MECH4450 Introduction to Finite
Element Methods
Basic Principles
Historical Background
Hrenikoff, 1941 frame work method
Courant, 1943 piecewise polynomial
interpolation
Turner, 1956 derived stiffness matrices for
truss, beam, etc
Clough, 1960 coined the term finite element
Key Ideas: - frame work method
piecewise polynomial approximation
Courant
Clough
Applications of FEM
Applications: Aerospace
Engineering (AE)
Applications: Civil Engineering
(CE)
Applications: Electrical
Engineering (EE)
Applications: Biomedical
Engineering (BE)
Cosmetic Dentistry
The Future Virtual Engineering
Axially Loaded Bar
Review:
Stress:
Stress:
Strain:
Deformation:
P
A
Strain:
PL
EA
Deformation:
Axially Loaded Bar
Review:
P
Governing equation: Assume f is constant
Stress at x:
Axially Loaded Bar Governing
Equations and Boundary
Conditions
Differential Equation
d
du
EA
(
x
)
f ( x) 0
dx
dx
0 xL
Boundary Condition Types
prescribed displacement (essential BC)
prescribed force/derivative of displacement
(natural BC)
Axially Loaded Bar Boundary
Conditions
Examples
fixed end
simple support
free end
Potential Energy
Elastic Potential Energy (PE)
- Spring case
Unstretched spring
PE 0
Stretched bar
1 2
PE kx
2
x
- Axially loaded bar
undeformed:
deformed:
- Elastic body
PE
PE 0
L
1
PE Adx
20
1 T
dv
2V
Potential Energy
Work Potential (WP)
f
P
A
WP u fdx P uB
f: distributed force over a line
P: point force
u: displacement
Total Potential Energy
L
1
Adx u fdx P uB
20
0
Potential Energy
Principle of Stationary 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.
Conservative system: WP is independent of the path taken from the original state to
the deformed state.
Kinematically admissible displacement field: displacement field satisfy the geometric
(kinematic) boundary conditions.
Original state
deformed state
equilibrium state
Potential Energy + Rayleigh-Ritz
Approach
Example:
f
A
Find the displacement field u x
Assume f is a constant
Step 1: assume an admissible displacement field u x a1 a2 x
In general: u aii x
i 1 to n
So for u x a1 a2 x
is shape function / basis function
n-1 is the order of approximation
1 1 2 x
The admissible displacement field must satisfy the essential boundary condition u 0 at x 0
So a1 0
u x a2 x
and
Step 2: calculate total potential energy
Firstly write down the elastic potential energy
du
E Ea2
a2
u x a2 x
dx
L
Elastic potential:
1
1
1 2
Adx
Ea
a
Adx
Ea2 AL
2 2
2 0
2 0
2
Potential Energy + Rayleigh-Ritz
Approach
Example:
f
P
B
A
Then write down the work energy
L
WP u fdx P uB
P a
2L
a2 x fdx
1
a2 fL2 Pa2 L
2
1
1
Ea2 2 AL a2 fL2 Pa2 L
2
2
Step 3:select ai so that the total potential energy is at its
minimum or maximum.
d
1
0 Ea2 AL fL2 PL 0
da
2
1
1
P fL
P fL
2
2
a2
u
x
EA
EA
Potential Energy + Rayleigh-Ritz
Approach
Example 2.5:
f
P
Element 1:
P1
Essential boundary condition
Element 2:
P1
Continuity requirement
Potential Energy + Rayleigh-Ritz
Approach
Example 2.5:
f
P
Approach
I:
Potential Energy + Rayleigh-Ritz
Approach
Example 2.5:
f
P
Approach II:
Potential Energy + Rayleigh-Ritz
Approach
Example:
f
P
A
One section
Two sections
Galerkins Method
Example:
f
P
B
Seek an approximation u~ so
d
du
EA
(
x
)
f ( x) 0
dx
dx
u x 0 0
EA( x )
du
dx
P
xL
Let u% aii x
i
i 1 to n
find ai
In the Galerkins method, the weight function w is chosen as
where are arbitrary except for requiring that w satisfies zero
boundary condition at which u is specified.
Galerkins Method
Example:
f
P
Find the displacement field
du~
d
w
EA
(
x
)
f
(
x
)
dV 0
V i dx
dx
L
L
du~ dwi
du~
EA( x )
dx wi fdx wi EA( x )
0
dx
dx
dx
0
0
0
L
1
Let
u% a1 x, 0 x L
L
x and w1 x
EAa1 1dx xfdx w L P w 0 EA
fL
P
2
a1
EA
Strain energy
Work done by f
Work done by P
fL
P
2
u%
x
EA
du%
0
dx 0
FEM Formulation of Axially
Loaded Bar Governing Equations
Differential Equation
d
du
EA
(
x
)
f ( x) 0
dx
dx
0 x L
Weighted-Integral Formulation
du
w
EA( x) f ( x) dx 0
dx
dx
Weak Form
L
dw
du
du
0
EA( x) wf ( x) dx w EA( x)
dx
dx
dx
Starting point of FEA
0