Engineering Applications

By
Dr Murat Tahtal
Application to Statics
If you recall from Statics, solving a truss
problem is a quite onerous task.
It involves the repetitive solution member
forces and reactions.
In fact, the problem is merely the solution of
N-equations for N-unknowns.
The brand of application to solve this type
problems, and more, is called Finite Element
Analysis (FEA).
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SEIT & PEMS, S2, 2010
Dr Murat Tahtal & Dr Isaac Towers 2
Simple FEA using Matlab
A truss system is comprised of repeated truss-
elements.
Each element can be represented in matrix
form.
The whole truss system can be represented in
matrix forms.
The solution of N-equation for N-unknowns
can be easily written in matrix form.
Matlab is well suited to solve matrix problem.
UNSW@ADFA
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Dr Murat Tahtal & Dr Isaac Towers 3
FEA steps
Idealise the system
Discretise the system
Obtain element matrices
Assemble element matrices
Apply boundary conditions (BCs)
Solve for unknowns
Post-processing
Display results
Do further calculations
...
UNSW@ADFA
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Dr Murat Tahtal & Dr Isaac Towers 4
A simple linear spring system

x
k
2
k
1
F

A

C

B

Given: k1=100 N/mm, k2=50 N/mm, F=1000 N
Preliminary observations:
It is a natural discrete system,
Natural idealisation is supplied,
System is linear and one-dimensional
Step 1: Idealisation
Inherently given by the system as:
A C B
Element [1] Element [2]
Step2:Discretisation
Also inherently supplied:
1 2
[1]
f
(2) [1]
f
(1)
[1]
u
(1) [1]
u
(2)
[2]
f
(2) [2]
f
(1)
[2]
u
(1) [2]
u
(2)
1 2
[1]
k=k
1
[2]
k=k
2
Step 3:Element Stiffnesses (Direct
Approach)
Consider the free body diagram of a
general element:
1 2
f
(2)
f
(1)
u
(1)
u
(2)
k

+ =
=
) 2 ( ) 1 ( ) 2 (
) 2 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 (
u k u k f
u k u k f
{ } | | { }
1 2
] [
2 2
] [
1 2
] [

= u k f
e e e
{ } { }
| |
(

=
(

=
)
`

=
)
`

=
k k
k k
k k
k k
k
u
u
u
f
f
f
e
e e
22 21
12 11 ] [
) 2 (
) 1 (
] [
) 2 (
) 1 (
] [
and ,
Elemental Stiffness Matrices
Element [1]
Element [2]
{ } { } u k f
] 1 [
1
] 1 [
1 1
1 1
(

=
{ } { } u k f
] 2 [
2
] 2 [
1 1
1 1
(

=
Elemen
t #
Local node
#
System
node #
1 (1) <1>
(2) <2>
2 (1) <2>
(2) <3>
Step 4: Assembly
<1> <3> <2>
Element [1] Element [2]
System
node
1 2 1 2
Condition of nodal force equilibrium:
> < > < > <
=
> < > <
= = =

2
1
1
1
1 ] 1 [
1
1
1 ] [ 1
u k u k f f F
i
i
> < > < > <
> < > <
=
> < > <
+ + =
+ = =

3
2
2
2 1
1
1
1 ] 2 [ 2 ] 1 [
2
1
2 ] [ 2
) ( u k u k k u k
f f f F
i
i
> < > < > <
=
> < > <
+ = = =

3
2
2
2
3 ] 1 [
3
3
3 ] [ 3
u k u k f f F
i
i

(
(
(

+

=

> <
> <
> <
> <
> <
> <
3
2
1
2 2
2 2 1 1
1 1
3
2
1
0
) (
0
u
u
u
k k
k k k k
k k
F
F
F
{ } | |{ } U K F =
Expanded form of the elemental
stiffness matrices
{ }

(
(
(

=
)
`

> <
> <
> <
. .
3
2
1
1 1
1 1
) 2 ( ] 1 [
) 1 ( ] 1 [
] 1 [ ] 1 [
0 0 0
0
0
0 u
u
u
k k
k k
f
f
u k f
{ }

(
(
(

=
)
`

> <
> <
> <
. .
3
2
1
2 2
2 2
) 2 ( ] 2 [
) 1 ( ] 2 [
] 2 [ ] 2 [
0
0
0 0 0 0
u
u
u
k k
k k
f
f u k f
{ } { } { } u k u k f f F
(

+
(

=
)
`

+
)
`

=
. . . .
] 2 [ ] 1 [ ] 2 [ ] 1 [
{ }
| |
{ } u k k F
K
|
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
(

+
(

=
. .

] 2 [ ] 1 [
Step 5: Introduce Boundary Conditions
Node <1>: u<1>=0 (displacement specified)
Node <2>: F<2>=0 (force specified)
Node <3>: F<3>=1000 N (force specified)
The system of equations is now:
mm
u
u
mm
N
N
F

(
(
(

> <
> <
> <
3
2
1
0
50 50 0
50 150 100
0 100 100
1000
0
mm
u
u
mm
N
N
)
`

=
)
`

> <
> <
3
2
50 50
50 150
1000
0
Or, after deleting relevant rows and columns:
Step 6: Solve for unknown
displacements
Solution of the reduced set of equations
yields:
u
<2>
=10 mm and u
<3>
=30 mm
Step 6: Solve for unknown forces
F
<1>
=-1000 N
as it should be in equilibrium
Illustrative step-by-step Example
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Dr Murat Tahtal & Dr Isaac Towers 16

k
1

k
3

x
<1>
e
2

<3>
e
1
e
3
e
4

k
2

<2>
<4>
k
4

Interconnectivity Table
Element # Local node # System node #
1 (1) <1>
(2) <2>
2 (1) <1>
(2) <3>
3 (1) <2>
(2) <3>
4 (1) <3>
(2) <4>
Element 1
| |
> <
> <
(

> < > <
=
2
1
2 1
1 1
1 1
1
k k
k k
k
> <
> <
> <
> <
(
(
(
(

=
(

.
> < > < > < > <
4
3
2
1
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0
0 0
1 1
1 1
1
4 3 2 1
k k
k k
k
1 (1) <1>
(2) <2>
Element 2
2 (1) <1>
(2) <3>
| |
> <
> <
(

> < > <
=
3
1
3 1
2 2
2 2
2
k k
k k
k
> <
> <
> <
> <
(
(
(
(

=
(

.
> < > < > < > <
4
3
2
1
0 0 0 0
0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0
2 2
2 2
2
4 3 2 1
k k
k k
k
Element 3
3 (1) <2>
(2) <3>
| |
> <
> <
(

> < > <
=
3
2
3 2
3 3
3 3
3
k k
k k
k
> <
> <
> <
> <
(
(
(
(

=
(

.
> < > < > < > <
4
3
2
1
0 0 0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0 0 0
3 3
3 3
3
4 3 2 1
k k
k k
k
Element 4
4 (1) <3>
(2) <4>
| |
> <
> <
(

> < > <
=
4
3
4 3
4 4
4 4
4
k k
k k
k
> <
> <
> <
> <
(
(
(
(

=
(

.
> < > < > < > <
4
3
2
1
0 0
0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
4 4
4 4
4
4 3 2 1
k k
k k
k
Global Stiffness Matrix
| |
(
(
(
(

+ +
+
+
=
(

=
.
4 4
4 4 3 2 3 2
3 3 1 1
2 1 2 1
4
1
0 0
0
0
k k
k k k k k k
k k k k
k k k k
k K
e
e
Boundary Conditions

(
(
(
(

4
3
2
1
4
3
2
1
44 43 42 41
34 33 32 31
24 23 22 21
14 13 12 11
F
F
F
F
x
x
x
x
K K K K
K K K K
K K K K
K K K K
x
1 1
= x
3 3
=
Say
System of equations
4 4 44 3 43 2 42 1 41
3 4 34 3 33 2 32 1 31
2 4 24 3 23 2 22 1 21
1 4 14 3 13 2 12 1 11
F x K x K x K x K
F x K x K x K x K
F x K x K x K x K
F x K x K x K x K
= + + +
= + + +
= + + +
= + + +
One way to include prescribed nodal variables while retaining its
original nn arrangement is to modify the matrices [K] and {F} as
follows.
Introduce the known displacements
4 4 44 3 43 2 42 1 41
3 3
2 4 24 3 23 2 22 1 21
1 1
F x K x K x K x K
x
F x K x K x K x K
x
= + + +
=
= + + +
=
|
|
Replace the known displacements in
each equation
4 4 44 3 43 2 42 1 41
3 3
2 4 24 3 23 2 22 1 21
1 1
F x K K x K K
x
F x K K x K K
x
= + + +
=
= + + +
=
| |
|
| |
|
Rearrange the equations so that all
unknowns are on the LHS and all
the constants are on the RHS
3 43 1 41 4 4 44 2 42
3 3
3 23 1 21 2 4 24 2 22
1 1
| |
|
| |
|
K K F x K x K
x
K K F x K x K
x
= +
=
= +
=
Re-write in matrix form
1 0 0 0
0 0
0 0 1 0
0 0
22 24
42 44
1
2
3
4
1
2 21 1 23 3
3
4 41 1 43 3
K K
K K
x
x
x
x
R K K
R K K

(
(
(
(

|
| |
|
| |
If i is the subscript of a prescribed nodal variable, the i-th row
and the i-th column of [K] are set equal to zero and K
ii
is set to
unity.
The term F
i
of the column vector {F} is replaced by the known
value of x
i ,
, which is |
i
.
Each of the n-1 remaining terms of {F} is modified by
subtracting from it the value of the prescribed nodal variable
multiplied by the appropriate column term from the original
[K] matrix. This procedure is repeated for each prescribed x
i
until all of them have been included.
2D Truss Element
y
x
F
4
, o
4
o
L
A = Cross-sectional
Area E = Youngs Modulus
o
AL
2
Node 1
Node 2
o
3
=0
(a)
F
3
, o
3
(x
2
, y
2
)
(x
1
, y
1
)
F
1
, o
1
F
2
, o
2
o
4
=0
AL
2
=sin(o)
o
1
=0
o
2
=1 (b)
K K K K
K K K K
K K K K
K K K K
u
v
u
v
F
F
F
F
11 12 13 14
21 22 23 24
31 32 33 34
41 42 43 44
1
1
2
2
1
2
3
4

(
(
(
(

{ }
o
o
o
o
o
=

1
2
3
4
1
1
2
2
u
v
u
v
2D Truss Element
y
x
F
4
, o
4
o
L
A = Cross-sectional
Area E = Youngs Modulus
o
AL
2
Node 1
Node 2
o
3
=0
(a)
F
3
, o
3
(x
2
, y
2
)
(x
1
, y
1
)
F
1
, o
1
F
2
, o
2
o
4
=0
AL
2
=sin(o)
o
1
=0
o
2
=1 (b)
n n
n n
v
u
2
1 2
o
o
=
=

2D Truss
Equilibrium Equations
K K K K
K K K K
K K K K
K K K K
u
v
u
v
F
F
F
F
11 12 13 14
21 22 23 24
31 32 33 34
41 42 43 44
1
1
2
2
1
2
3
4

(
(
(
(

{ }
o
o
o
o
o
=

1
2
3
4
1
1
2
2
u
v
u
v

y
x
F
4
o
F
3
F
1
F
2
F

Node 1
Node 2
o o
o o
o
o
cos sin
cos sin
cos
0 cos
0
12
1
2 1
1
L
E A
K
L
E A
F
L
L
E A
F
F F
F
x

=
A

=
=
=

y
x
F
4
o
F
3
F
1
F
2
F

Node 1
Node 2
o o
o o
o
o
sin sin
sin sin
sin
0 sin
0
22
2
2 2
2
L
E A
K
L
E A
F
L
L
E A
F
F F
F
y

=
A

=
=
=

y
x
F
4
o
F
3
F
1
F
2
F

Node 1
Node 2
o o
o o
o
o
cos sin
cos sin
cos
0 cos
0
32
3
2 3
3
L
E A
K
L
E A
F
L
L
E A
F
F F
F
x

=
A

=
= +
=

y
x
F
4
o
F
3
F
1
F
2
F

Node 1
Node 2
o o
o o
o
o
sin sin
sin sin
sin
0 sin
0
42
4
2 4
4
L
E A
K
L
E A
F
L
L
E A
F
F F
F
y

=
A

=
= +
=

Elemental stiffness matrix

| |
(
(
(
(
(

=
o o o o o o
o o o o o o
o o o o o o
o o o o o o
2 2
2 2
2 2
2 2
sin sin cos sin sin cos
sin cos cos sin cos cos
sin sin cos sin sin cos
sin cos cos sin cos cos
L
E A
K
L x x y y = + ( ) ( )
1 2
2
1 2
2
coso =
x x
L
2 1
sino =
y y
L
2 1
Example 3-1:
Numerical application
L
L
1.4142 L
30

100kN
F
v2
F
u2
F
v3
F
u3
u
1
v
1
2
2 1
3
1
(a) (b)
Element
#
(A) (E) (L) Inclination (o)
1 30 cm
2
200 GPa 2 m 0
2 40 cm
2
70 GPa 2.83 m 135
Table 3-3 Element property for Figure
3-15
L
L
1.4142 L
30

100kN
F
v2
F
u2
F
v3
F
u3
u
1
v
1
2
2 1
3
1
(a) (b)
Element # Local node
#
System
node #
Direction Displacement
#
1
(1) <2>
x 3
y 4
(2) <1>
x 1
y 2
2
(1) <1>
x 1
y 2
(2) <3>
x 5
y 6
Table 3-4 Correspondence between local and global numbering
schemes
L
L
1.4142 L
30

100kN
F
v2
F
u2
F
v3
F
u3
u
1
v
1
2
2 1
3
1
(a) (b)
n n
n n
v
u
2
1 2
o
o
=
=

| |
> <
> <
> <
> <
(
(
(
(

=
> < > < > < > <
2
1
4
3
0 0 0 0
0 1 0 1
0 0 0 0
0 1 0 1
/ 10 300
2 1 4 3
6
1
m N k
Element # Local node
#
System
node #
Direction Displacement
#
1
(1) <2>
x 3
y 4
(2) <1>
x 1
y 2
2
(1) <1>
x 1
y 2
(2) <3>
x 5
y 6
> <
> <
> <
> <
> <
> <
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(

> < > < > < > < > < > <
=
(

.
6
5
4
3
2
1
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 300 0 300
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 300 0 300
6 5 4 3 2 1
/ 10
6
1
m N k
Element # Local node
#
System
node #
Direction Displacement
#
1
(1) <2>
x 3
y 4
(2) <1>
x 1
y 2
2
(1) <1>
x 1
y 2
(2) <3>
x 5
y 6
| |
> <
> <
> <
> <
(
(
(
(

=
> < > < > < > <
6
5
2
1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
/ 10
2
94 . 98
6 5 2 1
6
2
m N k
> <
> <
> <
> <
> <
> <
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(

> < > < > < > < > < > <
=
(

.
6
5
4
3
2
1
47 . 49 47 . 49 0 0 47 . 49 47 . 49
47 . 49 47 . 49 0 0 47 . 49 47 . 49
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
47 . 49 47 . 49 0 0 47 . 49 47 . 49
47 . 49 47 . 49 0 0 47 . 49 47 . 49
6 5 4 3 2 1
/ 10
6
2
m N k
| |
(

+
(

=
. .
k k K
2 1

0 0 0 0 ? ?
3 3 2 2 1 1
= = = = = = = v u v u v u

0 0 0 0 6 . 86 50
3 3 2 2 1 1
= = = = = = =
v u v u v u
F F F F F F F

(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(

+
3
3
2
2
6 . 86
50
0
0
0
0
47 . 49 47 . 49 0 0 47 . 49 47 . 49
47 . 49 47 . 49 0 0 47 . 49 47 . 49
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 300 0 300
47 . 49 47 . 49 0 0 47 . 49 47 . 49
47 . 49 47 . 49 0 300 47 . 49 47 . 49 300
1
1
v
u
v
u
R
R
R
R
v
u
| | | |
| | | |

3
3
2
2
6 . 86
50
0
0
0
0
1
1
v
u
v
u
R
R
R
R
v
u
22 21
12 11
K K
K K
| |
)
`

=
)
`

6 . 86
50
1
1
11
v
u
K
| |
)
`

=
)
`

6 . 86
50
1
11
1
1
K
v
u
)
`

(
(
(
(

1
1
47 . 49 47 . 49
47 . 49 47 . 49
0 0
0 300
3
3
2
2
v
u
R
R
R
R
v
u
v
u

1
2
3
4
5
3m
4m
4kN
3kN 6kN
2
/ 300 mm kN E =
Member A [mm
2
] L[m]
1 30 3
2 27 4
3 30 3
4 17 5
5 17 5
Global Node # x-coordinate [m] y-coordinate [m] Displacement #
1 0 0
1
2
2 4 0
3
4
3 0 3
5
6
4 4 3
7
8

1
2
3
4
5
1 2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1 2
3 4
x
y
Global Coordinate
System (GCS)
element
element
node
system
node
n n
n n
v
u
2
1 2
o
o
=
=

Element # Local node # System node # Direction Displacement #
1
(1) <1>
x 1
y 2
(2) <3>
x 5
y 6
2
(1) <3>
x 5
y 6
(2) <4>
x 7
y 8
3
(1) <2>
x 3
y 4
(2) <4>
x 7
y 8
4
(1) <2>
x 3
y 4
(2) <3>
x 5
y 6
5
(1) <1>
x 1
y 2
(2) <4>
x 7
y 8