Finite Element Analysis

BDA 31003
Saifulnizan Jamian
What is a Finite Element?
Archimedes' problem (circa 250 B.C.): rectification of the circle
as limit of inscribed regular polygons

Start with a 6-sided polygon (π between 3.00 and 3.46), to a 12-

sided polygon, to a 24-sided polygon, to a 48-sided polygon, and
ended up with a 96-sided polygon (π between 3.1408 and
3.1428).
Idealization & Discretization for
a Simple Structure
Motivation of FEM development

Grew out of aerospace industry.

Post-WW II jets, missiles, space flight
Need for light weight structures
Required accurate stress analysis
Paralleled growth of computers

10/15/2023 CE 551 - Introduction 4

Brief History
• 1940s - Hrenikoff [1941] - Lattice of 1D bars,
- McHenry[ ] 1943 - Model 3D solids,
- Courant [1943] - Variational form,
- Levy [1947, 1953] - Flexibility & Stiffness
• 1950-60s - Argryis and Kelsey [1954] - Energy Principle for Matrix
Methods
- Turner, Clough, Martin and Topp [1956] -2D elements
- Clough [1960] - Term “Finite Elements”
• 1980s – Wide applications due to:
• Integration of CAD/CAE – automated mesh generation
and graphical display of analysis results display of analysis results
• Powerful and low cost computers
• 2000s – FEA in CAD; Design FEA in CAD; Design Optimization
Optimization in FEA; Nonlinear in FEA; Better CAD/CAE Integration
Applications
Structural/Stress Analysis
 Obtain a set of algebraic equations to solve for unknown
nodal quantity (displacement).
 Secondary quantities (stresses and strains) are expressed
in terms of nodal values of primary quantity
Fluid Flow - velocity
Heat Transfer - temperature
Electro-Magnetic Fields – electric/magnetic
potential
Acoustics - pressure
Soil Mechanics

10/15/2023 CE 551 - Introduction 6

 Advantages of FEM
Irregular Boundaries
General Loads
Different Materials
Boundary Conditions
Variable Element Size
Easy Modification
Dynamics
Nonlinear Problems (Geometric or Material)

10/15/2023 CE 551 - Introduction 7

Computer Programs

• Small Special Purpose Programs

Truss
Frame
Plane Stress
Heat Transfer

• Large General Purpose Program (Commercial)

10/15/2023 CE 551 - Introduction 8

 Programs/Software

• ALGOR • CALCULIC
• ANSYS • IMPACT : Java
• ABAQUS • LISA
• COSMOS/M • CODE ASTER : SALOME-
• STARDYNE MECA
• IMAGES-3D • FreeFEM
• MSC/NASTRAN
• Elmer
• SAP90
• ADINA
• Deform 2D, 3D
• NISA • Plaxis

10/15/2023 CE 551 - Introduction 9

Advantages & Disadvantages of
General Purpose Programs
Advantages Disadvantages
• Easy input - • High development costs.
preprocessor.
• Less efficient than smaller
• Solves many types of programs,
problems
• Modular design - fluids, • Often proprietary. User access
dynamics, heat, etc. to code limited.
• Can run on PC’s now.
• Relatively low cost.
 Steps in Process
Discretize and Select Element Type
Select a Displacement Function
Define Strain/Displacement and Stress/Strain
Relationships
Derive Element Stiffness Matrix & Eqs.
Assemble Equations and Introduce B.C.’s
Solve for the Unknown Degrees of Freedom
Solve for Element Stresses and Strains
Interpret the Results
10/15/2023 CE 551 - Introduction 11
Formulation of FE

• Potential Energy and Equilibrium:

The Rayleigh-Ritz Method
• Principle of minimum potential energy

• Galerkin’s Method
• Principle of virtual work

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Notation for bar under axial
loading
• Loading
Body force f = f(x), traction force T =
T(x), point loads Pi
• Responses
Displacements u = u(x), stresses σ = σ(x),
strains ε = ε(x) depends on x
σ = Eε and ε = ∂u/∂x
E is the elastic modulus.
• Differential Volume
dV = A dx where A = A(x) is the cross-
sectional area.
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Finite element model

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Connectivities table

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Coordinate systems

Global Coordinate Systems

Then,

Local Coordinate Systems

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Shape Functions
- Piecewise basic functions to expressing the displacement

Here we will
choose linear
shape functions:

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Strain-displacement relationship
Axial Strain
Where

Since

so that

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Total Potential Energy Approach
Strain Energy Work Potential

Note that  has contributions from each element

Assuming point loads Pi are applied at nodes. Note that

the element strain energy

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Element stiffness matrix
Strain energy of typical element e The strain energy for a typical element e is

substituting for σ = E B q and ε = B q

Or

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Force terms - Body Forces
Work done by distributed body forces

Assuming Ae and f are constant within the element

and noting that

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Force terms - Boundary Tractions
Work done by boundary traction forces:

Assuming T is constant within the element,

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Discrete equilibrium equations
Recall that the Total Potential Energy  has
contributions from each element

or, in matrix form,

and

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4-element example

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Expanded element stiffnesses

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Assembled element stiffness & load
vector

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Elimination process
For an N degree of freedom problem with the boundary condition Q1= a1

The global stiffness matrix has the form

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Principle of Minimum Potential
Energy

For conservative systems, of all the

kinematically admissible displacement
fields, those corresponding to
equilibrium extremize the total potential
energy. If the extremum condition is a
minimum, the equilibrium state is stable.
Elimination process

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Elimination process

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Elimination process
the reaction at node 1 may be recovered as follows from the equation of
equilibrium for node 1

Or

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Generalization of elimination process
For boundary conditions

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As Summary …

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Step 1 - Select the Element Type

1 2 T
T
x̂
d̂1x̂ d̂ 2 x̂

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Step 2 - Select a Displacement
Function

Assume a displacement function û

Assume a linear function.
û  a1  a 2 x̂
Number of coefficients = number of d-o-f
Write in matrix form.

a1 
û  1 x̂ 
a 2 

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Shape Functions

N1 and N2 are called Shape Functions or

Interpolation Functions. They express the
shape of the assumed displacements.

N1 =1 N2 =0 at node 1
N1 =0 N2 =1 at node 2
N1 + N2 =1

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Step 3 - Define Strain/Displacement
and Stress/Strain Relationships
T  k
  û(L )  û(0)
  d̂ 2 x  d̂1x

T - tensile force  - total elongation

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Step 4 - Derive the Element
Stiffness Matrix and Equations

f̂1x   T
f̂ 2 x  T  f̂1x   k  k   d̂ 1x 


T  f̂1x  k d̂ 2 x  d̂ 1x   
f̂ 2 x    k
 
k  d̂ 2 x 

T  f̂ 2 x  k d̂ 2 x  d̂1x 
 k  k
f̂1x  k d̂ 1x  d̂ 2x 
k̂  
 k k 

f̂ 2 x  k d̂ 2 x  d̂1x 

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Step 5 - Assemble the Element
Equations to Obtain the Global
Equations and Introduce the B.C.

K    k̂ 
N
(e )

e 1

F   f̂ (e) 

N

e 1

Note: not simple addition!

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Step 6 - Solve for Nodal
Displacements

Obtain :
K d  F
Then Solve!

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Step 7 - Solve for Element Forces

Once displacements at each

node are known, then substitute
back into element stiffness equations
to obtain element nodal forces.

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Lecture Depth/Needs
Introduction FEM Advanced Topics
1. Introduction 1. Dynamic Fracture
2. Matrix Algebra Advanced FEM
2. Stochastic FE
3. Axial and Torsional 1. Mathematical Preliminaries
3. Contact
Elements 2. Finite Element Basics.
4. Mesh Generation
4. Truss 2D/3D Elements 3. Nonlinear Finite Element
5. Multi-scale Methods
5. Beam, Grid and Frame Basics.
6. Multi-physics Problems.
Elements 4. Nonlinear Bending of Beams.
7. etc
6. 1-D Heat Transfer 5. Nonlinear Bending of Plates
Problem and Shells, Time-dependent
7. 2-D Structural Elements Deformation of Shells.
8. 2-D Heat Transfer 6. Nonlinear Finite Elements of
Elements Solids. Material
9. Fluid Flow Network Nonlinearities, Objective
Problem Rates, Nonlinear Elasticity,
10. 3-D Solid Elements Plasticity, Viscoplasticity,
Viscoelasticity.
7. Verification and Validation.
Further reading
• Zienkiewicz, O.C. & Cheung, Y.K. 1967. The Finite Element Method in Structural and
Continuum Mechanics, McGraw-Hill.
• Oden, J.T., 1972. Finite Element of Nonlinear Continua, McGraw-Hill.
• Strang, G. & Fix, G. 1973. An Analysis of the Finite Element Method, Prentice-Hall.
• Oden, J.T. & Reddy, J.N. 1976. An Introduction to the Mathematical Theory of Finite
Elements, John Wiley.
• Owen, D.R.J. & Hinton, F. 1980. Finite Elements in Plasticity: Theory and Practice, Pineridge
Press Limited
• I.M. Smith & D.V. Griffiths, 1982. Programming the Finite Element Method, John Wiley &
Sons
• T.R. Chandrupatla & A.D. Belegundu, 1991. Introduction to Finite Elements in Engineering,
Prentice-Hall International.
• Daryl L. Logan, 1997. A First Course in the Finite Element Method Using Algor, PWS
Publishing Company
• Saeed Moaveni, 1999. Finite Element Analysis. Theory and Application with ANSYS,
Prentice-Hall College Div.
• Sam Helwany, 2007. Applied Soil Mechanics with ABAQUS Applications, John Wiley & Sons