Finite Element Methods

Assignment-3 (Date: 15th Aug 2019)

1) Assuming linear variation of cross-sectional area (𝐴), find the end-displacement of the
tapered bar under axial load (𝑃), shown in Figure 1, using FEM, by modelling the bar as
stepped bar with (a) 2 equal segments (b) 3 equal segments (c) 𝑛 equal segments (Use the
solution of Problem #1 of Assignment-2 for this case).
Can we find the limit of end-displacement in the last case as 𝑛 → ∞? (Extra credit if
you can find the limit).
𝐴
𝐴
𝑃

Figure 1
Ans: (a) 𝑈 = ( )( )

(b) 𝑈 = ( )( )( )

(c) 𝑈 = ( )
+( )
+( )
+⋯+ ( )

2) Develop a MATLAB program which plots distribution of axial-displacement along the

bar for different cases of 𝑛 where 𝑛 is the number of equal-length segments of stepped
bar approximation of tapered bar problem with linear variation of c/s.
Specifications:
 Inputs to the program should be the numerical values of Young’s modulus (𝐸) of the
bar material, starting (𝐴 ) and ending (𝐴 ) areas of c/s, total length of bar (𝐿), applied
force (𝑃) and number of segments (𝑛).
 The program should output the numerical value of end-displacement and a
superimposed graph of bar coordinate (𝑥) versus axial displacement (𝑢) obtained
analytically and using FEM with no. of segments = 1,2, … , 𝑛 (total 𝑛 + 1 curves).

3) Derive analytically the axial displacement distribution of tapered bar with its circular c/s
area varying quadratically as 𝐴(𝑥) = 𝐴 + 𝐴 𝑥 + 𝐴 𝑥 , under end-axial load 𝑃 and fixed
at 𝑥 = 0.

Ans: 𝑢(𝑥) = Tan where 4𝐴 𝐴 > 𝐴

4) Develop a MATLAB program which plots distribution of axial-displacement along the
bar for different cases of 𝑛 where 𝑛 is the number of equal-length segments of stepped
bar approximation of tapered bar problem with quadratic variation of c/s.
Specifications: Similar to Problem #2

5) Find the expression for total strain energy of the systems shown in Figures 5a, 5b and 5c
in terms of nodal DoFs and springs’ stiffness’s without concerning BCs. Use
Castigliano’s theorem to form global set of FE equations. Do not solve thereafter.
(a)
𝑃

Figure 5a
(b)

Figure 5b

(c)
Imagine a stepped bar with 𝒏 segments of lenghts 𝑳𝟏 , 𝑳𝟐 , … , 𝑳𝒏 and c/s areas
𝑨𝟏 , 𝑨𝟐 , … , 𝑨𝒏 of same Young’s modulus throughout

Figure 5c

Ans: (a) 𝑆𝐸 = 𝑘(𝑈 − 𝑈 ) + 2𝑘(𝑈 − 𝑈 ) + 𝑘(𝑈 − 𝑈 ) + 2𝑘(𝑈 − 𝑈 ) and

refer to Problem #3a of Assignment-2 for the other final answer.

(b) 𝑆𝐸 = 𝑘 (𝑈 − 𝑈 ) + 𝑘 (𝑈 − 𝑈 ) + ⋯ + 𝑘 (𝑈 − 𝑈 ) and

𝑘 −𝑘 0 ⋯ 0
⎡ −𝑘 ⋯ 0 ⎤
−𝑘 𝑘 +𝑘
⎢ ⎥
⎢ 0 −𝑘 𝑘 +𝑘 ⋯ 0 ⎥
⎢ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⎥
⎣ 0 0 0 ⋯ 𝑘 ⎦ ×

(c) 𝑆𝐸 = (𝑈 − 𝑈 ) + (𝑈 − 𝑈 ) + ⋯ + (𝑈 −𝑈 )

𝐴 /𝐿 −𝐴 /𝐿 0 ⋯ 0
⎡ ⎤
−𝐴 /𝐿 𝐴 /𝐿 + 𝐴 /𝐿 −𝐴 /𝐿 ⋯ 0
⎢ ⎥
⎢ 0 −𝐴 /𝐿 𝐴 /𝐿 + 𝐴 /𝐿 ⋯ 0 ⎥
⎢ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⎥
⎣ 0 0 0 ⋯ 𝐴 /𝐿 ⎦( )×( )

-- End of Assignment-3 --