Free FEM

Course
Civil
Exercise:
Beam on Elastic Springs

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 FREE FEM COURSE CIVIL: EXERCISE
 Problem description
Consider a beam on elastic foundation. The geometrical dimensions,
mechanical properties and loadings are shown in figure below.

 Objective
Obtain the diagrams of vertical displacements, the slope of the deflection line,
bending moment and shear force and the diagram of vertical reactions in the foundation.

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 FREE FEM COURSE CIVIL: EXERCISE
 Problem data
The modulus of elasticity of material of the beam is E = 30 GPa (concrete) and the modulus of
the foundation is k0 = 50000 kN/m2/m.

 Basic Concepts
The beam lies on elastic foundation when under the applied external loads, the reaction forces
of the foundation are proportional at every point to the deflection of the beam at this point.
This assumption was introduced first by Winkler in 1867.

Because of the external loadings the beam will deflect producing continuously distributed
reaction forces in the supporting medium. The intensity of these reaction forces at any point is
proportional to the deflection of the beam y(x) at this point via the constant k:

R(x)=k·y(x).

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 FREE FEM COURSE CIVIL: EXERCISE

 Basic Concepts (Cont.)

The foundation is made of material which follows Hooke’s law. Its elasticity is
characterized by the force, which distributed over a unit area, will cause a unit deflection. This
force is a constant of the supporting medium called the modulus of the foundation k0.

Assume that the beam under consideration has a constant cross section with constant
width b which is supported by the foundation. A unit deflection of this beam will cause reaction
equal to k0 ·b in the foundation, therefore the intensity of distributed reaction (per unit length
of the beam) will be:

R(x)= k0 ·b ·y(x) = k ·y(x)

where k= k0 ·b is the constant of the foundation, known as Winkler’s constant, which

includes the effect of the width of the beam, and has dimension [F]/[L]/[L].

The Winkler’s constant or constant of the foundation is: k= k0 ·b = 50000·1.1 = 55000 kN/m/m.

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 FREE FEM COURSE CIVIL: EXERCISE
 Suggested Steps:

1. Specify 2D static analysis

2. Create the geometry.
3. Create the material.
4. Create the section and structural element.
5. Define the spring.
6. Create the mesh.
7. Apply loads.
8. Apply boundary conditions.
9. Create the load case.
10. Analyze the model.
11. Postprocess results.

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 Step 1: 2D Analysis

 Specify 2D static analysis:

c
a) Click CivilFEM.
b) Select New
c) Click 2D / Static/ Structural

5
 Step 2: Geometry.
b
 Create geometry points and lines:
a) Define two lines, one for beam, Line 1 (10 m long) and an auxiliary line is needed
for the linear load q: Line 2 (5 m long)

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 Step 3: Create Material.
 Create concrete material:
a) Create a C25/30 concrete material and set linear elasticity modulus Ex
to 30 GPa (28 days)

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 Step 4: Create Cross Section.
 Create the rectangular concrete section:
 Create the structural element

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 Step 5: Create the Spring.
 Create the linear spring:
a) Click Linear spring in Mesh tab.
b) Enter Foundation as Name.
c) Pull down Beam as Structural element 1.
d) Enter K = 50000 * 1.1 as Winkler’s
constant.
e) Activate Y axis as spring degree of a
freedom.

b
c

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 Step 6: Create the Mesh.
 Create the mesh:

Mesh with 50 elements.

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 Step 6: Apply Loads.
 Define the Point Load and moment and linear load:

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Step 7: Set the boundary conditions

a  Create Boundary Conditions:

a) Click Boundary conditions group
on Loads Tab.
b) Enter Fixed as Name.
b
c) Click Single.
d) Constrain X-movement on the left
side of the beam [point (0,0)]
c
e) Plot Fixed Boundary Conditions .

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 Step 8: Create Load Case.

c d

a
 Define Load Case:
a) Create a new Load case
within Loads Tab.
b) Enter Foundation as Name.
e c) Click Add Load, select
b
“Structural Loads”.
d) Click Add Boundary
Conditions, select “Fixed”.
e) Check Foundation properties

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Step 9: Analyze the model.
a

 Solve the analysis:

a) Click Solve tab.
b b) Click Start to solve.
c) Check the output for errors.

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 Step 10: Postprocess Results.
 Plot vertical displacement:

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 Step 10: Postprocess Results.
 Plot slope of deflected line (in degrees):

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 Step 10: Postprocess Results.
 Plot bending moment:

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 Step 10: Postprocess Results.
 Plot shear force:

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