic boundary conditions
The conditions at initial (t
1
) and final time (t
2
)
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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HAMILTONS PRINCIPLE
Mathematically
0
2
1
=
}
dt L
t
t
o
where L=TH+W
f
V U U T
T
V
d

}
=
2
1
V c V
T
V
T
V
d d
2
1

2
1
} }
= =
f s
T
S
b
T
V
f
S f U V f U W
f
d d
} }
+ =
(Kinetic energy)
(Potential energy)
(Work done by
external forces)
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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FEM PROCEDURE
Step 1: Domain discretization
Step 2: Displacement interpolation
Step 3: Formation of FE equation in local coordinate
system
Step 4: Coordinate transformation
Step 5: Assembly of FE equations
Step 6: Imposition of displacement constraints
Step 7: Solving the FE equations

Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Step 1: Domain discretization
The solid body is divided into N
e
elements with proper
connectivity compatibility.
All the elements form the entire domain of the problem
without any overlapping compatibility.
There can be different types of element with different
number of nodes.
The density of the mesh depends upon the accuracy
requirement of the analysis.
The mesh is usually not uniform, and a finer mesh is often
used in the area where the displacement gradient is larger.
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Step 2: Displacement interpolation
Bases on local coordinate system, the displacement within
element is interpolated using nodal displacements.
e i i
n
i
z y x z y x z y x
d
d N d N U ) , , ( ) , , ( ) , , (
1
= =

=
1
2
displacement compenent 1
displacement compenent 2
displacement compenent
f
i
n
f
d
d
d
n




=
`

)
d
1
2
displacements at node 1
displacements at node 2
displacements at node
d
e
n
d
n


=
`

)
d
d
d
d
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Step 2: Displacement interpolation
N is a matrix of shape functions
1 2
( , , ) ( , , ) ( , , ) ( , , )

for node 1 for node 2 for node
d
n
d
x y z x y z x y z x y z
n
(
=

+ + +
N N N N
(
(
(
(
(

=
f
in
i
i
i
N
N
N
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
2
1

N
where
Shape function
for each
displacement
component at a
node
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Displacement interpolation
Constructing shape functions
Consider constructing shape function for
a single displacement component
Approximate in the form

1
( ) ( ) ( )
d
n
h
i i
i
T
u p o
=
= =

x x p x
1 2 3
={ , , , ......, }
d
T
n
o o o o
p
T
(x)={1, x, x
2
, x
3
, x
4
,..., x
p
}
(1D)
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Pascal triangle of monomials: 2D

xy
x
2
x
3
x
4
x
5
y
2
y
3
y
4
y
5
x
2
y
x
3
y
x
4
y
x
3
y
2

xy
2
xy
3
xy
4
x
2
y
3
x
2
y
2
Constant terms: 1
x y
1
Quadratic terms: 3
Cubic terms: 4
Quartic terms: 5
Quintic terms: 6
Linear terms: 2
3 terms
6 terms
10 terms
15 terms
21 terms
{ }
2 2
( ) ( , ) 1, , , , , ,..., ,
T T p p
x y x y xy x y x y = = p x p
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Pascal pyramid of monomials : 3D

x
x
2
x
3
x
4
y
y
2
y
3
y
4
xy
z
xz
yz
x
2
y xy
2
x
2
z
zy
2
z
2
xz
2 yz
2
xyz
z
3
x
3
y
x
3
z
x
2
y
2
x
2
z
2
x
2
yz

xy
3
zy
3
z
2
y
2
xy
2
z
xyz
2
xz
3
z
4 z
3
y
1
Constant term: 1
Linear terms: 3
Quadratic terms: 6
Cubic terms: 10
Quartic terms: 15
4 terms
10 terms
20 terms
35 terms
{ }
2 2 2
( ) ( , , ) 1, , , , , , , , , ,..., , ,
T T p p p
x y z x y z xy yz zx x y z x y z = = p x p
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Displacement interpolation
Enforce approximation to be equal to the nodal
displacements at the nodes
d
i
= p
T
(x
i
)o i = 1, 2, 3, ,n
d

or
d
e
=P

o
where
1
2
=
d
e
n
d
d
d



`


)
d
T
1
T
2
T
( )
( )
( )
d
n
(
(
(
=
(
(
(

p x
p x
P
p x
,
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Displacement interpolation
The coefficients in o can be found by

e

=
1
P d
Therefore, u
h
(x) = N( x) d
e


| |
1 2
1 1 1 1
1 2
( ) ( ) ( )
1 2
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
n
T T T T
n
N N N
n
N N N

(
(
= =
(

=
x x x
N x p x P p x P p x P p x P
x x x
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Displacement interpolation
Sufficient requirements for FEM shape
functions

( )
1 , 1, 2, ,
0 , , 1, 2, ,
d
i j ij
d
i j j n
N
i j i j n
o
= =

= =

= =

x 1.
(Delta function
property)
1
( ) 1
n
i
i
N
=
=

x
2.
(Partition of unity property
rigid body movement)
1
( )
d
n
i i
i
N x x x
=
=

3.
(Linear field reproduction property)
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Step 3: Formation of FE equations in local
coordinates
Since U= Nd
e

Therefore,
c = LU
c = L N d
e
= B d
e
Strain matrix
e
T
e
kd d
2
1
= or where
(Stiffness matrix)
e
T
V
e
T
e e
T T
e
V
e
T
V
e
V c V c V c d d B B d d Bd B d d ) (
2
1
2
1

2
1
} } }
= = =
V c
T
V
e
e
d B B k
}
=
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Step 3: Formation of FE equations in local
coordinates
Since U= Nd
e


e
= U Nd
or
e e
T
e
T d m d

2
1
=
where
(Mass matrix)
1 1 1
d d ( d )
2 2 2
e e e
T T T T T
e e e e
V V V
T V V V = = =
} } }
U U d N Nd d N N d
d
e
T
e
V
V =
}
m N N
d
e
T
e
V
V =
}
m N N
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Step 3: Formation of FE equations in local
coordinates
e
T
e s
T
e b
T
e f
W F d F d F d = + =
s b e
F F f + =
(Force vector)
d d ( d ) ( d )
e e e e
T T T T T T T T
f e b e s e b e s
V S V S
W V S V S = + = +
} } } }
d N f d N f d N f d N f
d
e
T
b b
V
V =
}
F N f
d
e
T
s s
S
S =
}
F N f
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Step 3: Formation of FE equations in local
coordinates
0 d ) (
2
1


= +
}
t
e
T
e e e
T
e e e
T
e
t
t
F d d k d d m d o o o

) (
d
d
)
d
d
(
T
e
T
e
T
e
t t
d
d
d o o o = =

t t t
e e
t
t
T
e e e
t
t
T
e
t
t
e e
T
e e e
t
t
T
e
d d d
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1






d m d d m d d m d d m d

} } }
= = o o o o
0 d ) (
2
1


= +
}
t
e e e e
T
e
t
t
F kd d m d

o
0 d )
2
1
2
1
(
2
1


= +
}
t
e
T
e e e
T
e e e
T
e
t
t
F d d k d d m d

o
e e e e e
f d m d k = +

FE Equation

(Hamiltons principle)
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Step 4: Coordinate transformation
e e e e
f d m kd = +

x



y



x'
y'
y'



x'



Local coordinate
systems


Global
coordinate
systems



e e
TD d =
e e e e e
F D M D K = +

T k T K
e
T
e
= T m T M
e
T
e
=
e
T
e
f T F = , ,
where
(Local)
(Global)
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Step 5: Assembly of FE equations
Direct assembly method
Adding up contributions made by elements
sharing the node
F D M KD = +

F KD =
(Static)
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Step 6: Impose displacement constraints
No constraints rigid body movement
(meaningless for static analysis)
Remove rows and columns corresponding
to the degrees of freedom being constrained
K is semi-positive definite
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Step 7: Solve the FE equations
Solve the FE equation,

for the displacement at the nodes, D

The strain and stress can be retrieved by
using c = LU and o = c c with the
interpolation, U=Nd
F D M KD = +

Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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STATIC ANALYSIS
Solve KD=F for D

Gauss elmination
LU decomposition
Etc.
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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EIGENVALUE ANALYSIS
0 = + D M KD
(Homogeneous equation, F = 0)
Assume
) exp( t ie | = D
0 ] [
2
= | M K e
Let
2
e =

0 ] [ = | M K
0 ] det[ = = M K M K
[ K
i
M ] |
i
= 0
(Eigenvector)
(Roots of equation are the
eigenvalues)
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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EIGENVALUE ANALYSIS
Methods of solving eigenvalue equation
Jacobis method
Givens method and Householders method
The bisection method (Sturm sequences)
Inverse iteration
QR method
Subspace iteration
Lanczos method
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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TRANSIENT ANALYSIS
Structure systems are very often subjected to
transient excitation.
A transient excitation is a highly dynamic time
dependent force exerted on the structure, such as
earthquake, impact, and shocks.
The discrete governing equation system usually
requires a different solver from that of eigenvalue
analysis.
The widely used method is the so-called direct
integration method.
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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TRANSIENT ANALYSIS
The direct integration method is basically using
the finite difference method for time stepping.
There are mainly two types of direct integration
method; one is implicit and the other is explicit.
Implicit method (e.g. Newmarks method) is more
efficient for relatively slow phenomena
Explicit method (e.g. central differencing method)
is more efficient for very fast phenomena, such as
impact and explosion.

Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Newmarks method (Implicit)
Assume that
( ) ( )
2 1
2
t t t t t t t
t t | |
+A +A
(
| |
= + A + A +
| (
\ .

D D D D D
( ) ( )
1
t t t t t t
t
+A +A
( = + A +

D D D D
+ + = KD CD MD F
Substitute into
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
{ }
2 1
2
1
t t t t t
t t t t t t t t
t t
t
| |

+A
+A +A +A

(
| |
+ A + A + +
`
|
(
\ .

)
( + A + + =

K D D D D
C D D D MD F
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Newmarks method (Implicit)
residual
cm t t t t +A +A
= K D F
where
( )
2
cm
t t |
(
= A + A +

K K C M
( ) ( ) ( )( ) { }
2
residual
1
1
2
t t t t t t t t t
t t t |
+A +A

| |
= + A + A + A
`
|
\ .
)
F F K D D D C D D
Therefore,
1
cm
residual
t t t t

+A +A
= D K F
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
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Newmarks method (Implicit)
Start with D
0
and
0
D
Obtain
0
D + + = KD CD MD F
using
1
cm
residual
t t t t

+A +A
= D K F Obtain
t A
D
using
Obtain D
At
and
t A
D
using
( ) ( )
2 1
2
t t t t t t t
t t | |
+A +A
(
| |
= + A + A +
| (
\ .

D D D D D
( ) ( )
1
t t t t t t
t
+A +A
( = + A +

D D D D
March
forward
in time
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
32
Central difference method (explicit)
int residual
( = + = =

MD F CD KD F F F
residual
=
1
D M F (Lumped mass no need to solve matrix equation)
( )
2
t t t t t
t
+A A
= A + D D D
( )
2
t t t t t
t
+A A
= A + D D D
( )
( )
2
1
2
t t t t t t
t
+A A
= +
A
D D D D
( )
( )
2
2
t t t t t
t
t
A
A
= A + D D D D
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
33
Central
difference
method
(explicit)
D,
t
x
x
x
x
x
t
0
At




-At







-At/2










At/2







Find average velocity at time t =
-At/2 using



Find using the average acceleration at
time t = 0.

Find D
At
using the average velocity at time t =At/2

Obtain D
-At
using
D
0
and are
prescribed and
can be obtained from
Use to
obtain assuming .
Obtain using
Time marching in half the time step
0
D
0
D
residual
=
1
D M F
( )
( )
2
2
t t t t t
t
t
A
A
= A + D D D D
/ 2 t A
D
( )
/ 2 / 2 t t t t t
t
+A A
= A + D D D
/ 2 t A
D
( )
/ 2 / 2 t t t t t
t
+A A
= A + D D D
( )
/ 2 / 2 t t t t t
t
+A A
= A + D D D
( )
/ 2 / 2 t t t t t
t
+A A
= A + D D D
t A
D
/ 2 0 t A
= D D
t A
D
residual
=
1
D M F
Finite Element Method by G. R. Liu and S. S. Quek
34
REMARKS
In FEM, the displacement field U is expressed by
displacements at nodes using shape functions N
defined over elements.
The strain matrix B is the key in developing the
stiffness matrix.
To develop FE equations for different types of
structure components, all that is needed to do is
define the shape function and then establish the
strain matrix B.
The rest of the procedure is very much the same
for all types of elements.

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