Structural Design and Inspection-

Finite Element Method (Beams)

1

BY
D R . MAH D I D AMG H A N I

2021-2 0 22
Suggested Readings
2

Reference 1 Reference 2
Objective(s)
3

 Familiarisation with Finite Element equations for

beam structures;
 Ability to assemble global stiffness matrix for a beam
shape structure;
 Familiarisation with Finite Element Modelling (FEM)
of beam structures using ABAQUS CAE (Tutorial).
Introduction
4
Introduction
5

 Refer to chapter 6 of Reference 1;

 Refer to chapter 5 of Reference 2;
 This method is used in most of commercially
available FE based software to solve structural
problems;
 Some typical software in aerospace industry are;
 Altair HyperWorks (mostly for optimisation purposes)
 MSC Nastran (mostly for linear analysis)
 Abaqus (mostly for non-linear analysis)
 Ansys (mostly for non-linear analysis)
Introduction
6

 Unlike truss elements that are joined together by

hinges, beams are connected by welding so they
transfer both bending moment and forces across
each other;
 In this lecture, we would be using Euler-Bernoulli
beam theory that is applicable to thin beams.
Beam element
Node 1 has only 2 DOF
(vertical displacement
and rotation)
7
Node 2 has only 2 DOF
Local coordinate system with
origin at the middle of beam (vertical displacement
and rotation)

The length of element

Therefore, this
This slide shows positive direction of beam element has
4 DOFs in total
shear forces, bending moments,
displacements and rotations.
The Finite Element Analysis (FEA) process
8
Displacement in FEM
9

 In finite element methods, the displacement for an

element is written in the form;

u h ( x) = N( x)d e

Approximated displacement Shape function Vectors of displacements at

within the element the two nodes of the element
This function
approximates
displacements
Question: within the element
What should by just having
be N(x)??? displacements at
the two nodes, i.e.
de
Note
10

 It is convenient if the shape functions are derived from a

special set of local coordinates (natural coordinate system);
 The natural coordinate system is dimensionless, has its
origin at the centre of the element and is defined from −1 to
+1.
Note
11

 The relationship between the natural coordinate

system and the local coordinate system can simply
be given as a scaling function, i.e.  = x
a
Shape function
12

 Since we have four DOFs for the element we need

to find 4 shape functions;
 We assume displacement within element has the
form where  = x / a ;

Vector of polynomial
basis functions
Four unknowns
This matrix is 1x4 because in the form of
we have a 4-DOF element 4x1 matrix
Shape function
13

 We also know;

v v   = a ⎯⎯→ x = a  = 1 v = 1
 1
( )
x
= =  ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯→ 1 + 2 2 + 3 3 2
x  x a  a

2/a
 Note
14

1 v 1
= (
= 1 + 2 2 + 3 3 2
a  a
)
v1 ( = −1) =  0 − 1 +  2 −  3

→

 1 ( = −1) =
1
(1 − 2 2 + 3 3 )
a
v2 ( = 1) =  0 + 1 +  2 +  3

→
 2 ( = 1) = a (1 + 2 2 + 3 3 )
1

2/a
Shape function
15

2/a

v( ) = P T ( )P −1d e
Shape function
16

Shape functions for

Shape functions for Shape functions
Shape functions for
for
rotations are
displacement are displacement are
displacement
functions of natural
functions of natural functions
functions of natural
natural

−
coordinates and
coordinates coordinates
coordinates
length of element

These cubic shape (or interpolation) functions are known as

Hermite cubic interpolation (or cubic spline) functions.
Shape functions
17

Shape functions along the length of beam element

1

0.8

0.6
N1 N2
N3 N4

0.4

0.2

0
-1 -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

-0.2 ξ
Strain calculation
18

− −

B is called L is differential
strain matrix operator
Note
19

 First derivative of the shape function is important as it will be

used to obtain rotations within each element (we will see this
in some examples);
 How first derivative of shape function (dN/dx) is obtained?
dN dN d 1 dN
=  =
dx d dx a d

− dN1 3
=
dx 4a
(
−1+  2 ) dN 2 1
dx
(
= − 1 − 2 + 3 2
4
)
dN 3
=
3
(1−  2 )
dN 4 1
dx
(
= − 1 + 2 + 3 2
4
)
dx 4a
 Reminder
20

Fibre ST has shortened in Remember that the length

length whilst NQ increased of neutral axis does not
in length so they have gone change and remains as x
through strains

Positive y gives negative

strain, i.e. compression  x1

x
x
 x2
 xx =
Change in Length
→  xx =
(R − y ) − x →  = (R − y ) − R →
x x
xx
Original Length

 xx =
(R − y ) − R =−
y
R R
Reminder
21

 How did the following come about?

 Euler-Bernoulli beam curvature (1/R) is used for this

formula;
 d 2N 
y d y
2
 d Nd e 
2
d N
2 B = − y  2 
 xx = − = − y 2  = − y 2

 = − y ⎯→  xx = Bd e
 2 d e ⎯⎯ ⎯ ⎯  dx 
R  dx   dx   dx 
Reminder
22

2a
dx
dA

Volume = V = A  2a dV = dAdx
Element local stiffness matrix
23
Element stiffness matrix
(see chapter 3 of Ref. 2)

c=E dV = dAdx
A is cross sectional

elasticity (material
E is modulus of
constant)
area
Further elaboration
24

 Some might ask where did the following come from?

 See below;

2N
x 2
=
x
(N ) =   N    = 1    N  =
x x   x  a x   
1    N     = 1 2   2 N 2  = 1 2 N' '
a      x  a    a
Further elaboration
25

T
 y   y 
→ k e =   − 2 N' '   E   − 2 N' '   dA  dx →
V   a 
y
a
B=− 2
N' '
a
+a d 1
 = x / a, =
 dA  (N' ') (N' ')dx ⎯⎯ ⎯ ⎯⎯→
E
ke = 4 2 T dx a
y
a A −a

 = +1 T  = +1
d N  d N  E
( ) (N ' ')d
2 2

3 z 
E =
k e = 4 I z   2 
T
 2 ad → e
k I N ' '
a  = −1  d   d  a  = −1
Element local stiffness matrix
26
Elements mass matrix
27

 Following similar procedure as stiffness matrix;

 Students are advised to familiarise themselves with chapter 3
of ref. 2
Nodal forces
28

Note that in FEA, body forces are always

transferred to the nodes
Fs1 Fs2
Ms1 fy Ms2

Surface force (applied Surface force (applied

at the node) at the node)
Body forces (applied
between nodes)
Nodal forces
29
Example 1
30

 Obtain tip deflection and rotation of the beam shown

below using FEA. (E=69.0 GPa and Poisson’s ratio
is 0.33)
Solution
31

 For practical purposes, a beam must be divided into

more than 1 element to obtain precise enough
results;
 However, for the sake of showing the process and
simplicity, let’s divide the beam into one element
only.
Solution
32

2a = 0.5m → a = 0.25m
E = 69GPa = 69 109 N / m2
Solution
33

Reaction forces at clamped

F = K ed e boundary that are unknown

Applying BC, i.e.

v1 =0 and θ1=0
Solution
34

 The reduced stiffness matrix becomes;

Example 2
35

 In previous example, what are the deflection and

rotation at mid-point of beam structure?

−1.0064 10−3

−1.0064 10−3
Tutorials 3a
36

 See T3a.pdf
Tutorial 3b
37

 Model beam problem of example 1 in Abaqus and

extract deflection and rotation at the tip and mid
point of the structure.
Tutorial 3c
38

 See T3c.pdf