• Direct Stiffness – beam

STEP
Linear spring Bar/Truss
Select element type Summary:
Select Solve for a1 and a2
; •The principles of simple beam theory
displacement function
approx. shape function
; ;
•Stiffness matrix of a beam element

Define relationships ; ; • Procedures for handling distributed loading and

concentrated nodal loading
Derive stiffness matrix
(Local)
• Example Problems
Assemble global
stiffness matrix + BC ;

Solve for nodal disp. +

; ;
element forces

Beams: Engineering structures that are long, slender and

generally subjected to transverse loading that produces
significant bending effects as opposed to twisting or axial
effects
Development of
Beam Equations

Ideal beams are straight and have constant cross-sectional area.

The differential equation governing simple linear-elastic beam behavior
can be derived as follows. Consider the beam shown below.

From force and moment equilibrium of a differential beam element, we get:

Write the equations of equilibrium for the differential element:

 STEP 1: Select Element Type
Consider a linear-elastic beam element shown below

Stiffness Matrix
A Beam Element

STEP 2: Select a displacement function

Assume the transverse displacement function v is

Neglect all axial effects!

Applying the boundary conditions

In matrix form the above equations are:

Shape Functions for a Beam Element

Solving these equations for the unknown coefficient gives

Shape Functions for a Beam Element STEP 3: Define the strain/displacement + stress/strain relationships

The stress-displacement relationship is:

 STEP 4: Derive the element stiffness matrix and equations
Using beam theory sign convention for shear force and bending moment,
one obtain the following equations:

In the matrix form the above equations are: STEP 5: Assemble the element equations and
Introduce boundary conditions
This will be illustrated in the following example!

EI constant
Where the stiffness matrix is:
The beam element stiffness matrices are:

STEP 6: Introduce boundary conditions