M.

Vable

MEEM 5170: FEM 1-D; 4th Order System

Fall 2015

Symmetric beam elements

In beam bending problems deflection v and its derivative dv must be continuous at all points on the beam including the element

ends.
Lagrange polynomials cannot be used for representing v because it would result in slope being discontinuous at the element end
irrespective of the order of polynomial.

dx

Deflection Approximation: v x = C 1 + C 2 x + C 3 x + C 4 x

Conditions: v x 1 =

e
v1

dv
e
x = 1
dx 1

v x2 =

e
v2

e
v1

dv
e
x = 2
dx 2

e
1

v x = 1 x v 1 + 2 x 1 + 3 x v 2 + 4 x 2
2

x x1
x x1
1 x = 1 3 -------------- + 2 --------------
L
L

x x1 2
x x1 3
3 x = 3 -------------- 2 --------------
L
L

x x1
x x1 3
x x1 2
2 x = L -------------- 2 -------------- + --------------
L
L
L
x x1 3
x x1 2
4 x = L -------------- + --------------
L
L

Conditions on interpolating functions

e

v x1 = v1

1 x1 = 1

= 1 x 1 v 1 + 2 x 1 1 + 3 x 1 v 2 + 4 x 1 2
2 x1 = 0
3 x1 = 0
4 x1 = 0

d 1
e d 2
e d 4
dv
e d 3
e
e
x =
x v +
x +
x v +
x
= 1
dx 1 1
dx 1
dx 1 1
dx 1 2
dx 1 2
d 1
dx

x1 = 0

d 2
dx

d 3

x1 = 1

dx

x1 = 0

d 3
dx

x1 = 0

e
2

e
v2

M. Vable

MEEM 5170: FEM 1-D; 4th Order System

Fall 2015

Hermite Polynomials for Beam Bending

Node 2

Node 1
1

1(x)

2(x)

zero slope
3(x)
4(x)

Node 1
m
Hn

Node 2

are hermite polynomials in which m refers to the order of derivatives and n refers to node number.
0

1 dv 1

v = H 1 v1 + H 1
k m

d Hn
d

0
p =
1

1 dv 2

+ H 2 v2 + H2

np

or

n = p

and

d
km
k = m

x
1

Notation and Properties of Hermite Polynomials in Natural Coordinates:

zero slope

zero slope

Node 2

Node 1

zero slope

M. Vable

MEEM 5170: FEM 1-D; 4th Order System

1 3
= --- 3 + 2
4

3 = H2

2
1 3
= --- + 1
4

2 = H2

1 = H1
2 = H1

Fall 2015

1 3
= --- 3 2
4

2
1 3
= --- + 1
4

Element Matrix:
L

d u d v
e
dx ; The element matrix is: K jk =

d x2 d x2

For symmetric beam: B u v = EI

0

x2

d d
j
k
EI
dx
2 2
dx dx
e
x

Assume:
the area moment of inertia (I) is evaluated for the cross-section at the mid point of the element.
the modulus of elasticity (E) is constant over the element and its value is that

e e

= EI

= x2 x1

= L

x1

= 0
L 2 2
d j d k
e

dx
K jk = EI
2 2
dx dx
0

Evaluation of K 11

2
d 1
x 3
x
x 2
6 2x L
6
d
=
= ------ + 12 ------ = ----------------------1 3 --- + 2 ---
L
L
3
2
2
2
3
L
L
L
dx
dx
e

K 11 =

L 2

2
L
L
3
d 1 d 1
2
3
3636 2x L
6 3
12

dx = ---- 2x L dx = ------ ---------------------- = ------ L + L = -----2 2

6
6
6
3
6
L 0
L
L
dx dx
L
0
0

M. Vable

MEEM 5170: FEM 1-D; 4th Order System

Fall 2015

v1

e
1
e
v =

v e
2
e
2

6 3L 6 3L
K

2EI
= --------3
L

3L 2L 3 L L
6 3 L 6 3 L
3L L

3 L 2L

Element Right Hand Side Vector

Assume point forces and moments can only be applied at element end nodes.
e

Rj

e
e
e
e
e d j e
e d j e
dx + F 1 j x 1 + F 2 j x 2 + M 1
x + M2
x
dx 1
dx 2

py x j x
0

the distributed load py is evaluated at the mid point of the element and has a value po.
e

Rj

e
e
e
e
e d j e
e d j e
= p o j x dx + F 1 j x 1 + F 2 j x 2 + M 1
x + M2
x
dx 1
dx 2
0

Evaluation of R 1

R1

e
e
e
e
e d 1 e
e d 1 e
= p o 1 x dx + F 1 1 x 1 + F 2 1 x 2 + M 1
x + M2
x
dx 1
dx 2
0

R1

x 2
x 3
= p o 1 3 --- + 2 ---
L
L

dx + F 1

Let = x L

dx = Ld
e

R1

1
2

= p o L 1 3 + 2 d + F 1
0

= p o L 3 ----- + 2 ----3
4

1
e

+ F1

p0 L
e
= -------- + F1
2

M. Vable

MEEM 5170: FEM 1-D; 4th Order System

Fall 2015

F1

6
e
M
L
p
e
0 L 1
-------R =
+
12 6 e
F
L 2
e
M
2

Positive directions for displacements, slopes, nodal forces and moments.

v

e
1

e
1

e
2
I

= v

e
2

e T

e
M1

e
F1

e
M2
e

e
F2

M. Vable

MEEM 5170: FEM 1-D; 4th Order System

Fall 2015

C6.1 A symmetric beam with loading is as shown below. Using two equal elements, determine (a) the deflection and slope at B. (b)
reaction force and moment at A (c) the deflection, slope, internal bending moment, and internal shear force at x = L/2. Assume EI is a
constant for the beam.
y

w kN/m

Lm

Lm

M. Vable

MEEM 5170: FEM 1-D; 4th Order System

Fall 2015

Timoshenko Beam
Plane sections initially perpendicular to neutral axis do not remain perpendicular.

Boundary Value Problem

d
d
dv
------ EI zz ------- = GA -----
dx

dx
dx

d
dv
Differential Equations: ------ GAK s ----- = p y

dx
dx
dv-
Boundary Conditions: V y = GAK s ----
dx

or

v = 0

and

d
M z = EI zz ------dx

or

dv
------ = 0
dx

E = Modulus of elasticity; G= shear modulus of elasticity; A = cross-sectional area; Izz = Second area moment of inertia; Ks=Shear correction factor.
Two second order differential equations in place of one fourth order differential equation.
Can use Lagrange polynomials, rather than Hermite polynomials.