Lecture

5 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

IIT Delhi

CVL757: Finite element methods

Lecture 5

N. M. Anoop Krishnan
Block V, Room No. 318
Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Email: krishnan@iitd.ac.in
IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements 1
Lecture 5 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Recap
Ø Bar, beam elements

Ø Element stiffness matrix

Ø Assembly and global stiffness matrix

Ø Global and local coordinates

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 5 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Assembly
• Procedure for assembling elements to produce a set of
equations describing the structure
• Assembly of elements produces a set of equilibrium equations–
each node in the structure is at equilibrium
• Loads due to: (i) element deformation, (ii) temperature, (iii)
gravity
• Equilibrium equation of the structure can be written as:
$%&' $%&'

! 𝑟 # + ! 𝑟+ # + 𝑃 = 0
#() #()
where 𝑁+01 in the structure, 𝑟 is the loads on the structure
nodes from element deformation, 𝑟+ is the load applied by an
element when its d.o.f. are zero

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 5 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Node numbering
• Locations to which terms of element matrices are assigned in a
structure matrix depends on node numbering
• This is independent of the type of element, number of nodes,
the way element stiffness matrix is obtained
• Case 1: onsider the following four-noded structure made of two
three-noded triangular elements with one d.o.f per node

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 5 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Node numbering

Loads applied to elements by nodes are − 𝐫 = [𝐤][𝐝]

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements
Lecture 5 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Node numbering
• For element 1,

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 5 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Node numbering
• Since node 3 is not connected to element 1, additional equation
𝑟81 = 0 can be added
• Thus, for element 1:

Similarly, [k] of element 2:

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 5 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Assembly
• Net load associated with each node is the sum of the effect of two
elements. For example, for node 4
−𝑟91 = 𝑎9 𝐷) + 𝑎< 𝐷= + 0 + 𝑎> 𝐷9 + (0 + 𝑏8 𝐷= + 𝑏= 𝐷8 + 𝑏) 𝐷9 )
• Net nodal loads can be written as
− 𝐫 = 𝐊 𝐃 = 𝐤 ) + 𝐤 = 𝐃 = (Σ 𝐤 ){𝐃}

Note that irrespective of the element numbering, the global stiffness

matrix remains the same if the structure numbering is preserved
IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements
Lecture 5 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Assembly
• Case 2: three-bar plane truss with each node having two d.o.fs
• Consider the supports are removed
• Remember: coordinate transformation
[k] = [T]T[k’][T]
𝑐 𝑠 0 0
𝐓 =
0 0 𝑐 𝑠
• The stiffness matrix is given by

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 5 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Assembly
• Obtaining individual [k] matrix and assembling, we get

Boundary conditions from the structure suggests that u2 = v2 = u3 = 0

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements

Lecture 5 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Assembly
• Applying the b.c.s
𝑘8 + 0.36𝑘= −0.48𝑘= 0.48𝑘= 𝑢) 0
−0.48𝑘= 0.64𝑘= −0.64𝑘= 𝑣) = −𝑃
0.48𝑘= −0.64𝑘= 𝑘) + 0.64𝑘= 𝑣8 0

• This procedure where elements are added to locations in the

global [K] based on the structure node numbering is called direct
stiffness method

• The process of incorporating boundary conditions will be dealt

in more detail later

• Note that the process is applicable for any element with any
numbers of d.o.f per node
IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements
Lecture 5 N. M. Anoop Krishnan

Summary
Ø Assembly by direct stiffness method

IIT Delhi CVL757 – Finite elements