RAYLEIGH –RITZ METHOD

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

In the Rayleigh-Ritz method

A single trial function is applied throughout the entire region
Trial functions of increasing complexity are required to model all but the simplest
problems
The FE approach
uses comparatively simple trial functions that are applied piece-wise to parts of
the region
These subsections of the region are then the finite elements

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

Consider the problem of 1-D heat flow, the functional to be extremised is

where the integral over W corresponds to the length of the region and Neumann
boundary conditions are specified at one end, G,of the region

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

The length over which the solution is required, is divided up into finite elements
In each element the value of f is found at certain points called nodes
Two nodes will mark the extremities of the element
Other nodes may occur inside the element

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

Let the unknown temperatures at the nodes of the element e be

where n+1 is the number of nodes in each element.
FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

The temperature at any other position in the element is represented in terms of the nodal
values {f}e and shape functions associated with each node
where Nb is the shape function associated with the node b and b=i ... i+n and [N]
is the corresponding row matrix.

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

Let us write the trial function f over the entire region Ω in the form
where the summation is over all the nodes in W.

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

The global shape functions have been used to take into account the contribution
from fa to f over the entire region W
The global shape functions over much of W will be zero
For interior nodes of an element will be non-zero only within that element
End nodes of an element will have non-zero values over the two elements sharing the
node.

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

For example :
is non-zero only in elements e and e+1.
will be non-zero only in
element e.

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

 Neglecting for the moment, consideration of the first and last elements of the region
Write the Rayleigh-Ritz statement in which the nodal values are the adjustable
parameters.
Consider the nodes i...i+n belonging to element e

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

where for example òelement e stands for

over the element e

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

Let us
focus on the terms containing an integral over the element e
Drop the superscript g on the shape functions
Suppose that the element extends from x=xe to x=xe+h
No loss in generality is incurred if we
Shift the origin to x=xe
Take the element to extend rather from 0 to h

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

The function can be written as,

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

 Also, noting

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

So, differentiating under the integral sign, we have

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

This equation is one in the set of n+1 simultaneous equations obtained by letting a run
through the values i...i+n :

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

where
and
In the end elements, where Neumann boundary conditions may have to be considered,
there is an additional term
where Nar is the value of Na on the boundary G

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

If there are two 2-noded elements, labelled m and n, with nodes i, i+1 and i+2,
assembly of the element matrices is as before. Then
for the first element m
and similarly for element n

FE Modification of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method

By combining these two matrix equations

The global assembly matrix is built up in this way
The boundary conditions on the extreme elements are inserted
The set of equations is solved for the unknown values of f