Lecture 8: Assembly of beam elements.

4.2 Example of Assemblage of Beam Stiffness Matrices.

Place nodes at the load application points.

Assembling the two sets of element equations (note the common

elemental coordinate system)

MECH 420: Finite Element Applications

 Lecture 8: Assembly of beam elements.

Step 5: Assembly.
f1(1)
y 12 6 L -12 6 L d1 y f 2(2)
y 12 6 L -12 6 L d 2 y
(1) (2)
m1z EI 4 L2 6 L 2 L2 1z
m2 z EI 4 L2 6 L 2 L2 2 z
(1) = 3 (2) = 3
f2 y L 12 6 L d 2 y f3 y L 12 6 L d3 y
m2(1)z SYM 4 L2 2 z m3(2)z SYM 4 L2 3 z

Element #1 Element #2

f1(1)
y F1 y 12 6 L -12 6L 0 0 d1 y
6 L 4 L2
m1z
(1)
m1z 6 L 2 L2 0 0 1

f 2(1)y + f 2(2)
F EI 12 6 L 12 + 12 6 L + 6 L 12 6 L d 2 y
= =
y 2y
(1) 3 2
2z + (2)
2z m L 6 L 2 L 2
6 L + 6 L 4 L2
+ 4 L2
6 L 2 L

m m 2 z
2
f 3(2) F3 y 0 0 12 6 L 12 6 L d3 y
6 L 4 L2 3
y
0 0 6L 2 L2
m3 z m3 z
(2)

MECH 420: Finite Element Applications

 Lecture 8: Assembly of beam elements.

Step 6: Apply boundary conditions & solve.

1 = d1 y = d3 y = 0

F1 y 12 6 L -12 6L 0 0 d1 y
6 L 4 L2
m1z 6 L 2 L2 0 0 1

F2 y EI 12 6 L 12 + 12 6 L + 6 L 12 6 L d 2 y
= 3 2
m
2z L 6 L 2 L2
6 L + 6 L 4 L2
+ 4 L2
6 L 2 L
2
F3 y 0 0 12 6 L 12 6 L d3 y
0 0 6L 2 L2 6 L 4 L2 3
m3 z

1000 lbf
+12000 in lbf F2 y 24 0 6 L d 2 y
EI 2
0.0 ft lbf m = 3
0 8 L2
2 L
2 z
L 2
m 6 L 2 L 4 L 3
2 2
3z

MECH 420: Finite Element Applications

 Lecture 8: Assembly of beam elements.
4.3 Examples of Beam Analysis Using the Direct Stiffness Method.
For each element, the state variables have been calculated in the solution step.
We can deduce anything to deal with the loading, stress, and strain on the two
beam elements.
Global nodal forces (the net external forces).

Shear and bending moment diagrams

Recall from earlier classes (MECH 141 and MECH 220) that a shear

and bending moment diagram is a convenient way to locate a design

point in a beam.
The displacement function v ( x ) allows us to plot the V and M
diagrams for any one element or a chain of elements.
Continue using Figure 4-7 pg. #162 here.
Examples 4.1 4.5 pg.#163-175 should also be reviewed.

MECH 420: Finite Element Applications

 Lecture 8: Assembly of beam elements.

Consider a case of:

E = 29 106 psi
I = 833 in 4
L = 50.0 in
1000 24 0 6 L d 2 y
EI 2
1000 = 3 0 8 L 2 L 2
2

Structural steel 0 L 6 L 2 L2 4 L2
3

1000 lbf 0.024 0 0.3 d 2 y d 2 y 3.38 104 in

2.42 1010

12000 in lbf = 103 0 20 5.0 2 2 = 6 10 rad
7

0.0 in lbf 12.5 10
4
9.8 106 rad

0.3 5.0 10.0 3 3

MECH 420: Finite Element Applications

 Lecture 8: Assembly of beam elements.

We can now recover the global nodal forces from the

original system of equations.
F1 y .012 0.3 .012 0.3 0 0 0.0
0.3 10.0 0.3 5.0
m1z 0 0 0.0

F2 y 2.42 1010 3 .012 0.3 .024 0.0 .012 0.3 3.38 104 in
= 10 6 107 rad
m
12.5 10 4
0.3 5.0 0.0 20.0 0.3 5.0
2 z

F3 y 0 0 .012 0.3 .012 0.3 0.0
0 0 0.3 5.0 0.3 10.0 9.8 106 rad
m3 z
820 lbf
20212 in lbf

-1001 lbf
=
11810 in lbf A quick check to validate the solution process.
181 lbf
-77 in lbf

MECH 420: Finite Element Applications

 Lecture 8: Assembly of beam elements.

We can also recapture the nodal forces acting on each element.

f1(1)
y .012 0.3 .012 0.3 0.0 818 lbf
0.3 10.0 0.3 5.0 20149 in lbf
m1(1)z 0.0
(1) = 1.93 10 =
8
Element #1 818 lbf
4
f
2y .012 0.3 .012 0.3 3.38 10 in
m2(1)z 0.3 5.0 0.3 10.0 6 107 rad 20728 in lbf

f 2(2)
y .012 0.3 .012 0.3 3.38 104 in -181 lbf
0.3 10.0 0.3 5.0 6 107 rad -8955 in lbf
m2(2)z
(2) = 1.93 10 =
8
f
3y .012 0.3 .012 0.3 0.0 in 181 lbf
Element #2 0.3
m3(2)z 5.0 0.3 10.0 9.8 106 rad -77 in lbf

MECH 420: Finite Element Applications

 Lecture 8: Assembly of beam elements.

From the free body diagrams of the two elements we can

construct the shear and bending moment diagrams.

818 lbf 818 lbf 181 lbf 181 lbf

1 2
1 2 2 3
x x
20149 in lbf 20728 in lbf 8955 in lbf 77 in lbf

MECH 420: Finite Element Applications

 Lecture 8: Assembly of beam elements.

V and M diagrams are useful when we deal with rather simple

beam assemblies.
The calculation of maximum axial stresses (for beams these
maximum stresses occur at the top and bottom beam surfaces)
can be easily coded in advance.

d 2 v
x MAX = Ec 2
dx
1
= Ec 3 (12 x 6 L ) d1 y + 3 ( 6 xL
4 L2 ) 1 + 3 ( 12 x + 6 L ) d2 y + 3 ( 6 xL
2 L2 ) 2
1 1 1
L L L L

6 ) 4 2 6 2 4
x MAX x =0 = Ec 2 2y
( d d1y 1 2 x MAX x = L = Ec 2 (d1 y d2 y ) + 1 + 2
L L L variation over the L L L
element is given by a
Node 1 value linear interpolation of Node 2 value
the two node values.

MECH 420: Finite Element Applications

 Lecture 8: Work Equivalence for Beams.
4.4 Distributed Loading.
Concept of work equivalence is the same as covered for bar
elements.

We are looking for four generalized nodal forces that are

equivalent to the actual distributed load.
This equivalence must hold for any set of generalized nodal
displacements.

MECH 420: Finite Element Applications

 Lecture 8: Work Equivalence for Beams.

Case study: a rectangular (constant magnitude) distributed

transverse load.

L
wL
f1wy = N1 w0 dx = 0
0
2
L
w0 L2
m = N 2 w0 dx =
w
1z
0
12
L
wL
f2wy = N 3 w0 dx = 0
0
2
L
w0 L2
m = N 4 w0 dx =
w
2z
0
12

MECH 420: Finite Element Applications

 Lecture 8: Work Equivalence for Beams.

Pg.# 178-179 emphasizes how these equivalent nodal loads must

be superposed over other external loads.
Example 4.6 looks specifically at how the equivalent point loads
superpose over other external loads such as those created by
beam supports.
The revised form of the element equation becomes
f + f w = k d

{ }
T
f = f1 y 1 f2 y 2

= { f }
T
f w w
1y w
1 f2wy 2w

MECH 420: Finite Element Applications

 Lecture 8: Work Equivalence for Beams.

Appendix D of Logan (pg.# 752) gives the equivalent nodal

loads for a variety of distributed load forms.
These results can be applied in the first stages of any analysis.
Once you have replaced a distributed load, it is removed from
the FDB of the element/system.
Note: these Appendix D results are specific to the beam element
we have derived.
If we were to change the element type it would affect the shape
functions that are associated with each nodal load.
If the shape functions change then the integration process tabulated
in Appendix D is no longer valid.

MECH 420: Finite Element Applications