CL 743

Finite Element Analysis

Dr. V. R. Panchal
Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Faculty of Technology and Engineering
Charotar University of Science and Technology
Changa
 Beam element

M1, θ1 M2, θ2

Fy1, w1 Fy2, w2
 Derivation of Shape Function of Beam element
The degrees of freedom at each node for a beam member will
be (i) vertical deflection and (ii) rotation. For a beam member,
the slope of the elastic curve θ is given by: θ = dw/dx where
the variable w is the displacement function of the beam. As the
beam has two degrees of freedom at each node, the variation
of w will be cubic and can be expressed using Pascal’s triangle
as:
w  1   2 x   3 x   4 x
2 3

 1 
 
w 1 x x 2

3  2
x  
 3 
 4 
  1 
 

dw
 2  2
 0 1 2 x 3x   
dx  3 
 4 
Now, applying boundary conditions, the following expressions
from the above relations can be obtained:

At x = 0

 1   1 
   
 2  2
 0 1 0 0 
dw
w1  1 0 0 0  1 
 3  dx  3 
 4   4 
At x = L

 1   1 
   

w2  1 L L2 
3  2
L   2 
dw
 
2  2
 0 1 2 L 3L  
 3  dx  3 
 4   4 

Thus combining the above expressions one can write:

 w1   1 0 0 0  1 
   0 1 0   
 1  0  2
  3 
   A 
w2   1 L L
2
L   3 
  2  0 1 2 L 3L2   4 
So,
1
 1   1 0 0 0  w1 
  0 1 0   
 2  0   1
   
 3   1 L L L
2 3
w2 
   2 
 4  0 1 2 L 3L   2 


 1   1 0 0 0  w1 
   0  1 
 2  0 1 0
   
 3   3 L2  2 L 
L  1 L w2 
2
3
 4   2 L3 1 L2  2 2 
L 1 L    2 
3
Therefore,

 1 0 0 0  w1 
 0  1 

w 1 x x2 x3 
 3
0 1
L2  2 L 3
0

 
L  1 L w2 
2

 2 
 2 L3 1 L2  2 L 1 L    2 
3

 w1 
 
 1
w  N1 N2 N3 N 4  
w2 
  2 
where,

3 2 2 3 2 2 x3
N1  1  2 x  3 x ; N 2  x  x  2 ;
L L L L
3x 2 2 x 3 x 2 x3
N 3  2  3 and N 4    2
L L L L

N is called shape function which interpolates the beam

displacement in terms of its nodal displacements.
A beam element is subjected to u.d.l. ‘w’ kN/m. Find the nodal
load vector.

w
1 2
L

L 3 2 2 3
 1  2 x  3 x 
0 L L 
 N1   L 2 2 x3 
T L    x x  2
f  N2   0 L 
L
   N  w.dx   w  dx   w
e L
3
L 2
dx
N
0  3  3x 2x 
0
 N 4    L2
 3
L 
 3
0
L 2
 x x 
 0 L L2 
 
 L
 3x 2 x 
3 4

 x 2  3
 2 3L3 4 L4    wL 2
 x  2x  x   

f   2 3L 4 L   
2
2 wL 12
e
  w 4  
 3 x 3
2 x    wL 2
 3
 3L 4 L   wL2 12
2

 x3 x 4 
   2
 3L 4 L  0
A beam element is subjected to linearly varying load as shown
in the figure below . Find the nodal load vector.

w(x): force/length

w2
w1
1 2
L

The loading function can be written as:

w( x)  w1 
w2  w1 x
L
  N1 
T L 
f   
L
N
e
   N  w( x)dx     2 w( x)dx
0
N
0  3
 N 4 
L  3 2 2 3 
 1  2 x  3 x  w( x)dx 
0  L L  
 L
 2 2 x  3

   x  x  2  w( x)dx 
 0 L L  
  

L
 3 x 2
2 x 3
 
 0  L2 L3 
   w ( x ) dx

 

L
 x 2
x 3
 
 
0
 
 L L   2


w ( x ) dx

  7 w1 3w2  
  20  20  L 
  
 F1    w1 w2  2 
 M      L 
f 
e  1
  
F  3w
20 30 
7 w 

 2    1  2  L 
M 2   20 20  
  w1 w2  2 
   L 
  30 20  
Now, if w1=w2=w, then the equivalent nodal force will be:

  wL / 2
 wL2 / 12
f 
e 

 wL / 2


 
 wL2 / 12
Now, if w1=0 and w2=w, then the equivalent nodal force will be:

 3wL 
  20 
 F1   wL2 
M    
f 
e   
  1    30 
7 wL

 F2   
M 2   20 
 wL2 
 20 
A beam element is subjected to point load as shown in the
figure below . Find the nodal load vector.

W
a
1 2
L

Consider a load W is applied at a point is regarded as a

limiting case of intense pressure over infinitesimal length, so
that w(x)dx approaches W.
T

 f    N  w( x)dx  N  W
L
e * T

Here, [N*] is obtained by evaluating [N] at point where the

concentrated load W is applied. Thus,
  3 2 2 3   3 2 2 3 
1  L2 x  L3 x  1  L2 a  L3 a 
    
  2 2 x 3    2 2 a 3 
  x  L x  L2    a  L a  L2 
N 
* T  
 

 3 x 2 2 x 3 
at a distance a  
 


 3a 2 2a 3 
  2  3    2  3 
  L L    L L 
  x 2 x 3    a 2 a 3 
    2      2 
  L L    L L 
Therefore,
 3 2 2 3 
1  L2 a  L3 a W 
  
 F1    2 2 a3  
M    a  L a  L2 W 
f   
e * T  
F
 
  N W   1   
 3 a 2
2 a 3
 
 
 2   2  3 W 
M 2    L L  
  a 2 a3  
    2 W 
  L L  

Now, if load W is acting at mid-span (i.e., a = L/2), then

equivalent nodal load will be
  F1    W / 2
 M   WL / 8
f 
e   
  1  


 F2    W / 2
M 2   WL / 8

Now, if load W is acting at a distance L/4 from left node (i.e.,

a = L/4), then equivalent nodal load will be

 F1   27W / 32
 M    9WL / 64
f 
e  1 
 
F  5W / 32


 2  
M 2   3WL / 64
A beam element is subjected to clockwise couple as shown in
the figure below . Find the nodal load vector.

x M
1 2
L

  6 x 6 x 2 
   2  3 
  L L 
 4 x 3 x 2 
1   2 
f 
e
  M N 
d T 
 M 
L L 
2 
dx   6 x  6 x 

  L2 L3 
 2 
   2 x  3 x 
  L L2 
  F1   1.5M / L   1.5M / L 
M    M / 4  M / 4
f 
e  1
    
F

1.5 M / L
 

 1.5 M / L

 2    
M 2    M / 4  M / 4
A beam element is subjected to anticlockwise couple as shown
in the figure below . Find the nodal load vector.

x M
1 2
L

 F1   1.5M / L 
 M    M / 4
f 
e   
  1  
F 1.5 M / L


 2  
M 2    M / 4
 Derivation of Element Stiffness Matrix of beam element

From the moment curvature relationship, we can write

d 2w
M  EI 2  EI
dx
 1 
 
d 2w d 2
 2  21 x  x2 
3  2
x  
dx dx  3 
 4 

 1 
 
2
 2
     
  2  0 0 2 6 x    C   C A 
d w
  1

dx  3 
 4 
where
1 0 0 0  w1 
0 1 0   
0  1 
C   0 0 2 6 x; A   ;    
1 L L 2
L
3
w2 
 2   2 
0 1 2 L 3 L 

M  EI C A 
1

Strain energy,

U    M dx 
1 T
   

EI L T 1 T T
    
dx
L
1
  A C C A
02 2 0
Thus,

F   U
   
 EI  A C  C  A1 dx
L
1 T T

 0

So, the stiffness matrix will be:

k   EI  A  C CA dx  EI A  C  CdxA 

L T
e 1 T T 1 1 T 1

0 0

Now,
 0 0 0 0 0
 0  0
  L 0 0 0
 C  C dx    0 0 2 6 xdx   
L L
T
dx
0 0 4 12 x 
0 0
 2 0
   2
6 x  0 0 12 x 36 x 
 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
 C  C dx  
L
T

0 0 0 4 L 6 L2 
 2 3
0 0 6 L 12 L 

So,

0 0 0 0
0 0 1
 
k  EI A
e
 
1 T 
0
0 0
0 4L 6L  2
A  
 2 3
0 0 6 L 12 L 
 1 0  3 L2 2 L3  0 0 0 0  1 0 0 0
 
0  0
 
k e  EI 
0
0 1 2 L 1 L2  0 0 0 0 1 0
0 3 L2  2 L3  0 0 4 L 6 L2   3 L2  2 L 3 L2  1 L 
   
0 0 1 L 1 L2  0 0 6 L2 12 L3   2 L3 1 L2  2 L3 1 L2 

0 0 0 6  1 0 0 0
0 0 2 0  0
 
k e  EI 
0 0 0  6   3
0 1
L2  2 L 3
0
L2  1 L
  2
0 0 2 6L  2 L3 1 L2  2 3
L 1L
  12 6 L  12 6L
 6 L 4 L2  6 L 2 L2 
 EI 
k  3
e

L  12  6 L 12  6 L

 2
 6L 2L  6L 4L 
2
Analyze the beam shown below by the finite element method.
Assume the moment of inertia of member 2 as twice that of
member 1. Find the bending moment and reactions at
supports of the beam assuming the length of span, L as 4 m,
concentrated load (P) as 15 kN and udl, w as 4 kN/m.

15 kN 4 kN/m
A B C
EI 2EI
2m 2m
4m
w1 w2 w3
θ1 θ2 θ3
1 2 2
1 3
2m 2m
4m
Formation of member stiffness matrix: The local stiffness
matrices of each member are given below based on their
individual member properties and orientations. Thus the local
stiffness matrix of member (1) is:

1 2 3 4
 12 EI 6 EI 12 EI 6 EI  1
 L3  3
L2 L L2 
 6 EI 4 EI 6 EI 2 EI  2
  2 
k 
(1)
 L 2

 12 EI
L
6 EI
L
12 EI
L 
6 EI 
 2  2 3
 L3 L L 3
L 
 6 EI 2 EI 6 EI 4 EI 
  2 4
 L2 L L L 
Similarly, the local stiffness matrix of member (2) is:

3 4 5 6
 24 EI 12 EI 24 EI 12 EI  3
 L3 2
 3 2 
L L L
 12 EI 8EI 12 EI 4 EI  4
  2 
k 
( 2)
 L 2

 24 EI
L
12 EI
L
24 EI
L 
12 EI  5
 2  2
 L3 L L 3
L 
 12 EI 4 EI 12 EI 8EI 
  2 6
 L2 L L L 
Formation of global stiffness matrix:
1 2 3 4 5 6
 12 EI 6 EI 12 EI 6 EI 
 L3 2
 3 0 0 1
L L L2
 6 EI 4 EI 6 EI 2 EI 
 2
 2 0 0 2
 L L L L 
 12 EI  6 EI 36 EI 6 EI 24 EI
 3
12 EI  3
 L3 L2 
K    6 EI 2 EI
2 3
L L L2 L
6 EI 12 EI 12 EI 4 EI  4
 2 2
 2 
 L L L L L L 
 0
24 EI
0  3
12 EI
 2
24 EI 12 EI 
 2 5
 L L L 3
L 
 12 EI 4 EI 12 EI 8EI 
 0 0  2  6
 L2 L L L 
Boundary condition: The boundary conditions according to
the support of the beam can be expressed in terms of the
displacement vector. The displacement vector will be as
follows

 w1 
 
 1 
 w2 
    
2 
 w3 
 
  3 
Load vector:
 -P 2   -wL 2 
-PL 8  -wL2 12 
f 
(1) 


 f 
( 2) 



 -P 2   -wL 2 
 PL 8   wL2 12 
 P 2 
  PL 8 
 
  P 2  wL / 2 
F    
 PL / 8  wL 12 
2

  wL / 2 
 
 wL / 12 
2
Determination of unknown displacements by applying boundary
conditions: w1= w2 = w3 = θ1 = 0

 12 EI 6 EI 12 EI 6 EI 
 L3  3 0 0
L2 L L2
 6 EI 4 EI 6 EI 2 EI 
  0 0  w1   P 2 
 L2 L L2 L     PL 8 
 12 EI  6 EI 36 EI 6 EI 24 EI 12 EI   1   
 3
 L3 L2 L3 L2 L L2  w2    P 2  wL / 2 
 
 6 EI 2 EI 6 EI 12 EI 12 EI 4 EI   2 PL / 8  wL 2
12
  2    
 L2 L L2 L L L   w3    wL / 2 
 24 EI 12 EI 24 EI 12 EI     
0 0  3  2     wL / 12 
2
 L L L3 L2   3
 12 EI 4 EI 12 EI 8EI 
 0 0  2 
 L2 L L L 
 12 EI / L 4EI / L  2  PL / 8  wL2 / 12
 4 EI / L 8EI / L     2 
  3   wL / 12

1
 2  12 EI / L 4 EI / L  PL / 8  wL2 / 12
    
 3   4 EI / L 8EI / L  
2
wL / 12

 2  L  2  1 PL / 8  wL2 / 12

   1 3  
3  20 EI
2
  wL / 12

 2  L  PL / 4  wL2 / 4
   
3  20 EI  PL / 8  wL / 3
2
 PL2 wL3
2  
80 EI 80 EI
PL2 wL3
3   
160 EI 60 EI

Determination of member end actions:

 12 EI 6 EI 12 EI 6 EI 
 L3  3
 F1  L2 L L2   0   -P 2 
 6 EI 4 EI 6 EI 2 EI 
M    -PL 8 
 1 L  L 2
L
 2
L L   0   
  
  
 F2  20 EI  3
12 EI 6 EI 12 EI 6 EI  0 -P 2
 2  2    
M 2   L L L3 
L  PL / 4  wL / 4   PL 8 
2
 6 EI 2 EI 6 EI 4 EI     
  2 
 L2 L L L 
 F1   23P 40  3wL / 40  7.425 kN
M   6 PL 40  wL2 / 40   7.4 
 1     kN-m
 
  
  
 F2   17 P 40  3wL / 40   7.575 kN
M 2   3PL 40  wL2 / 20    7.7 kN-m

 24 EI 12 EI 24 EI 12 EI 
 L3  3
 F2  L2 L L2   0   -wL 2 
 12 EI 8EI 12 EI 4 EI 
M    PL / 4  wL2 / 4  -wL2 12 
 2 L  L2 L
 2
L L     
  
  
 F3  20 EI  3
24 EI 12 EI 24 EI 12 EI  0 -wL 2
 2  2    
 M 3   L L L3 L   PL / 8  wL / 3   wL 12 
2 2
 12 EI 4 EI 12 EI 8EI 
  2 
 L2 L L L 

 F2  9.925  kN
M   7.7 
 2    kN-m
 
  
 F3   6 . 075 kN
 M 3   0  kN-m
The support reactions at the supports A, B and C are

 RA  23P 40  3wL / 40  7.425 kN

M  6 PL 40  wL2 / 40   7.4 kN-m
 A     
   
 RB   25 wL / 40  P / 2   17 .5 kN
 Rc   9wL / 20  3P / 40  6.075 kN
Analyze the simply supported beam shown below by the finite
element method. Draw bending moment and shear force
diagram. Take E = 200 GPa and I = 0.025×10-3 m2. Use
concept of symmetry.
10 kN/m

L = 4m

Divide beam in to four elements each of 1m.

w1 w2 w3
1 2
θ2 θ3
θ1 1 2 3

1m 1m
  12 6 L  12 6L
 6 L 4 L2  6 L 2 L2 
 EI 
k  3
e

L  12  6 L 12  6 L

 2
 6L 2L  6L 4L 
2

 12 6  12 6
 6  
k   k 
(1) ( 2)
 5000 
4
 12  6
6 2
12  6

 
 6 2 6 4
  12 6  12 6 0 0
 6 4  6 2 0 0 
 
 12  6 24 0  12 6
K   5000 
 6 2 0 8 6 2
 0 0  12  6 12  6
 
 0 0 6 2 6 4

  wL 2   5
  wL 2
12   5 / 6 
   
  wL 2  wL 2   10
F    2  
wL 12  wL 12 
2
0
  wL 2   5
   
 wL 12  5 / 6
2
  12 6  12 6 0 0  w1    5
 6 4  6 2 0 0      5 / 6
   1  
 12  6 24 0  12 6 w2    10
5000    
 6 2 0 8 6 2   2   0
 0 0  12  6 12  6  w3    5
    
 0 0 6 2 6 4   3   5 / 6

Applying boundary conditions: w1 =0, θ3 = 0

 4 6 2 0  1   5 / 6
 6   w    10
 24 0 12   2  
5000   
 2 0 8  6   2   0
   
 0  12  6 12  w3    5
Solving above equations, we get primary unknowns

w2 = -4.75 mm
w3 = -6.67 mm
θ1 = -5.33 × 10-3 radians
θ2 = -3.67 × 10-3 radians

Secondary unknowns

Bending moment
 w1 
 
d N i   1 
 
2
M i  EI
e
 
dx 2 w2 
  2 

where i = node no.

  w1 
 
   6 12 x   4 6 x   6 12 x  2 6x  1 
M i  EI   2  3     2   2  3    2   
e

 L L   L L  L L  L L  w2 
  2 
For element 1, put x = 0 for i = 1 and x = L for i = 2
 w1 
 
M   EI   L6 
(1)
1
 4
 
 6 2  1 
 2    
   L L 
2
L  w2 
  2 
 0
  5.33
  3
M 1(1)  5 103  6  4 6  2 10  0.8kN  m
 4.75
 3.67
  w1 
 
M   EI  L6 
(1)
2
2
 
 6  4  1 
 2   w 
   L   
2
L L  2 
  2 
 0
  5.33
  3
M 2(1)  5 103 6 2  6 4 10  15.8kN  m
 4.75
 3.67

For element 2, put x = 0 for i = 2 and x = L for i = 3

w2 
 
2  2 
M 
( 2)
1
 6   4   6 
  EI   2      2     
 L   L   L  L   w3 
  3 
  4.75
 3.67
M  ( 2) 3 
 5 10  6  4 6  2

  10 3
 15.8kN  m
 6.67
1

 0

 4.75
 3.67
 ( 2)

3 
M 2  5 10 6 2  6 4

  10 3
 20.9kN  m
 6.67
 0
Shear force
 w1 
 
d N i   1 
 
3 3
dM d w
Si 
e
 EI 3  EI 3  
dx dx dx w2 
  2 
  w1 
 
  i
e 12   6   12 
S  EI  3   2    3 
6  1 
2  
 L   L   L  L  w2 
  2 

 0
  5.33
S 
(1) 
 500012 6  12 6
 3
10  15kN
 4.75
 3.67 

 4.75
 3.67
S 
( 2) 
 500012 6  12 6
 3
 10  5.1kN
 6.67
 0
 20 Exact result
15 FEM
5.1

5.1
15
S. F. Diagram (kN) 20

20.9
Exact result 15.8 15.8 FEM
20 15
0.8 15 0.8

0 0

B. M. Diagram (kN-m)
Determine the displacement and rotation under the force and
moment located at the centre of the beam shown in Figure.
Discretize the beam into the two element. Take E = 210 GPa, I
= 4 × 10-4 m4
10 kN

20 kN-m
3m 3m
  12 18  12 18
 18  
k     k   
1 2

210 109  4 10 4
33
 36
 12  18
18 18
12  18
 
 18 18  18 36

 12 18  12 18 0 0
 18 36  18 18 0 0 
 
8.4 107  12  18 24 0  12 18
K    
27  18 18 0 72  18 18
 0 0  12  18 12  18
 
 0 0 18 18  18 36
  12 18  12 18 0 0  w1   0
 18 36  18 18 0 0     0 
  1   
8.4 107  12  18 24 0  12 18 w2   10 10 
3

     3
N m
27  18 18 0 72  18 18   2   20 10 
 0 0  12  18 12  18  w3   0
    
 0 0 18 18  18 36   3   0

Applying boundary conditions: w1 = θ1 = w3 = θ3 = 0

8.4 107 24 0 w2   10 103 

 0 72      3 
N m
27    2   20 10 
Solving
w2  1.339 104 m
 2  8.928 105 radian
 F1   12 18  12 18  0
M   18   
 1  8 107  36 18 18   0 
  4 
F
 2 33
 12  18 12  18  1.339 10 
M 2    5 
 18 18  18 36  8.928  10 