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Finite Element Truss
Finite Element Truss
y
x’
y’
Local coordinate
system
Global coordinate
1 System
x
The 〈 x ′, y ′〉 coordinates are the local coordinates for the element and 〈 x, y 〉 are the global
coordinates. The local coordinate system looks much like the one dimensional
coordinate system we developed in the last lecture.
We can convert the displacements shown in the local coordinate system by
looking at the following diagram. We will let q1′ and q ′2 represent displacements in the
local coordinate system and q1 , q2 , q3 , and q4 represent displacements in the x-y (global)
coordinate system. Note that the odd subscripted displacements are in the x direction and
the even ones are in the y direction as shown in the following diagram.
q2 ’
Un-deformed element
q4
q 2 sin θ q3
q1 ’ Deformed element
q1 cos θ
?
q2
q1
Figure 2 - The deformation of an element in both local and global coordinate systems.
Q
1 2
u = k ∫ xdx = kQ (6.2)
0
2
AE
where k = the element stiffness, A = the cross sectional area of the element,
L
E = Young’s modulus for the material, and L = the length of the element. Q is the total
change in length of the element. Note that we are assuming the deformation is linear
over the element. All equal length segments of the element will deform the same
amount. We call this a constant strain deformation of the element.
We can rewrite this change in length as
Q = ( q2' − q1' ) (6.3)
1
u = k ( q′2 − q1′ ) 2 (6.4)
2
or
1
u= k (q ′22 − 2 q′2q1′ + q1′ 2 ) (6.5)
2
q′
q′ = 1 (6.6)
q′2
and
AE 1 − 1
k′ = (6.7)
L − 1 1
1 T
u= q ′ k ′q ′ (6.8)
2
We can do the indicated operations in (6.8) to see how the vector notation works.
We do this by first expanding the terms then doing the multiplication.
1 −1 q1′
u=
AE
{q1′ q′2} (6.9)
2L − 1 1 q ′2
AE q′
u= {q′ − q′ − q1′ + q′2 } 1 (6.10)
2L 1 2 q′ 2
AE
u= (q1′( q1′ − q′2 ) + q′2 (q′2 − q1′ ) ) (6.11)
2L
u=
AE 2
2L
(
q1′ − q1′q′2 + q′22 − q1′q′2 ) (6.12)
AE 2
u= (q1′ − 2q1′q′2 + q′22 ) (6.13)
2L
Equation (6.7) is the stiffness matrix for a one dimensional problem. It bears very
close resemblance to equation (5.7) used in our one dimensional spring development.
k − k
[K ] = (5.7)
− k k
AE 1 − 1
k′ = (6.7)
L − 1 1
q′
q′ = 1 (6.6)
q′2
q1
q
q = 2 (6.14)
q3
q4
We can transform the global coordinates to local coordinates with the equations
q ′ = Mq (6.17)
where
c s 0 0
M = , (6.18)
0 0 c s
Using
1 T
u= q ′ k ′q ′ (6.8)
2
u=
1 T T
2
[
q M k ′M q ] (6.19)
k = M T k ′M (6.20)
and doing the multiplication, k our stiffness matrix for global two dimensional
coordinates becomes
c2 cs − c 2 − cs
AE cs s 2 − cs − s 2
k= (6.21)
L − c 2 − cs c 2 cs
− cs − s
2
cs s 2
where:
σ = Eε (6.22)
where ε is the strain, the change in length per unit of length. We can rewrite this as:
total deformation
q′2 − q1′
σ =E (6.23)
L
length of element
q′
σ=
E
{− 1 1} 1 (6.24)
L q′2
q′
q′ = 1 (6.25)
q′2
q1
q
q = 2 (6.26)
q3
q4
q ′ = Mq (6.17)
where
c s 0 0
M = (6.18)
0 0 c s
E
σ = {− 1 1}Mq (6.27)
L
E
σ = {− c −s c s}q (6.28)
L