Bilinear Element: Quadrilateral.

4 straight element sides with 4 nodes - 1 at each corner.

y
x
Note: m is used instead of lowercase L to eliminate confusion with number 1.
i = (aix + bi)(ciy + di)
= i + ix + iy + ixy Note the Bilinear term.
i = bidi; i = aidi; i = bici; i = aici

As with triangles: i = 1 at node i

= 0 at nodes j, k, m.
Solve for coefficients:
1

xi

yi

xj

yj

xk

yk

xm

ym

xy i

xy j

xy k

xy m

i 1

i 0
=
i 0

i 0

Permutate for i, j, k, m in CCW order.

ME 525 (Sullivan) Bilinear Elements and Isoparametric Mapping

Consider an irregularly shaped linear quadrilateral:

m
k

y
i

x
In general one wants to evaluate:
. ( U ) + V . U + f U = g
or, numerically

N j Wi N j Wi
N j
N j

<

+
>
+
<
+
(
)
(
)Wi >+ < fN jWi
K
V
V
x
y

x x
y y
x
y

> {U j }

{< gWi >} K U inWi dS

S

However this ( )dxdy over each element E will present problems due to the
irregular geometry.
SOLUTION: Transform x, y space to local coordinates
(, ) and integrate numerically.
A Bilinear Basis function implies that for any constant x or y the function is
linear in the other direction.
let x = xc = constant
then i = Ai + Biy
where Ai = (i + ixc)
Bi = (i + ixc)

ME 525 (Sullivan) Bilinear Elements and Isoparametric Mapping

Examine a Bilinear local coordinate system:

=1
= 1

=1

= 1
= = 2; = = 0 at center of element.
i = 1/4 (1 + i)(1 + i) which is the bilinear solution of local system.
Coefficient
Matrix

1

0
=
0

0

Note: for i = local node 1

1 = 1/4 (1+(-1)(-1))(1+(-1)(-1)) = 1
= 1/4 (1+(-1)(-1))(1+(-1)(1)) = 0
= 1/4 (1+(-1)(1))(1+(-1)(1)) = 0
= 1/4 (1+(-1)(1))(1+(-1)(-1)) =0

at = -1, = -1
at = -1, = +1
at = 1, = 1
at = 1, = 1

We need coordinate transformation => use trial function approach.

x =

k= 1

x k k( , )

y =

y k k( , )

k= 1

with (x, y) being any point within the element and xk, yk being the nodal
coordinates in (x, y) space. However, k is formulated in (, ) space.

ME 525 (Sullivan) Bilinear Elements and Isoparametric Mapping

CONSTRAINTS:
1.) 1 : 1 mapping of nodes between 2 coordinate systems.
2.) linear variation in x and y along sides of (, ) element.
=>

x = a1 + b1 + c1 + d1
y = a2 + b2 + c2 + d2

Note that solution of i yields the basis functions i

when the transformation (mapping) function = basis function
the element is an Isoparametric element
when transformation function is of higher degree than
basis function => Superparametric and
when transformation function is of lower degree than
basis function => Subparametric.
N W + .....

We need terms such as: x x

( )
i.e express
x or y in terms of , .
Use chain rule:

N ( , ) N ( , ) x N ( , ) y
=
+

N ( , ) N ( , ) x N ( , ) y
=
+

or:

ME 525 (Sullivan) Bilinear Elements and Isoparametric Mapping

N

=
N

N
x


=
N
x

[J]

N
x

N
y

y N
x

y N
y

[J]

Ja c o b ia n tr a n sf o r m a tio n m a tr ix .

N W + .....

is:
What we need for evaluation of: x x
,

N
x
=
N
y

[J]

Recall: i = 1/4 (1+ i)(1+ i)

[J ]
In

n o

p r o b le m .

x
, etc = ?

ME 525 (Sullivan) Bilinear Elements and Isoparametric Mapping

x =

a n d

( Iso p a r a m e tr ic )

k = 1

x
=

x k

y
=

(x k

k
=

N k

=1

3
1

= 1

=1
1

2
= 1

Choose any side; Ex.: = 1 = top side in (,) = left side (x,y)
i.e. node 1 in (x,y) does not need to be lower left.

i = 1/4 (1+i)(1+i(1))
= Ai + Bi
x
=

N i
= Constant

y
=

y N

dx
= Constant
dy

= Constant

ME 525 (Sullivan) Bilinear Elements and Isoparametric Mapping

N k

Lines of constant

Lines of constant
Along any line: = constant => dx/dy = constant and = constant => same.

( )
x
=
(
)

( )
x
( )
y

=
=

[J]

( )

=
(
)

1
J

For integration:
and

[J]

[J]

1
J

1 1

xi

Ni

xi

Ni

( )

( ) dx dy =

y ( )


x ( )

( )

( )

( )

( )Jd d

N i

N i

yi

yi

ME 525 (Sullivan) Bilinear Elements and Isoparametric Mapping