10. Isoparametric Formulation

Finite
element
method
Prof. Jinwoo Lee
© 2017 Cengage Learning

Isoparametric
Formulation 10
Chapter Objectives
✓ To formulate the isoparametric formulation of the bar element & Q4 element stiffness
matrices
✓ To illustrate by example how to evaluate the stresses at a given point in a plane
quadrilateral element using Gaussian quadrature
✓ To describe some higher-order shape functions for the three-noded linear strain bar, the
improved bilinear quadratic (Q6), the eight- and nine-noded quadratic quadrilateral (Q8
and Q9) elements, and the twelve-noded cubic quadrilateral (Q12) element
10. The Isoparametric Formulation
• Isoparametric Formulation
➢ May appear somewhat tedious and confusing initially, but will
lead to a simplified computer program formulation
➢ Applicable for two- and three-dimensional stress analysis

and for nonstructural problems
➢ Allows for elements to be created that are nonrectangular

and have curved sides
➢ The term isoparametric is derived from the use of the same

shape functions (or interpolation functions) [N] to define the
element’s geometric shape.

10. The Isoparametric Formulation
• Isoparametric Elements
➢ Isoparametric element equations are formulated using a
natural (or intrinsic) coordinate system, s, that is defined by
element geometry and not by the element orientation in the
global-coordinate system.
➢ There is a relationship (transformation mapping) between

the natural coordinate system, s, and the global coordinate
system, x, for each element of a specific structure.
➢ This transformation mapping must be used in the element

equation formulations.

10.1 Isoparametric Formulation of the Bar Element Stiffness Matrix
• The natural coordinate, s, is attached to the element,

with the origin located at the center of the element
as shown below:
➢ The s-axis need not be parallel to the x-axis.
➢ We consider the bar element to have two degrees of
freedom — axial displacements u1 and u2.
➢ For when the s and x axis are parallel, they can be
related by:
where xc is the global coordinate of the element centroid:

• Step 1 : Select Element Type

➢ We express the natural coordinates, s, in terms of the
global as:
➢ To solve for the shape functions, we begin by relating

the natural coordinate to the global coordinate by:
➢ Keep in mind that from the figure:

➢ Solving we obtain:
➢ and in matrix form:
where the shape functions are:

• (Cont.)
➢ The linear shape
functions map the s
coordinate of any point
in the element to the x
coordinate.
➢ The displacement
function is defined by the
same shape functions:
➢ Since u and x are

defined by the same
shape functions, the
element is isoparametric.
• Step 3 : Define the Strain-Displacement Relation

➢ The strain-displacement relationship for the
isoparametric relationship is defined as:
➢ We seek:
➢ From before we obtain: and
➢ Thus:
= where
➢ The stress matrix is given by Hooke’s law as:

• Step 4 : Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix & Eqs.

➢ The stiffness matrix is:
➢ We must transform the coordinate x to s with the general

transformation:
where [J] is the Jacobian matrix.
➢ For the simple bar element:

➢ We obtain the stiffness matrix in natural coordinates:
➢ Substituting and integrating, we obtain:
➢ For higher-order elements, the integral in closed form becomes

very difficult. The use of numerical integration illustrates the distinct
advantages of the isoparametric formulation of the equations.

10.2 Isoparametric Formulation of the Q4 Element Stiffness Matrix
• Step 1 : Select Element Type

➢ We consider the quadrilateral to have 8 degrees of
freedom.
➢ The element has straight sides but is otherwise an
arbitrary shape.

• (Cont.)
➢ For the special case for a rectangular element
➢ Begin by assuming the global coordinates x and y are

related to the natural coordinates s and t as follows:

• (Cont.)
➢ In matrix form expressed as:
where the shape functions are:

• (Cont.)
➢ The physical shapes of the shape functions as they
vary with natural coordinates are shown in Figure 10-4

• Step 2 : Select Displacement Functions
➢ The displacement functions within an element are now

similarly defined by the same shape functions as are
used to define the element geometric shape; that is:
➢ u and v are displacements parallel to the global x and y

coordinates.
• Step 3 : Define the Strain-Displacement Relation

➢ Recall from Chapter 6 that for the Q4 rectangle the strains
are given in global coordinates by:
➢ Normal strain variations are given in the figure.

• (Cont.)
➢ To construct the element stiffness matrix, we must
determine the strains which are now functions of s and
t. Apply the chain rule to express s and t as functions of
x and y, yielding:
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑓
𝜕𝑠 = 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑓
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑦
➢ are all known

from previous equations. We seek .

• (Cont.)
➢ Using Cramer’s rule (Appendix B) to solve we obtain:
where the determinant in the denominator is the

determinant of the Jacobian matrix [ J ]:
➢ We want to express element strains as:

• (Cont.)
➢ Start with the usual relationship between strains and
displacement:
➢ represent the partial of any variable
we put inside the parenthesis.
➢ Substituting and evaluating the determinates:
where is the determinant of [ J ] given earlier.

• (Cont.)
➢ Substituting above equations again we obtain the
strains expressed in terms of the natural coordinates
as:
where
and and

• (Cont.)
➢ We can express strains in terms of the shape functions and
global coordinates in compact matrix form as
where
➢ So then,
➢ We have [B] expressed as a function of s and t and thus

have the strains in terms of s and t.
• (Cont.)
➢ The explicit form of [B] can be obtained
where for i = 1, 2, 3, and 4
and

• Body & Surface Forces

➢ The element body-force
matrix will be determined
numerically from:
➢ The surface-force matrix

for Figure 10-6 is:

10.3 Gaussian Quadrature
• Gaussian Quadrature
➢ The Gaussian Quadrature is a method for numerical
evaluation of definite integrals commonly used in finite
element work.
➢ The amount of sampling points is determined to achieve a
certain level of accuracy and are located symmetrically with
respect to the center of the interval.
➢ In general, Gaussian quadrature using n points (Gauss
points) is exact if the integrand is a polynomial of degree 2n
– 1 or less.
➢ If the function is not a polynomial, Gaussian quadrature is
inexact, but it becomes more accurate as more Gauss points
are used.
➢ We will give a brief overview of a general case of the
Gaussian quadrature using one sampling point.
• Gaussian Quadrature One Sampling Point
➢ We start by considering the following integral for evaluation:
where y is a function of x.
➢ We might choose (sample or evaluate) y at the midpoint y(0) = y1
and multiply by the length of the interval as shown in the figure.
➢ We arrive at I = 2y1 a result that is exact if the curve happens to be
a straight line.
➢ This formula can be generalized as:
where n is the amount of sampling points, yi is the value of each

point, Wi is the weight factor

• Gaussian Quadrature in 2-Dimensions
➢ In two dimensions, we obtain the quadrature formula by
integrating first with respect to one coordinate and then
with respect to the other as:
➢ We need not use the same

number of Gauss points in each
direction
➢ For example, a four-point Gauss
rule is shown in the figure and
yields:
10.4 Evaluation of the Stiffness Matrix by the Gaussian Quadrature
• Evaluation of the Stiffness Matrix
➢ For a quadrilateral element,

the stiffness matrix can be
evaluated as:
➢ A flowchart to evaluate [k] for

an element using four-point
Gaussian quadrature is given.

• Evaluation of the Stiffness Matrix

➢ In explicit form for four-point Gaussian quadrature (now
using the single summation notation with i = 1, 2, 3, 4),
we have:
➢ Go through Example 10.4 in the text to practice

evaluating a stiffness matrix for a quadrilateral element.
• Answer
• (Cont.)
➢ We first evaluate [J] at each Gauss point
• (Cont.)
➢ Using the following equations, we can evaluate [B]
• (Cont.)
➢ For instance, we obtain the final form of [B(-0.5773, -
0.5773)] as
➢ For plane stress condition, [D] is

• (Cont.)
➢ Using Eq., the matrix [k] becomes
• Evaluation of the Element Stress

➢ The stresses are not constant within the
quadrilateral element.
➢ In practice, the stresses are evaluated at the same
Gauss points used to evaluate the stiffness matrix [k].
➢ For a quadrilateral, we get four sets of stress data.
➢ To reduce the data, it often practical to evaluate the
stress matrix at the s = 0, t = 0 locations of the element.
➢ The common method used in computer programs is to
evaluate the stresses in all elements at a shared node
and then use an average of these element nodal
stresses to represent the stress at the node.
➢ Stress plots obtained in these programs are based on
this average nodal method.
10.5 Higher-Order Shape Functions
• Higher-Order Shape Functions
➢ In general, higher-order element shape functions can
be developed by adding additional nodes to the sides of
the linear element.
➢ This results in higher-order strain variations and
convergence occurs at a faster rate using fewer
elements.
➢ The trade-off is that there is a substantial increase in
required computational power.
➢ Another advantage of higher-order elements is that
curved boundaries of irregularly-shaped bodies can be
approximated more closely than simple straight-sided
linear elements

• Improved Bilinear Quadratic (Q6)
➢ An improved element to remove the shear locking
inherent in the Q4 element is to add two internal
degrees of freedom per displacement function, creating
the Q6 element.
➢ The displacement functions are shown:

• (Cont.)
➢ The displacement field is enhanced by modes that describe
the curvature as shown in Figure 10-16.
➢ There is a possibility that the edges of two adjacent elements
may be incompatible as shown in Figure 10-17:

• Quadratic Rectangle (Q8 & Q9)
➢ The eight-noded element also called “Q8” element has
four corner nodes and four mid-side nodes.
➢ The shape functions of the Q8 element are based on
the incomplete polynomial given:
➢ Two forms of shape functions are required to describe

the geometry, one for corner nodes and one for mid-
side notes.

• (Cont.)
➢ To evaluate the stiffness
matrix for the eight-noded
quadratic isoparametric
element, we use the nine-
point Gauss rule (often
described as a 3 X 3
rule).
➢ By adding a ninth node at
s = 0, t = 0, we create an
element called a “Q9”.
➢ This is an internal node
that is not connected to
any other nodes.
• Comparing the Higher-Order Elements

10. Isoparametric Formulation

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Finite

© 2017 Cengage Learning

➢ Applicable for two- and three-dimensional stress analysis

➢ Allows for elements to be created that are nonrectangular

➢ The term isoparametric is derived from the use of the same

© 2017 Cengage Learning

➢ There is a relationship (transformation mapping) between

➢ This transformation mapping must be used in the element

© 2017 Cengage Learning

• The natural coordinate, s, is attached to the element,

where xc is the global coordinate of the element centroid:

© 2017 Cengage Learning

• Step 1 : Select Element Type

➢ To solve for the shape functions, we begin by relating

➢ Keep in mind that from the figure:

where the shape functions are:

© 2017 Cengage Learning

➢ Since u and x are

• Step 3 : Define the Strain-Displacement Relation

➢ The stress matrix is given by Hooke’s law as:

© 2017 Cengage Learning

• Step 4 : Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix & Eqs.

➢ We must transform the coordinate x to s with the general

➢ For the simple bar element:

➢ For higher-order elements, the integral in closed form becomes

© 2017 Cengage Learning

• Step 1 : Select Element Type

© 2017 Cengage Learning

➢ Begin by assuming the global coordinates x and y are

© 2017 Cengage Learning

➢ In matrix form expressed as:

where the shape functions are:

© 2017 Cengage Learning

© 2017 Cengage Learning

• Step 2 : Select Displacement Functions

➢ The displacement functions within an element are now

➢ u and v are displacements parallel to the global x and y

• Step 3 : Define the Strain-Displacement Relation

➢ Normal strain variations are given in the figure.

© 2017 Cengage Learning

➢ are all known

© 2017 Cengage Learning

where the determinant in the denominator is the

➢ We want to express element strains as:

© 2017 Cengage Learning

➢ Substituting and evaluating the determinates:

where is the determinant of [ J ] given earlier.

© 2017 Cengage Learning

➢ We have [B] expressed as a function of s and t and thus

where for i = 1, 2, 3, and 4

© 2017 Cengage Learning

• Body & Surface Forces

➢ The surface-force matrix

© 2017 Cengage Learning

where n is the amount of sampling points, yi is the value of each

© 2017 Cengage Learning

➢ We need not use the same

• Evaluation of the Stiffness Matrix

➢ For a quadrilateral element,

➢ A flowchart to evaluate [k] for

© 2017 Cengage Learning

• Evaluation of the Stiffness Matrix

➢ Go through Example 10.4 in the text to practice

➢ For plane stress condition, [D] is