Finite Element Method
Chapter 8
Development of the Linear-Strain
Triangle Equations
Stiffness Matrix of the Constant-Strain Triangular Element
Step 1: Discretize and Select Element Type
Step 2: Select Displacement Functions
{d } u1 v1 u2
v2 u3 v3 u4
v4 u5 v5 u6
v6
u ( x , y ) a1 a 2 x a 3 y a 4 x 2 a 5 x y a 6 y 2
v ( x , y ) a 7 a 8 x a 9 y a10 x a11 x y a12 y
2
Step 2: Select Displacement Functions
u
{ }
v
x2
xy
y2
x2
xy
{ } [ M * ] {a}
y 2
a1
a 2
a12
In Matrix Form
u1 1 x1
u 6 1 x6
v1 0 0
v6 0 0
y1
x12
x1 y1
y12
y6
0
x62
0
x6 y 6
0
y62
0
0 0
1 x1
1 x6
0
y1
y6
0
x12
x62
0
x1 y1
x6 y 6
y1
x12
x1 y1
y12
y6
x62
x6 y 6
y 62
x1
y1
x12
x1 y1
x6
y6
x62
x6 y 6
a1
0 a6
y12 a7
2
y6 a12
0
Solving for the as
a1 1 x1
a6 1 x6
a 7 0 0
a12 0 0
y12
2
y 6
u1
u 6
v1
v6
{a} [ X ] 1 {d }
{ } [M * ][X ] 1{d }
[N ]{d }
u (x , y ) N 1
{ }
v (x , y ) 0
N2
N3
N4
N5
N6
N1
N2
N3
N4
N5
N
u
i i
{ } i 61
N v
i
i
i 1
u1
v
1
0
0
N6
u 6
v 6
Step 3: Define the Strain/Displacement and Stress/Strain Relationships
u
x x
v
{ } y
x
y
u v
y x
Since
u
{ }
v
x2
xy
y2
x2
xy
y 2
Then
0
{ } 0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
2x
0
0
y
0
x
0
0
2y
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
2x
0
x
y
0
2y
0
a1
a 2
a12
a1
a
2
a12
{ } M 'a
1
{a} [X ] {d }
[ B ]{d }
'
B M X
1
1
[ B]
0
2A
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
0
6
6
where the bs and s are now functions of x and y as well as of the nodal coordinates
The B matrix is illustrated for a specific linear-strain triangle in the next example
Stress Strain Relationship
x
x
[
D
]
y
y
xy
xy
{ } [ D] [ B ]{d }
For Plane Stress Problems
[D]
E
1
1
0
1
2
For Plane Strain Problems
E
[D]
(1 ) (1 2 )
0
1
0
1 2
2
0
Step 4 :Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix and Equations
p p (ui , vi , u j , v j , um , vm )
Total potential energy is defined as the sum of the internal
strain energy U and the potential energy of the external
forces , that is:
p U
U b s p
For linear-elastic material, the internal strain energy is given by
U 12 { }T { } dV
V
U 12 { }T [ D ]{ } dV
V
Step 4 :Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix and Equations
The potential energy of the body forces:
b { }T { X} dV
V
The potential energy of distributed loads or surface traction
s { }T {T} dS
S
The potential energy of concentrated loads
p {d}T {P}
Step 4 :Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix and Equations
[k ] [ B] [ D] [ B] dV
T
Step 4 :Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix and Equations
The last three terms in equation represent the total load system or the
energy equivalent nodal forces on an element;
{ f } [ N ]T { X } dV [ N ]T {T } dS { P }
V
Body
forces
1 {d }T
2
Surface
Tractions
T
[ B] [ D] [ B] dV {d } {d }T { f }
Concentrated
nodal forces
Step 4 :Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix and Equations
[k ] [ B]T [ D] [ B] dV
V
For an element with constant thickness t
[k ] t
[ B]
[ D] [ B] dx dy
Step 5: Assemble the Element Equations to Obtain the Global
Equations and Introduce Boundary Conditions
N
[ K ] [k ( e) ]
e 1
{F } [ K ] {d }
N
[ F ] [ f (e) ]
e 1
Step 6: Solve for the Nodal Displacements
Step 7: Solve for the Element Stresses
Example: LST Stiffness Determination
Consider the following example.. The triangle is of base dimension b and
height h, with midside nodes.
Example: LST Stiffness Determination
Using the first six equations we calculate the coefficients a1 through a6 by
evaluating the displacement u at each of the six known coordinates of each node
as follows:
u ( x , y ) a1 a 2 x a3 y a 4 x 2 a5 x y a6 y
Example: LST Stiffness Determination
Solving the previous equations simultaneously for the ai , we obtain
Substituting into the following equation
u ( x , y ) a1 a 2 x a3 y a 4 x 2 a5 x y a6 y
Example: LST Stiffness Determination
Similarly, solving for a7 through a12 bye valuating the displacement v at
each of the six nodes, we obtain
We can express the general displacement expressions in terms of the shape
functions as:
where the shape functions are obtained by collecting coefficients that
multiply each ui term in previous equation.
For instance, collecting all terms that multiply by u1, we obtain N1.
Example: LST Stiffness Determination
These shape functions are then given by:
Example: LST Stiffness Determination
Since:
{ } y
xy u v
y x
N
u
i i
u i 1
{ } 6
v N v
i
i
i 1
[ B ]{d }
1
1
[ B]
0
2A
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
0
6
6
Example1
1 as an Ex am ple
3x 3 y 2 x 2 4 x y 2 y 2
2
2
N 1 1
b
h
b
bh
h
N 1
4 hx
3 4x 4 y
1 2 A
bh 2
4y
3h
bh
b
x
b b
Performing the differentiations indicated on u and v, we obtain
1 3h
4 hx
4y
b
2 h
3 0
4 4y
5 4 y
6 4h
1 3b 4 x
3 b
4by
h
4by
h
5 4b 4 x
2 0
1 4x
8by
h
6 4 x
4 hx
b
8 hx
4y
b
Example: LST Stiffness Determination
These s and s are specific to the element in this example,
1
1u 1 2u 2 3u 3 4u 4 5u 5 6u 6
2A
1
y
1v 1 2v 2 3v 3 4v 4 5v 5 6v 6
2A
1
xy
1u 1 1v 1 6u 6 6v 6
2A
[k ] t
[ B]T [ D] [ B] dx dy
A
using calculus to set up the appropriate integration. The explicit expression for
the 12 x 12 stiffness matrix, being extremely cumbersome to obtain, is not given
here.
We can use numerical Integration to evaluate this integration as in Chapter 10
Comparison of Elements
For a given number of nodes, a better representation of true stress and
displacement is Generally obtained using the LST element than is obtained
with the same number of nodes using a much finer subdivision into simple
CST elements.
For example, using one LST yields better results than using four CST
elements with the same number of nodes and hence the same number of
degrees of freedom
Comparison of Elements
Consider the cantilever beam subjected to a parabolic load.
E=30x106 psi and =0.25
Comparison of Elements
Comparison of Elements
Comparison of Elements
Comparison of Elements
In conclusion,
The LST model might be preferred over the CST model for plane
stress applications when relatively small numbers of nodes are
used.
However, the use of triangular elements of higher order, such as the
LST, is not visibly advantageous when large numbers of nodes
are used, particularly when the cost of formation of the element
stiffnesses, equation bandwidth, and overall complexities involved
in the computer modeling are considered.
Summary of equations using LST elements:
1) For each element, we find
{ f } [ k ] {d }
1a) Element stiffness matrix:
[k ] t
[ B]T [ D] [ B] dx dy
1 b) Element nodal force vector
{ f } [ N ]T { X } dV [ N ]T {T } dS { P }
V
Summary of equations using CST elements:
2) Assemble
N
[ K ] [k
(e)
e 1
[ F ] [ f (e) ]
e 1
3) Solve for global nodal displacements
{F } [ K ] {d }
4) Find element strains and stresses
{ } [ B ] {d }
{ } [ D][ B]{d }
HW:
8.3, 8.4 and 8.5
