Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Short Course on Computational Geotechnics + Dynamics Boulder, Colorado January 5-8, 2004 5-

Stein Sture Professor of Civil Engineering University of Colorado at Boulder

Contents
        

Steps in the FE Method Introduction to FEM for Deformation Analysis Discretization of a Continuum Elements Strains Stresses, Constitutive Relations Hookes Law Formulation of Stiffness Matrix Solution of Equations
Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

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Steps in the FE Method

1.

Establishment of stiffness relations for each element. Material properties and equilibrium conditions for each element are used in this establishment. Enforcement of compatibility, i.e. the elements are connected. Enforcement of equilibrium conditions for the whole structure, in the present case for the nodal points. By means of 2. And 3. the system of equations is constructed for the whole structure. This step is called assembling. In order to solve the system of equations for the whole structure, the boundary conditions are enforced. Solution of the system of equations.
Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

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Introduction to FEM for Deformation Analysis



General method to solve boundary value problems in an approximate and discretized way Often (but not only) used for deformation and stress analysis Division of geometry into finite element mesh

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Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Introduction to FEM for Deformation Analysis



PrePre-assumed interpolation of main quantities (displacements) over elements, based on values in points (nodes) Formation of (stiffness) matrix, K, and (force) vector, r Global solution of main quantities in nodes, d dD p KD=R rR kK

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Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Discretization of a Continuum


2D modeling:

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Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Discretization of a Continuum


2D cross section is divided into element:

Several element types are possible (triangles and quadrilaterals)

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Elements


Different types of 2D elements:

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Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Elements
Example:

Other way of writing: ux = N1 ux1 + N2 ux2 + N3 ux3 + N4 ux4 + N5 ux5 + N6 ux6 uy = N1 uy1 + N2 uy2 + N3 uy3 + N4 uy4 + N5 uy5 + N6 uy6 or ux = N ux and uy = N uy (N contains functions of x and y)

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Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Strains
Strains are the derivatives of displacements. In finite elements they are determined from the derivatives of the interpolation functions:
xux xN ! a1  2a3 x  a4 y ! ux xx xx xu xN Iyy ! y ! b2  2b4 x  b5 y ! uy xy xy xN xN xux xuy  ! (b1  a2 )  (a4  2b3 )x  (2a5  b4 )y ! ux  uy K xy ! xx xy xy xx Ixx !

or


I Bd
(strains composed in a vector and matrix B contains derivatives of N )
Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

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Stresses, Constitutive Relations

Cartesian stress tensor, usually composed in a vector: Stresses, W, are related to strains I: W = CI In fact, the above relationship is used in incremental form: C is material stiffness matrix and determining material behavior

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Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Hookes Law
For simple linear elastic behavior C is based on Hookes law:
  R 1 R R  1 R R  R  R R 1R E  0 0 (1  2R )(1  R )  0  0 0 0  0 0  0
0 0 0
1 2

0 0 0 0
1 2

R 0 0

R 0

0   0  0   0  0   1  R  2

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Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Hookes Law
Basic parameters in Hookes law:
Youngs modulus E Poissons ratio R

Auxiliary parameters, related to basic parameters:

Shear modulus E G! 2(1  R ) Bulk modulus E K! 3(1  2R ) Oedometer modulus E(1 R ) E oed ! (1 2R )(1 R )

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Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Hookes Law
Meaning of parameters
E!
xW1 xW 2

in axial compression

xI3 R ! xI1
in axial compression
axial compression 1D compression

E oed !

x 1 xI1

in 1D compression

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Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Hookes Law
Meaning of parameters
xp K! xIv
in volumetric compression

x xy G! xK xy
in shearing

note:

xy

| X xy
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Hookes Law
Summary, Hookes law:
           R 1   yy   R   R E zz !  (1 2R )(1 R )  0 xy   0 yz     0 zx 
xx

R 1 R R 0 0 0

R R 1 R 0 0 0
1 2

0 0 0 R 0 0
1 2

0 0 0 0 R 0

 0 Ixx     0 Iyy    0  Izz     0 Ixy    0  Iyz     1  R  Izx   2

Hookes Law
Inverse relationship:
 xx  1 I    I R  yy    zz  1  I R  !  I  xy  E 0  yz  I 0    Izx  0  R R R

0 0 0 2  2R 0 0

0 0 0 0 2  2R 0

1 R 0 0 0

1 0 0 0

 0 W xx     0 W yy    0  W zz     0 W xy    0  W yz    W  2  2R  zx  

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Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Formulation of Stiffness Matrix

Formation of element stiffness matrix Ke

K e ! B T CBdV
Integration is usually performed numerically: Gauss integration

pdV ! E p
i

(summation over sample points)

i!1 coefficients E and position of sample points can be chosen such that the integration is exact

Formation of global stiffness matrix

 Assembling of element stiffness matrices in global matrix

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Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Formulation of Stiffness Matrix

K is often symmetric and has a band-form: band #  #   0  0   0  0  0   0  0   0  # # # 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 # # # 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 # # # 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 # # # 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 # # # 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 # # # 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 # # # 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 # # # 0  0 0  0 0  0  0 0  # # 

(# are non-zeros) non-

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Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Solution of Equation
Global system of equations: KD = R R is force vector and contains loadings as nodal forces Usually in incremental form: Solution:

K(D ! (R

(D ! K (R
n

1

D ! (D 
i!1

(i = step number)

Solution of Equations
From solution of displacement

(D (d
Strains:

p (Ii ! B(u i
p W i ! W i1  C(d




Stresses:

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Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering