Tribhuvan University

Institute of Engineering (IOE)

Finite Element Method

Lecturer: Kamal Darlami

darlami.kd@pcampus.edu.np
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Lecture objectives
 On completion of this lecture and example class you should be able to set up and solve for
displacements, stresses and reactions simple 2D FE models for plane stress analysis

Lecture Layout
 2D plane stress model
 Kinematics
 Stress
 Strong form and boundary conditions
 Weak form
 FE solution
 Example. Two linear elements
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
2D plane stress model
• The object is thin relative to the dimensions in the xy-plane
• No loads are applied on the z-faces
• The stress normal to the xy-plane vanishes
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Thickness
• We assume thickness 𝑡 along the 𝑧 direction, so 𝑑𝑉 = 𝑡 𝑑Ω

Kinematics
• The displacement vector is given as 𝐮 = 𝑢, 𝑣 𝑇 where 𝑢 and 𝑣 are the components in the 𝑥 and 𝑦 directions
• The strain vector is given as
𝑇
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣
𝜀 = 𝜀𝑥𝑥 𝜀𝑦𝑦 𝛾𝑥𝑦 𝑇 = +
𝜕 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
𝜕/𝜕𝑥 0
• We can also write 𝜺 = 𝛁𝑠 𝐮 with 𝛁𝑠 = 0 𝜕/𝜕𝑦
𝜕/𝜕𝑦 𝜕/𝜕𝑥

• Note that the extensional strains, 𝜀𝑥𝑥 and 𝜀𝑦𝑦 , are the changes in the lengths of infinitesimal line segments in the 𝑥
and 𝑦 directions. The shear strain, 𝛾𝑥𝑦 , measures the change in angle between the unit vectors in 𝑥 and 𝑦 directions.
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Stress
𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜏𝑥𝑦
• The stress tensor is given as 𝛕 = 𝜏 𝜎𝑦𝑦
𝑥𝑦

• Because of the symmetry we will commonly use a stress vector 𝝈 = 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝜏𝑥𝑦 𝑇

• Stresses in two dimensions correspond to the forces per unit area acting on the planes normal to the 𝑥 or 𝑦 axes

Constitutive equations
• In a two dimensional elastic material the relation between stress and strain is given by 𝛔 = 𝐃𝛆

𝐸 1 𝜈 0
• For a plane stress model 𝐃= 2
𝜈 1 0
1−𝜈 0 0 1 − 𝜈 /2

• Where 𝐸 is the Young’s modulus and 𝜈 is the Poisson ratio

 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Strong form
• The problem is to find the displacement field such that the
equilibrium equations are satisfied

𝜕𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜏𝑥𝑥
+ + 𝑓𝑥 = 0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝜏𝑥𝑦 𝜕𝜎𝑦𝑦
+ + 𝑓𝑦 = 0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡

𝛁𝑠𝑇 𝛔 + 𝐟 = 𝟎
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Boundary conditions
• One of the following BC must be specified at the boundary of the domain

• Prescribed displacement (Dirichlet BC)

𝐮=𝐮 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ Γu

• Prescribed normal traction (Neumann BC)

𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝑛𝑥 + 𝜏𝑥𝑦 𝑛𝑦 = 𝑇𝑥 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥, 𝑦 𝜖 Γ𝑇

𝜏𝑥𝑦 𝑛𝑥 + 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝑛𝑦 = 𝑇𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥, 𝑦 𝜖 Γ𝑇

Equivalent
𝛕𝐧 = 𝐓 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥, 𝑦 𝜖 Γ𝐓
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Weak form
• We seek for an approximate solution satisfying

𝝓𝑇 𝛁𝑠𝑇 𝝈 𝑡 𝑑Ω + 𝝓𝑇 𝐟 𝑡 𝑑Ω = 0
Ω Ω
• Applying the divergence theorem we have

− 𝛁𝑠 𝝓 𝑇 𝝈 𝑡𝑑Ω + 𝝓𝑇 𝝉𝒏 𝑡 𝑑Γ + 𝝓𝑇 𝐟 𝑡𝑑Ω = 0
Ω Γ Ω
• Introducing the relation between the stress vector and the displacement vector, imposing the Neumann boundary
conditions and using that the weighing function vanishes over the Dirichlet boundary, i.e. 𝝓 = 0 on Γu we obtain the
weak form of the problem

− 𝛁𝑠 𝝓 𝑇 (𝑫𝛁𝐬 𝐮) 𝑡𝑑Ω + 𝝓𝑇 𝐓𝑡 𝑑Γ + 𝝓𝑇 𝐟 𝑡𝑑Ω = 0

Ω ΓT Ω
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Finite Element solution with linear triangles
• We first discretise the domain with triangular elements

Connectivity table
Element 1 2 3 local
1 2 3 1 global
2 4 1 3 global
⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮
11 3 13 4 global
⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮
33 22 20 21 global
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Finite Element solution with linear triangles (cont.)
• For each node we have two unknowns (the displacement in and directions). So for a linear triangle we have 6 unknowns
• The displacements inside the element are written using the shape functions and nodal values of the unknown
displacement field

𝑢 = 𝑁1 𝑢1 + 𝑁2 𝑢2 + 𝑁3 𝑢3
𝑣 = 𝑁1 𝑣1 + 𝑁2 𝑣2 + 𝑁3 𝑣3

• In matrix form 𝐮 = 𝐍𝐪

𝑁1 0 𝑁2 0 𝑁3 0
with 𝐍=
0 𝑁1 0 𝑁2 0 𝑁3

and 𝐪 = 𝑢1 𝑣1 𝑢2 𝑣2 𝑢3 𝑣3 𝑇
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Finite Element solution with linear triangles (cont.)
• Recall that the shape functions are defined as

𝑁1 𝜉, 𝜂 = 𝜉 𝑁2 𝜉, 𝜂 = 𝜂 𝑁3 𝜉, 𝜂 = 1 − 𝜉 − 𝜂
• Introducing the expressions of the shape functions, the approximation can be written as
𝑢 = 𝑢1 − 𝑢3 𝜉 + 𝑢2 − 𝑢3 𝜂 + 𝑢3
𝑣 = 𝑣1 − 𝑣3 𝜉 + 𝑣2 − 𝑣3 𝜂 + 𝑣3
• The derivatives (required for obtaining the strains) are
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
= 𝑢1 − 𝑢3 = 𝑢 2 − 𝑢3
𝜕𝜉 𝜕𝜂
𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣
= 𝑣1 − 𝑣3 = 𝑣2 − 𝑣3
𝜕𝜉 𝜕𝜂
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Finite Element solution with linear triangles (cont.)
• Using the chain rule 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑦
= + = +
𝜕𝜉 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝜉 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝜉 𝜕𝜂 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝜂 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝜂
𝜕𝑢/𝜕𝜉 𝜕𝑢/𝜕𝑥 𝑥13 𝑦13
or =𝐉 with 𝐉= 𝑥 𝑦23
𝜕𝑢/𝜕𝜂 𝜕𝑢/𝜕𝑦 23

• Thus we can write

𝜕𝑢/𝜕𝑥 −1 𝜕𝑢/𝜕𝜉 𝜕𝑣/𝜕𝑥 −1 𝜕𝑣/𝜕𝜉 1 𝑦23 −𝑦13
=𝐉 and =𝐉 with 𝐉−1 =
𝜕𝑢/𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑢/𝜕𝜂 𝜕𝑣/𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑣/𝜕𝜂 2𝐴𝑒 −𝑥23 𝑥13
• Combining these expressions we obtain the relation between strain and displacement

𝜕𝑢/𝜕𝑥 𝑦23 𝑢1 − 𝑢3 − 𝑦13 𝑢2 − 𝑢3

1
𝜀= 𝜕𝑣/𝜕𝑦 = −𝑥23 𝑣1 − 𝑣3 + 𝑥13 𝑣2 − 𝑣3
2𝐴𝑒
𝜕𝑢/𝜕𝑦 + 𝜕𝑣/𝜕𝑥 −𝑥23 𝑢1 − 𝑢3 + 𝑥13 𝑢2 − 𝑢3 + 𝑦23 𝑣1 − 𝑣3 − 𝑦13 𝑣2 − 𝑣3
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Finite Element solution with linear triangles (cont.)
• Rearranging
𝑦23 𝑢1 + 𝑦31 𝑢2 + 𝑦12 𝑢3
1
𝜀= 𝑥32 𝑣1 + 𝑥13 𝑣2 + 𝑥21 𝑣3
2𝐴𝑒 𝑥 𝑢 + 𝑦 𝑣 + 𝑥 𝑢 + 𝑦 𝑣 + 𝑥 𝑢 + 𝑦 𝑣
32 1 23 1 13 2 31 2 21 3 12 3

Or simply 𝜺 = 𝐁𝐪

1 𝑦23 0 𝑦31 0 𝑦12 0

with 𝐁= 0 𝑥32 0 𝑥13 0 𝑥21
2𝐴𝑒 𝑥 𝑦23 𝑥13 𝑦31 𝑥21 𝑦12
32
• For the stress we have

𝛔 = 𝐃𝐁𝐪

• We will introduce now these expressions into the weak form in order to derive the system of Finite Element equations
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Stiffness matrix
• Recall the weak form of the problem

− 𝛁𝑠 𝝓 𝑇 (𝐃𝛁𝐬 𝐮) 𝑡𝑑Ω + 𝝓𝑇 𝐓𝑡 𝑑Γ + 𝝓𝑇 𝐟 𝑡𝑑Ω = 0

Ω ΓT Ω

• For one element we have

𝛁𝑠 𝝓 𝑇 (𝐃𝛁𝐬 𝐮) 𝑡𝑑Ω = 𝜙𝑒𝑇 𝐁𝑇 𝐃𝐁 𝑡𝑑Ω 𝐪𝑒 = 𝝓𝑇𝑒 𝐴𝑒 𝑡𝑒 𝐁𝑇 𝐃𝐁 𝐪𝑒

Ωe Ω𝑒

• where we have introduced the approximations of the weighting function 𝝓 = 𝐍𝝓𝑒 and the solution 𝐮 = 𝐍𝐪𝑒 , and
we used the expressions 𝛁𝑠 𝝓 = 𝐁𝝓𝑒 and 𝛁𝑠 𝐮 = 𝐁𝐪𝑒
• •The elemental stiffness matrix is given as

𝐤 𝑒 = 𝐴𝑒 𝑡𝑒 𝐁𝑇 𝐃𝐁
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Element body force vector
• The body force term in one element is given as 𝝓𝑇 𝐟 𝑡𝑑Ω = 𝝓𝑇𝑒 𝐍 𝑇 𝐟𝑡𝑑Ω
Ω Ω𝑒

𝑁1 0 𝑁2 0 𝑁3 0
• Using the expression of the matrix 𝐍=
0 𝑁1 0 𝑁2 0 𝑁3

we have 𝐍 𝑇 𝐟 = 𝑁1 𝑓𝑥 𝑁1 𝑓𝑦 𝑁2 𝑓𝑥 𝑁2 𝑓𝑦 𝑁3 𝑓𝑥 𝑁3 𝑓𝑦 𝑇

• Assuming that the body force is constant within each element and noting that
Ω
𝑁𝑖 𝑑Ω represents the volume of a tetrahedron with area of the base 𝐴𝑒
e
and height equal to one, we can write

𝐴𝑒 𝑡𝑒 𝑒
𝑒
𝐟 = 𝑇
𝐍 𝐟 𝑡𝑑Ω = 𝑓𝑥 𝑓𝑦𝑒 𝑓𝑥𝑒 𝑓𝑦𝑒 𝑓𝑥𝑒 𝑓𝑦𝑒 𝑇
Ω𝑒 3
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Boundary traction vector
• The traction force term in one edge of one element is given as 𝝓𝑇 𝐓 𝑡𝑑Ω = 𝝓𝑇𝑒 𝐍 𝑇 𝐓𝑡𝑑Ω
Ω Ω𝑒

𝑁1 0 𝑁2 0 𝑁3 0
• Using the expression of the matrix 𝐍=
0 𝑁1 0 𝑁2 0 𝑁3

we have 𝐍 𝑇 𝐓 = 𝑁1 𝑇𝑥 𝑁1 𝑇𝑦 𝑁2 𝑇𝑥 𝑁2 𝑇𝑦 𝑁3 𝑇𝑥 𝑁3 𝑇𝑦 𝑇

• If edge 1-2 is on the boundary this expression is simplified to

𝐍 𝑇 𝐓 = 𝑁1 𝑇𝑥 𝑁1 𝑇𝑦 𝑁2 𝑇𝑥 𝑁2 𝑇𝑦 0 0 𝑇

• Assuming that the body traction is constant within each edge and, we can write

𝑙1−2 𝑡𝑒 𝑒
𝐫𝐓𝑒 = 𝐍𝑇 𝐓 𝑡𝑑Γ = 𝑇𝑥 𝑇𝑦𝑒 𝑇𝑥𝑒 𝑇𝑦𝑒 0 0 𝑇
Γ𝑒T 2
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
• The global system of finite element equations can be written as

𝐊𝐐 = 𝐟 + 𝐑 𝐓
where
𝑒
• 𝐊 is the result of assembling the elemental contributions 𝑘
𝑒
• 𝐟 is the result of assembling the elemental contributions 𝑓
𝑒
• 𝐑 𝐓 is the result of assembling the boundary contributions 𝐫𝐓
• 𝐐 is the vector of global unknowns (displacement at nodes)
• Finally, we need to apply the elimination process to account for the Dirichlet boundary conditions
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Point loads and temperature effects
• Exactly as we did with the bar under axial loading, the most general case involve point loads and temperature effects.
In this case the global system of finite element equations becomes

𝐊𝐐 = 𝐟 + 𝐑 𝐓 + 𝐏 + 𝚯
Where 𝐏 contains the point loads and 𝚯 is the result of assembling the elemental contributions

𝜽𝑒 = 𝐴𝑒 𝑡𝑒 𝐁𝑇 𝐃𝜺𝟎

With 𝜺0 = 𝛼Δ𝑇 𝑇
𝛼Δ𝑇 0

• Recall that the constitutive law accounting for temperature effects is

𝝈 = 𝐃 𝜺 − 𝜺0
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Example. Two linear elements
• For the two-dimensional loaded plate shown in the figure, determine the displacements of nodes 1 and 2 and the
element stresses under plane stress conditions
• The body force may be neglected in comparison to the external forces.
• The thickness is 1.2 𝑐𝑚
• The following material properties are assumed
• Elastic modulus 2 × 106 𝑁/𝑐𝑚2
• Poisson's ratio 0.25
• For plane stress conditions

𝐸 1 𝜈 0
𝐃= 2
𝜈 1 0
1−𝜈 0 0 1 − 𝜈 /2
2.1 × 106 0.5 × 106 0
= 0.5 × 106 2.1 × 106 0
0 0 0.8 × 106
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Example. Two linear elements (cont.)
• The element connectivities are
Element 1 2 3 local
1 1 2 4 global
2 3 4 2 global

• The elemental stiffness matrices, computed as 𝐤 𝑒 = 𝐴𝑒 𝑡𝑒 𝐁𝑇 𝐃𝐁 are

5 6 7 8 3 4
1 2 3 4 7 8
1.5733 −0.8000 −0.7200 0.3200 −0.8533 0.4800 1 5
−0.8000 2.2400 0.4800 −1.9200 0.3200 −0.3200 2 6
−0.7200 0.4800 0.7200 0 0 −0.4800 3 7
𝑘 2 = 𝑘1 = 106
0.3200 −1.9200 0 1.9200 −0.3200 0 4 8
−0.8533 0.3200 0 −0.3200 0.8533 0 7 3
0.4800 −0.3200 −0.4800 0 0 0.3200 8 4
 2D Plane stress FE analysis
Example. Two linear elements (cont.)
• Given the imposed displacements 𝑄2 , 𝑄5 , 𝑄6 , 𝑄7 and 𝑄8 equal to zero the reduced system of equations is
1.5733 −0.7200 0.3200 𝑄1 0 𝑄1 = 0.0537 × 10−4 𝑐𝑚
Solution
106 −0.7200 1.5733 0 𝑄3 = 0 𝑄3 = 0.0246 × 10−4 𝑐𝑚
0.3200 0 2.2400 𝑄4 −45 𝑄4 = −0.2086 × 10−4 𝑐𝑚
• The stresses in each element are computed as 𝝈 = 𝐃𝐁𝐪
0.0537
0 −0.8725
0.0246
• For the first element we have 𝐪1 = 10−4 𝜎 1 = −10.6459
−0.2086
0 −0.5820
0
0
0 0.8725
0
• For the second element we have 𝐪2 = 10−4 𝜎 2 = 0.2183
0
0.0246 −2.7813
−0.2086