ENGR3131:

Strength of Materials Lab

Fundamentals of

Finite Element Analysis

Mir Atiqullah, Ph.D.

(Adapted from multiple sources)

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

A mathematical modeling
technique to obtain solutions to
complex engineering problems.
– Structural Problems (linear and
non-linear)
– Heat Transfer
– Fluid Flow (steady and unsteady)
– Static and Dynamic Analysis
– Electromagnetics and
Electrostatics

1
 Finite Element Analysis
A finite element model approximates the geometry and physical
behavior of a system with a discretization of finite elements.
Each element is an approximate (sometimes exact)
mathematical representation of a small part of the system.

A truss element
δ
σ = Eε ε= δ =
PL
L EA

P P

Review of Strength of Materials Truss

(Rod) Analysis
A truss (rod) is defined as:
– A structural member with a force applied along it’s axis, thus the
member only experiences axial stresses.
– Cross section of a classical truss is constant
– Assume stress/strain described by Hooke’s Law:

δ
σ = Eε ε= δ =
PL Thus: σ =
P
L EA A

P P

2
 Review (contd.)

A truss problem is solved exactly if the truss system

can be modeled with simple (A = constant) elements

For complex shapes, the structural problem can be

solved using discretized elements approximately
with simple elements Æ FEA.
If approximation is of the order of the property ( shape
etc.) then FEA produces exact results
Higher order approx results in higher accuracy
Smaller elements ( fine discretization) also produces
more accurate results. Æ refinement of the model

Str.
Str. of Mats – Axially Loaded Rod Analysis
Find the axial stress in the following two problems:
L L
P P
h h h
b b b
P P
σ = → where : A = b * h σ = → but : A = ?
A A
PL PL
δ = δ= ?
EA EA
Simple: A - constant Complex: A - variable

3
 Review of Strength of Material Truss
Analysis
For the simple problem, the exact axial stress can be calculated. For the
complex problem, the axial stress must be approximated by breaking
the problem into smaller sections and summing the displacements and
calculating the average stress based on the displacements.
L
P
h h
b
b
l δ tot = δ 1 + δ 2 + ... + δ n
Is the axial stress
Pl1 Pl 2 Pl
constant? δ tot = + + ... + n
EA1 EA2 EAn

Review of Strength of Material Truss

Analysis
In approximating the axial stress of the previous
problem, do the incremental lengths, l, have to be
equal?
What if the lengths l are not uniform? How about material non-uniform?
L
P
h
b
b
l

4
 Review of Linear Algebra
Linear Algebra – Algebra of Vectors and Matrices

Examples
3 x 1: vector 4 x 4: matrix standard subscript

⎡1⎤ ⎡1 0 9 6⎤
⎢6 8 4 0⎥ ⎡k k12 ⎤
{u} = ⎢ − 2⎥ [ K] = ⎢ ⎥ [k ] = ⎢ 11 ⎥
⎢ ⎥ ⎢2 1 6 3⎥ ⎣k 21 k 22 ⎦
⎢⎣3.2⎥⎦ ⎢ ⎥
⎣6 8 4 0⎦

Linear Algebra (contd.)

• Matrices can be multiplied by another matrix, but
only if the left-hand matrix has the same number of
columns as the right hand matrix has rows.

• ⎡ 1 4 3⎤ ⎡ 7 12⎤
A*B=C
A=⎢ ⎥
⎣5 2 6 ⎦ B = ⎢11 18⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎣⎢ 9 10⎥⎦

C11 = (1 * 7) + (4 *11) + (3 * 9) = 78 ⎡ 78 74 ⎤
C12 = (1 * 12) + (4 * 18) + (3 * 10) = 74 C=⎢ ⎥
C 21 = (5 * 7) + (2 *11) + (6 * 9) = 111
⎣111 136⎦
C 22 = (5 *12) + (2 * 8) + (6 *10) = 136

5
 Review of Linear Algebra

• The product of a Matrix, A, and it’s inverse, A-1 is the

identity matrix, I. Only square matrices can be
inverted.
⎡3 5⎤
⎡ 4 5⎤ A −1 = ⎢ 2
− ⎥
A=⎢ ⎥ 2
⎢− 1 2 ⎥
⎣ 2 3⎦ ⎣ ⎦

⎡1 0⎤
⎡1 0 ⎤
−1 I=⎢ ⎥
A* A = ⎢ ⎥ ⎣0 1⎦
⎣0 1 ⎦
• Not all square matrices are invertible. A matrix has an inverse if
and only if it is nonsingular (its determinant is nonzero)

Review of Linear Algebra

Determinant Calculation
A determinant of a matrix is calculated by
adding the product of the right vertical’s and
subtracting the product of the left verticals.
⎡a b c⎤
A = ⎢⎢d e f ⎥⎥ A = aei + bfg + cdh − gec − hfa − idb
⎣⎢ g h i ⎦⎥

Much easier to use a calculator/MathCAD..if it

is too large ( beyond 3x3)

6
 Review of Linear Algebra
Solving system of Linear Equations
• The matrix form is an easy
way to describe and solve a
system of linear equations:
• k11u1 + k12u2=f1 ⎡ k11 k12 ⎤ ⎡ u1 ⎤ ⎡ f1 ⎤
• k21u1 + k22u2=f2 ⎢k ⎥⎢ ⎥ = ⎢ ⎥
⎣ 21 k 22 ⎦ ⎣u 2 ⎦ ⎣f 2 ⎦
• A simple numerical ⎡ 2 − 1⎤ ⎡ u1 ⎤ ⎡ 3 ⎤
• example is: ⎢− 1 1 ⎥ ⎢u ⎥ = ⎢− 1⎥
⎣ ⎦ ⎣ 2⎦ ⎣ ⎦

⎡ 2 − 1⎤ ⎡1 1⎤ ⎡ u1 ⎤ ⎡1 1 ⎤ ⎡ 3 ⎤ ⎡2⎤
K =⎢ ⎥ K −1 = ⎢
⎣− 1 1 ⎦
⎥ ⎢u ⎥ = ⎢1 2⎥ ⋅ ⎢− 1⎥ = ⎢1⎥
⎣1 2⎦ ⎣ 2⎦ ⎣ ⎦ ⎣ ⎦ ⎣ ⎦

Design Issues
• Will the rod support the weight?
Engineer: Is the stress in the rod less then the
ultimate stress of steel?

• Will the rod deflect and if so, by how much?

Engineer: Deflection of a rod under axial load
must be calculated.

• Will the rod deform if it deflects?

Engineer: Is the stress in the rod less then the
yield stress of steel?

• Will the rod fail?

Engineer: What is my design safety factor?

7
 Design Issues

Do we know these Key Terms?

• ultimate stress
• yield stress
• Design stress
• critical stress
• Deflection/elongation
• Strain

Exercise : Elongation of a Support Bar

Approximate the total deflection by breaking the part into 4 subsections
(elements). It is 4 inches wide at the top, 2 inches at the bottom, and
just 1 inch thick ( depth). E =30E6 psi.
Can we get an exact solution to this problem?
Remember: We will approximate the length ( thickness) by linear average.
And the bar is linearly varying its width.
P li
δ tot = ∑ Where: ∑ li = L
i Ai E i
k=(Ai E/li)
li A1=3.75x1=3.75 in2 k1 =3.75xE psi
A2=3.25x1=3.25 in2 k2 =3.25xE psi
A3=2.75x1=2.75 in2 k3 =2.75xE psi
L=4 inches A4=2.25x1=2.25 in2 k4 =2.25xE psi

P=100 lbs
Bottom 2x1
Top 4x1

8
 Discretization-
Discretization- divide up into finite
elements
Modeling:
Node 1 Exclude node 1 from force equilibrium eqtns.
u1=0 F1
Element 1
Notice u1=0. 4 eqtns, 4 unknowns u2 , u3 , u4, u5

Node 2 F2 A2 E
u2 F2 k2 = =
Element 2 δ2 l2
Node 3
−1
u3 F3
Element 3 ⎡u2 ⎤ ⎡k11 ⎤ ⎡ F2 ⎤
Solution of ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢0 ⎥
Node 4 assembled ⎢u 3 ⎥ ⎢ k 23 ⎥ ⋅⎢ ⎥
u4 F4
=
equations: ⎢u ⎥ ⎢
Element 4
4 ⎥ ⎢ F4 ⎥
Node 5
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
u5 F5 ⎣u5 ⎦ ⎣ k 44 ⎦ ⎣ F5 ⎦
Post processing:
F5 =100 lbs
F2=k2(u3-u2)
F2 k 2 (u2 − u3 )
σ2 = =
A2 A2

Exercise (Contd.)
Node 2: -k1(u2-0)+k2(u3-u2) +0 = 0 Ærearranging Æ (k1 +k2) u2 – (k2) u3 =0
Node 3: -k2(u3-u2)+k3(u4-u3) +0 = 0
Node 4: -k3(u4-u3)+k4(u5-u4) +0 = 0
Node 5: -k4(u5-u4)+ 100 = 0

u2 1.026E-6 in.
k1+k2 -k2 0 0 u2 0

u3 = 2.21E-6
-k2 k2+k3 -k3 X u3 = 0
u4 3.42E-6
0 -k3 K3+k4 -k4 u4 0

-k4 k4 u5 100
u5 4.9E-6

F2=k2(u3-u2)= 2.75x30E6 x (3.42-2.21)e-6 = 99.825 lbs ==100 lbs.

σ2 = F/A =100/3.25 in2= 30.77 psi. Overall elongation = ??

9
End of these slides

10