2.092/2.

093 Finite Element Analysis of Solids & Fluids I

Fall 09

Lecture 5 - The Finite Element Formulation

Prof. K. J. Bathe

MIT OpenCourseWare

In this system, (X, Y, Z) is the global coordinate system, and (x, y, z) is the local coordinate system for the
element i.

We want to satisfy the following equations:

ij,j + fiB = 0 in V
S
on Sf
ij nj = fi f

ui
= uSu

Equilibrium Conditions

Compatibility Conditions

ij = f (kl )

Stress-strain Relations

Su

(A)

Then we have the exact solution.

Principle of Virtual Displacements

CdV =
V

uSf T f Sf dSf

u f dV +
V

(B)

Sf

Here, real stresses (C) are in equilibrium with the external forces (f B , f Sf ). Note that Eq. (B) is equivalent
to Eq. (A). Recall that we dened

xx yy zz xy yz zx
T =

u
xx yy zz xy yz zx
T =
=
...
x
Basic assumptions:
(m)
u(x, y, z)

= H (m) u
= v(x, y, z)
3n
n1
w(x, y, z)

u(m)

(1)

Lecture 5

The Finite Element Formulation

u1
v1

w1

= ...
u

uN

vN
wN

2.092/2.093, Fall 09

N is the number of nodes (3N = n) and H is the displacement interpolation matrix. For the moment, lets
assume Su = 0. We use

T = u 1 u 2 u 3 . . . un
u
Then, we obtain
(m)

= B

61

(m)

6n

(2)

n1

We also assume

(m) = H (m) u
u
(m)

= B

61

(m)

6n

(3)

(4)

n1

where B is the strain-displacement matrix. Substitute equations (1) through (4) into (B):

(m)T C (m) (m) dV (m) =

m V

i(m)
i(m)
i(m)
(m)T f B(m) dV (m) +
Sf T f Sf dSf

u
u
m

mi

(m)

where i sums over the element surfaces composing Sf

i(m)

Sf

. The equation now becomes

B (m)T C (m) B (m) dV (m) u

=
V (m)

(m)T

B(m)

dV

(m)

+
mi

V (m)
i(m)

is the unknown to be found. When evaluated on Sf

u
i(m)

Sf
u

i(m)

H Sf

i(m)

Sf

i(m)

Sf

i(m)

Sf

i(m)
dSf

,
i(m)

= H Sf

= H (m) S i(m)
f

With the transformed equation above, we can insert the following

= 1 0 0 ... 0
Gives the
Let u

= 0 1 0 ... 0
Then u
Gives the

= 0 0 1 ... 0
Then u
Gives the
. . . and so on.
= R. Now, lets drop o the hat!
We nally obtain Ku

identity matrices:
rst equation to solve for
second equation
third equation

(B*)

Lecture 5

The Finite Element Formulation

K = K (m)
m

2.092/2.093, Fall 09

KU = R

(m)
; K
=
B (m)T C (m) B (m) dV (m)
V (m)

R = RB + R S
(m)

RB = RB
m

RS =

(m)
RS
m

(m)

; RB
;

(m)
RS

H (m)T f B(m) dV (m)

=
V

(m)

=
i

i(m)

H Sf

i(m)

f Sf

i(m)
Sf

i(m)

dSf

Example 4.5
Reading assignment: Section 4.2

For this system, we can dene U T = [ u1

u2

u3 ]. We want to nd:

u1

(1)
(1)
u (x) = H u2
u3

u1

; u(2) (x) = H (2) u2

u3

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2.092 / 2.093 Finite Element Analysis of Solids and Fluids I

Fall 2009

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