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What is a field problem?
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Example: A 2-D elastic field
Overview
• Geometry is subdivided
• Reaction forces
• Applied loads
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General steps to make FEM work?
1. Mesh Generation: The complex region is subdivided into smaller
subdomains called “ELEMENTS”. Apex of an element’s sides is a
“NODE”.
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2. Material and Physical Properties: (elastic
modulus, density, Poisson’s ration, heat
conduction coefficient,…).
3. Loading Conditions: (concentrated and
distributed forces, moments, heat
source,…).
4. Kinematic Boundary Conditions:
(constraints and fixed points).
FEM Applied to Solid Mechanics Problems
• A FEM model in solid mechanics can
be thought of as a system of assembled
springs. When a load is applied, all
elements deform until all forces
balance.
• F = K.d
Create elements
of the beam • K is dependant upon Young’s
modulus and Poisson’s ratio, as
well as the geometry.
• Equations from discrete elements are
assembled together to form the global
Nodal displacement and forces stiffness matrix.
• Deflections are obtained by solving the
assembled set of linear equations.
• Stresses and strains are calculated from
the deflections.
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meshed model
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Boundary Conditions for a Solid Mechanics Problem
• Inertia Loads Loads that affect the entire structure (ex: acceleration,
rotation).
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• Model of a Disk and a Brake Pad:
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Some Examples:
• Foot Model:
• Solid Model:
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• Foot, Ankle & Shank Model:
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Mathematical Concepts and Steps
• Discretization of the region (degrees of freedom)
• Generating element stiffness matrix
kel uel f el
• Applying nodal loads and boundary conditions
• Assembling elements stiffness matrices
• A set of linear algebraic equations with unknown deformation
K u f
• Solution of the equations and computation of displacement
field, stresses and strains.
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Example: A linear spring model (direct or stiffness method)
d 2 x d1x T K .
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Generating Element Stiffness Matrix (direct or stiffness method)
T2 T1 T
F1x T k (d 2 x d1x ) kd1x kd2 x
F2 x T k (d 2 x d1x ) kd1x kd2 x
kd1x kd2 x F1x
kd1x kd2 x F2 x
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In Matrix Notations:
k k d1x F1x
k
k d 2 x F2 x
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How does assembly of ESM work?
Consider the following two-element system:
k1 k1 k2 k2
k k k 2
1 k1 2
d1 x d2x d2x d3x
Now we need to expand these matrices for the overall system.
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Expansion:
k1 k1 0 0 0 0
K1 k1 k1 0 K 2 0 k2 k2
0 0 0 0 k2 k2
d1x d2x d3x d1x d2x d3x
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This results in a set of Linear Algebraic Equation:
k1 k1 0 d1x F1x
k
1 k1 k 2 k2 d 2 x F2 x
0 k2 k2 F
3x 3x
d
d1x 0
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Incorporating the boundary condition removes singularity:
k1 k 2 k 2 d 2 x F2 x
k
2 k 2 d 3 x F3 x
d 2 x
Vector of unknowns =
d 3 x
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Let us consider the analysis of the following loaded system of
linear springs (each with 2 nodes).
This system has 4 linear spring elements and there are 4
global nodes. Node 1 is fixed but node 4 can slide under the
(known) applied load F. We are interested to compute the
nodal displacements at nodes 1, 2, 3, and 4.
For element 1 which is made by nodes 1 and 2, we can write
the following equilibrium equation:
0 0 0 0 d1 0 0 0 0 0 d1 0
0 k11(3) k12(3) 0 d 2 F1(3)
0 0 0 0 d 2 0
0 ( 3)
( 3)
k21 ( 3)
k22 0 d3 F2 0 0 k11( 4) k12( 4) d3 F1( 4)
0 0 0 0 d 4 0 k22 d 4 F2( 4)
( 4)
0
( 4)
0 k21
The corresponding RHS and LHS of equations will be
added together. The overlapping members of matrices
will sum up and the final equation for the system will
be:
The total forces acting on nodes 2 and 3 are zero: