FiniteElementModelingandAnalysis.ppt

Finite Element Modeling and Analysis CE 595: Course Part 2 Amit H. Varma Discussion of planar elements Constant Strain Triangle (CST) - easiest and simplest finite element Displacement field in terms of generalized coordinates Resulting strain field is Strains do not vary within the element. Hence, the name constant strain triangle (CST) Other elements are not so lucky. Can also be called linear triangle because displacement field is linear in x and y - sides remain straight. Constant Strain Triangle The strain field from the shape functions looks like: Where, xi and yi are nodal coordinates (i=1, 2, 3) xij = xi - xj and yij=yi - yj 2A is twice the area of the triangle, 2A = x21y31-x31y21 Node numbering is arbitrary except that the sequence 123 must go clockwise around the element if A is to be positive. Constant Strain Triangle Stiffness matrix for element k =BTEB tA The CST gives good results in regions of the FE model where there is little strain gradient Otherwise it does not work well. Linear Strain Triangle Changes the shape functions and results in quadratic displacement distributions and linear strain distributions within the element. Linear Strain Triangle Will this element work better for the problem? Example Problem Consider the problem we were looking at: Bilinear Quadratic The Q4 element is a quadrilateral element that has four nodes. In terms of generalized coordinates, its displacement field is: Bilinear Quadratic Shape functions and strain-displacement matrix Bilinear Quadratic The element stiffness matrix is obtained the same way A big challenge with this element is that the displacement field has a bilinear approximation, which means that the strains vary linearly in the two directions. But, the linear variation does not change along the length of the element. Bilinear Quadratic So, this element will struggle to model the behavior of a beam with moment varying along the length. Inspite of the fact that it has linearly var