Simulation

Tool

Structural
Analysis Tool

Structural
Design Tool

Response of a
structure or
system to the
loads imposed

Measuring critical
loads or failure
criteria

Modifying the
structure to
improve
performance

Calculated
circumference

2r

Number of Edges

Node
Element
Mesh
Load
Boundary Condition
Material Property
TrueGrid

 Compatibility
Equilibrium
Constitutive Law

 Things fit together with no gaps

Each node and element boundary
matches the one beside it.


F2

Fk

F1

Fn

Pn

Pn
lim
A 0 A

Ps

Ps
lim
A 0 A

Megson

Normal components

Shear components

xy

Megson

Perpendicular to
this axis

x,

y,

xy ,

yx ,

yz ,

zy ,

zx , xz

xy

yx

yz

zy

zx

xz

Parallel to this
axis

xy

xz

yx

yz

zx

zy


Sigma

Epsilon

y
Tau

Careful with the

shear terms,
different sources
use different order

x
y

Gamma

yz

yz

zx

zx

xy

xy

x
1

y

z
E (1 ) 1

(1

)(1

)
0
yz

zx

xy
0

(1 2 )
2(1 )

(1 2 )
2(1 )

0
x

0 y
z

0 yz
zx

0 xy

(1 2 )

2(1 )
0

Continuum
(Displacement only)
Bar
(u)

1D

2D

Truss
(u,v,w)
Plane
stress
(u,v)
Plane
Strain
(u,v)
Bricks
(u,v,w)

3D

Structural
(Displacement and Slope)
Beam
(u,v,w,
x,y,z)

Plate
(u,v,w,
x,y)
Shell
(u,v,w,
x,y,z)

Model of Structure

Different Model
of Structure

Discretised Model

Discretised Model

Magnitude of Errors

Real Structure

Remember:
Refinement does
not make your
closer to REALITY.
Refinement makes
your results closer
to your MODEL!

(a) Von mises stress

(b) Fore-aft load paths showing detail

around mast step

E, A, L

P1

P2

u1

u2

k11
k
21

k12 u1 P1

k22 u2 P2

Node 1

Node 2

P1

P2

N
u1=0

N
u2=1

 What if we have multiple elements or

loads?
I

II

III

We can assemble multiple elements using

equilibrium at the nodes (+ compatibility)
P1

P2
P1 I

P2I

P3
P2II

II

P3II

P4
P3III

III

P4III

 At Node 1:
P1 I P1 0
AI EI
AI EI
u1
u2 P1

LI
LI

At Node 2:
P2I P2II P2 0
AI EI
AI EI AII EII
u1

LII
LI
LI

AII EII
u3 P2
u2
LII

Garth Pearce 2012

 In matrix form
AI EI
L
I

AI EI
L
I

AI EI

LI
AI EI
A E
II II
LI
LII

AII EII
LII

AII EII
LII

AII EII
A E
III III
LII
LIII

u1

u1 P1
0
u P
2
2

u
P
A E
III III 3 3
LIII
u4

P4

AIII EIII

LIII

AIII EIII
LIII

II
u2

III
u3

u4
Garth Pearce 2012

Ku P

u P

F1 = 3kN

Steel Bar, A = 100mm2, L = 1m

X=0

F2 = 1kN

Al Bar, A = 50mm2, L = 600mm

X=1000mm

X=1600mm

ui

ij

E
ij E u j ui
Lij

EA
Fij A
u j ui

Lij

Lij

A = 50 mm2
E = 70 GPa

2 kN
1 kN
1000

1000

1000

Q2
v2
u2

Q1

v1

P1
u1

P2

lm
l2

m2
AE lm
L l 2 lm

lm

l 2 lm u1 P1

lm m 2 v1 Q1

2

l
lm u2 P2
2
lm
m v2 Q2

l cos
where
m sin

x j xi
L
y j yi
L

u j ui
EA
Fij
l m v v
Lij
j i

u u

P P
i

vi
Qi

wi
Ri

uj
Pj

vj

wj

Qj

Rj

lm
ln
l 2 lm ln
l2

2
2
lm
m
mn

lm

mn

2
2
mn
n
ln mn n
EA ln
[K ]

Lij l 2 lm ln
l2
lm
ln
lm m 2 mn lm
m2
mn

2
2

ln

mn

n
ln
mn
n

Lij

x j xi y j yi z j zi
2

x j xi
Lij

u j ui
EA
Fij
l m n v j vi
Lij
w w
i
j

y j yi
Lij

z j zi
Lij

http://bendingmomentdiagram.com/

Try with truss elements

v1

I
u1

v2
u2

II

v3
u3

v1

P2

P1

v2

2
M1

M2
12 EI
L3

6 EI
L2
12 EI
3
L
6 EI

L2

6 EI
L2
4 EI
L
6 EI
2
L
2 EI
L

12 EI
L3
6 EI
2
L
12 EI
L3
6 EI
2
L

6 EI
L2

2 EI v1 P1

L 1 M 1

6 EI v2 P2
2
L 2 M 2
4 EI