ME6800 Finite Element Analysis - Assignment 1

Prof. Parag Ravindran and Prof. Narasimhan Swaminathan

July 31, 2017

1. Given the following strong form of the differential equation, derive the weak form and show the equivalence [5
marks]
 
d du
E(x) + u f (x) = 0 (1)
dx dx
du 
E  = Q0 (2)
dx x=0
du 
E  = Q1 (3)
dx x=1
0<x<1 (4)

2. Sove the following differential equation (a) analytically and then (b) using the Bubnov-Galerkin method with
functions that are continuous over the entire domain and (c) with functions which are piecewise continuous
(Consider two equal subdivisions of the domain) (d) Compare the actual and the solution from (c) at x = 0.5.
A two parameter solution is sufficient.[10 marks]

d2 u du
x2 2
+ 4x 6u = x2 sin(x) (5)
dx dx
u(0) = 0 (6)
u(2) = 2 (7)
0<x<1 (8)

3. Consider the differential equation defined over the domain 0 < x < 1

d2 u
+1=0 (9)
dx2
u(0) = 1 (10)
du 
=1 (11)
dx x=1


Solve using piecewise continuous functions with Bubnov-Galerkin method and compare with the exact solution.
Use two equal subdivisions of the domain and examine the solution at x = 0.5. Does the approximate solution
satisfy the boundary condition at x = 1? What can be done to improve the accuracy of the solution?[5 marks]
4. Solve the problem 3.9 of the text book. An introduction to the finite element method by J. N. Reddy. Third
Edition.[5 marks]