Weighted-Residual Method,

Galerkin Variational form and

Piece-wise Continuous Trial
Functions

Residual Method
The Weighted-Residual (WR) method is
a powerful way of finding approximate
solutions to differential equations.
In particular, the Galerkin WeightedResidual formulation is the most popular
from the finite element point of view.
Piece-wise trial function approximation
of the weak form of the Galerkin
weighted residual technique forms the

Residual Method
For finding approximate solution to
differential equations:
(i) Assume a trial solution, like

(ii) Substitute the trial function and apply

boundary conditions into the DE to
make its residual form

Residual Method
(iii) Determine the unknown parameters
(C0, C1, C2,) in the assumed trial
function in such a way as to make these
residuals as low as possible.

Residual Method
Bar under uniform axial load, DE is
, BCs:

Residual Method
Solution:
(i) Assume trial function
apply BCs, we get
(ii) Find the domain residual

Residual Method
Solution:
(iii) Minimise the residual (i.e., Rd=0)

Solution is:

Residual Method
Cantilever bean under UDL, DE is
, BCs:

Residual Method
Solution:
(i) Assume trial function
apply BCs, we get

and

Residual Method
(ii) Find the domain residual
(iii) Minimise the residual (i.e., Rd=0)
Solution is

Residual Method

Residual Method
Residual is varying with x,

Collocation method

Residual Method

Residual Method

Weighted-Residual Method
A weighting function Wi(x) is used
minimise the residual over the entire
domain as:

Weighted-Residual Method
W-R methods
(i) Collocation Method
(ii) Least Square Method
(iii) Galerkin Method (most popular)

Galerkin Weighted-Residual Method

Galerkin Weighted-Residual Method

Solution:
(i) Assume trial function
(ii) Domain residual
(iii) Galerkin method

Galerkin Weighted-Residual Method

or
we get,
The solution is

Galerkin Weighted-Residual Method

Galerkin Weighted-Residual Method

Bar under uniform axial load q=ax, DE is
, BCs:

Galerkin Weighted-Residual Method

Solution:
(i) Assume trial function
Apply BC,

Galerkin Weighted-Residual Method

(ii) Find domain residual
(iii) Minimise the residual

Galerkin Weighted-Residual Method

we get,
Solution is,

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Consider the axial bar problem,
, BCs:

Residual form is:

Weighted-Residual form is:

Weak (Variational) form W-R

or

Integration by parts formula,

here,

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Let,
Weak form of W-R is:
It is referred to as the weak form because
of the weaker continuity demand on the
solution.

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Advantages of Weak form:
(i) The continuity demanded on trial
function is down.
(ii) Natural (or Force) boundary conditions
(i.e. Po or PL ) have been explicitly
brought out in the WR statement itself.
(iii) The trial function assumed need only
satisfy the Essential (or Geometric)
boundary condition at x = 0, i.e . u(0) =

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Boundary conditions:
(i) Essential boundary conditions normally
involve deflection and slope
(ii) Natural boundary conditions normally
involve force and bending moments.

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Consider the axial bar problem,
, BCs:

Solution:
Assume trial function:

Weak (Variational) form W-R

BCs:
Weak form w.r.t. W1

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Weak form w.r.t. W2

Rearranging,
or

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Solution is:

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Solution:
W-R form

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Integrating by parts again,

Apply Natural BCs,

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Apply Essential BCs
we get, weak form as

Subject to

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Solution:
Assume quadratic trial function satisfying
the essential BCs:
Weighting fn is:
For simplicity, let

or

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Thus, the quadratic, weak W-R solution is:
And, the exact solution is:

W-R sinusoidal solution is:

Galerkin Weighted-Residual Method

Galerkin Weighted-Residual Method

Galerkin Weighted-Residual Method

Piece-wise Continuous Trial Function

Solution of the Weak Form

Piece-wise Continuous Trial Function

Solution of the Weak Form

Linear Interpolation Function

One-dimensional Bar Finite Element

Bar under uniform axial load q=ax, DE is
, BCs:

One-dimensional Bar Finite Element

One-dimensional Bar Finite Element

One-dimensional Bar Finite Element

Let u(x) within each element be given by the
interpolation as

One-dimensional Bar Finite Element

Galerkin weighting function = Shape function

One-dimensional Bar Finite Element

One-dimensional Bar Finite Element

Weak (Variational) form W-R

Solution:

One-dimensional Bar Finite Element

One-dimensional Bar Finite Element