Introduction to FEM

Variational Formulation of Bar Element

11

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 1

Introduction to FEM

Bar Member - Variational Derivation

y

;; ;; ;;

Cross section

P
Longitudinal axis x

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 2

Introduction to FEM

Bar Member (cont'd)

cross section x axial rigidity EA u(x) P

;;;

q(x)

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 3

Introduction to FEM

The Bar Revisited - Notation

Quantity x (.)' u(x) q(x) L E A EA e = du/dx = u' = E e = E u' F = A = EA e = EA u' P Meaning Longitudinal bar axis * d(.)/dx Axial displacement Distributed axial force, given per unit of bar length Total length of bar member Elastic modulus Cross section area, may vary with x Axial rigidity Infinitesimal axial strain Axial stress Internal axial force Prescribed end load

_ * x is used in this Chapter instead of x (as in Chapters 2-3) to simplify the notation

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 4

Introduction to FEM

Tonti Diagram of Governing Equations

Displacement BCs

Prescribed end displacements

Axial displacements u(x)

Distributed axial load q(x)

Kinematic

e=u'

F'+q=0 Equilibrium

Axial strains e(x)

F = EA e

Constitutive

Axial force F(x)

Force BCs

Prescribed end loads

unknown

given (problem data)

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 5

Introduction to FEM

Potential Energy of the Bar Member

(before discretization)

Internal energy (= strain energy)

U=

L 1 2 0

Fe d x =

L 1 2 0

( E Au')u' d x =

L 1 2

u' E Au' d x
0

External work

W =
0

qu d x

Total potential energy

= U W

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 6

Introduction to FEM

Concept of Kinematically Admissible Variation

u
u(x)+u(x) u(x)
u(L)

u(x)
u(0) = 0
L

u(x) is kinematically admissible if u(x) and u(x) + u(x) (i) are continuous over bar length, i.e. u(x) C 0 in x [0, L]. (ii) satisfy exactly displacement BC; in the figure, u(0) = 0

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 7

Introduction to FEM

The Minimum Potential Energy (MPE) Principle

The MPE principle states that the actual displacement solution u* (x) that satisfies the governing equations is that which renders the TPE functional [u] stationary:

= U W = 0

iff

u = u*

with respect to admissible variations u = u* + u of the exact displacement solution u* (x)

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 8

Introduction to FEM

FEM Discretization of Bar Member

u 1, f1
(1)

u 2, f2
(2)

u 3, f3
(3)

u 4, f4
(4)

u 5, f5

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 9

Introduction to FEM

FEM Displacement Trial Function

u 1, f1
(1)

u 2, f2
(2)

u 3, f3
(3)

u 4, f4
(4)

u 5, f5

End node 1 assumed fixed

u
u2 u1 = 0
Axial displacement plotted normal to x for visualization convenience

u3

u4

u(x)

u5

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 10

Introduction to FEM

Total Potential Energy Principle and Decomposition over Elements

= U W = 0
But and

iff
(2) (2)

u = u* + ... +

(exact solution)
(N e) (N e)

(1)

(1)

+ ... +

= 0

From fundamental lemma of variational calculus, each element variation must vanish, giving

e = U e W e = 0

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 11

Introduction to FEM

Element Shape Functions

(e)
e = L x = x x1 -

1 Ne i

1 x/
0 Nje 1

x/
0

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 12

Introduction to FEM

Element Shape Functions (cont'd)

Linear displacement interpolation:
e u1 e e e e ue (x) = N1e u1 + N2e u2 = [ N1 N2 ] e = N ue u2

in which

N1e = 1 = xx1

xx1

= 1 ,

N2 =

xx1

dimensionless (natural) coordinate

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 13

Introduction to FEM

Displacement Variation Process Yields the Element Stiffness Equations

= Ue W e e = 0
since e

{
u e

Ue =

1 (u e ) T 2

Ke ue

W e = (u e ) T f e
T

Ke ue f e = 0
(Appendix D)

u e

is arbitrary [...] = 0

Ke u e = f e
the element stiffness equations

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 14

Introduction to FEM

The Bar Element Stiffness

Ue = U =
e
1 2 1 2

e E A e dx
0

e = u'
1] = 1 1 ue 1 e u2
1 2

[ u1

1 1 u2 ] 1 EA 1 1 1 1

[ 1
e u1 ue 2

dx
T

U =
e

1 2

e [ u1

ue 2

]
0

dx

ue

Ke u e

Ke =
0

E A BT B d x =
0

EA
2

1 1

dx

If EA is constant over element

Ke = EA 1 1 1 1

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 15

Introduction to FEM

The Consistent Nodal Force Vector

W =
0

q u dx =

(u e )T NTq d x = u e
0

T 0

d x = ue

fe

Since

ue

is arbitrary

fe =
0

dx

in which

xx1

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 16

Introduction to FEM

Bar Consistent Force Vector (cont'd)

If q is constant along element
1/2 1/2

= q
0

dx = q

the same result as with EbE load lumping (i.e., assigning one half of the total load to each node)

IFEM Ch 11 Slide 17