Beam on Elastic Foundation

Page 1 of 3

AutoFEM Analysis Beam on Elastic Foundation

Beam on Elastic Foundation

Consider a beam on elastic foundation.The length of the beam is L. The beam cross-section is a
rectangle of width b and height h.

The beam is under a uniformly distributed load q . The force P is applied at the left end of the beam.
Sought quantity is the maximum beam deflection.
Let us use the following initial data: qL = 200 N/m, P= 1000 N, L = 5 m, b = 0.05 m, h= 0.02 m.
Material characteristics: the Young's modulus E = 2.1E+011 Pa, Poisson's ratio = 0.28.

The finite element model with applied loads and restraints

The analytical solution is calculated by the formula:

w0max =(2P - qL) / (kb),

where J = bh3 / 12 - the moment of inertia, k is modulus of subgrade reaction (k= 3e+06 N/m3), =

( kb/4EJ)1/4 = 1.52136.

http://www.autofemsoft.com/examples/beam_on_elastic_foundation.html

13.2.2015.

Beam on Elastic Foundation

Page 2 of 3

6
Thus, w0max = (2*1.52136 *1000-200)/(3*10
= 18.95147
mm.on Elastic Foundation
AutoFEM*0.05)
Analysis
Beam
- qL / kb = -1.333 mm.
Before calculating determine the following input values: area of loading face A=bL=0.25 m2;
pressure on the face q=qLL/A=4000 Pa; k1=kA=3*106*0.25=7.5e+05 N/m.
After carrying out calculation with the help of AutoFEM, the following results are obtained:

Table 1.Parameters of the finite element mesh

Finite Element Type

Number of Nodes

Number of Finite Elements

quadratic tetrahedron

803

2298

Table 2. Result "Displacement"

Numerical Solution
Displacement w*, m

Analytical Solution
Displacement w , m

Error =100%* |w* - w | /

|w|

1.8949E-002

1.8951E-002

0.01

Numerical Solution: Bending the beam

Analytical Solution: Bending the beam

Conclusions:
The relative error of the numerical solution compared to the analytical solution is equal to
0.01% for quadratic finite elements.
*The results of numerical tests depend on the finite element mesh and may differ slightly from those given in the table.

http://www.autofemsoft.com/examples/beam_on_elastic_foundation.html

13.2.2015.

Beam on Elastic Foundation

Page 3 of 3

Read more about AutoFEM Static Analysis

AutoFEM Analysis Beam on Elastic Foundation

www.autofemsoft.com

AutoFEM Analysis
YouTube

http://www.autofemsoft.com/examples/beam_on_elastic_foundation.html

13.2.2015.