FEM03B

The slides should only be taken as a record of the topics covered. They
are not necessarily self-sufficient. Many points, such as explanations of
the contents, development of equations and answers to queries are
covered in the class
2D simplex element
▪ The general form of interpolation func.
∅ = 𝛼1 + 𝛼2 𝑥 + 𝛼3 𝑦
∅𝑖 = 𝛼1 + 𝛼2 𝑥𝑖 + 𝛼3 𝑦𝑖
∅𝑗 = 𝛼1 + 𝛼2 𝑥𝑗 + 𝛼3 𝑦𝑗
∅𝑘 = 𝛼1 + 𝛼2 𝑥𝑘 + 𝛼3 𝑦𝑘
∅𝑖 1 𝑥𝑖 𝑦𝑖 𝛼1
∅𝑗 = 1 𝑥𝑗 𝑦𝑗 𝛼2
∅𝑘 1 𝑥𝑘 𝑦𝑘 𝛼3
∅ = 𝑋 𝛼
𝛼 = 𝑋 −1 ∅
𝑥𝑗 𝑦𝑘 − 𝑥𝑘 𝑦𝑗 𝑥𝑘 𝑦𝑖 − 𝑥𝑖 𝑦𝑘 𝑥𝑖 𝑦𝑗 − 𝑥𝑗 𝑦𝑖
1
𝑋 −1
= 𝑦𝑗 − 𝑦𝑘 𝑦𝑘 − 𝑦𝑖 𝑦𝑖 − 𝑦𝑗
2𝐴
𝑥𝑘 − 𝑥𝑗 𝑥𝑖 − 𝑥𝑘 𝑥𝑗 − 𝑥𝑖
2D simplex element
𝛼1 𝑎𝑖 𝑎𝑗 𝑎𝑘 ∅𝑖
1
𝛼2 = 𝑏𝑖 𝑏𝑗 𝑏𝑘 ∅𝑗
𝛼3 2𝐴 𝑐 𝑐𝑗 𝑐𝑘
𝑖 ∅𝑘
1 𝑥𝑖 𝑦𝑖
where 2𝐴 = 1 𝑥𝑗 𝑦𝑗
1 𝑥𝑘 𝑦𝑘
∅ = 𝛼1 + 𝛼2 𝑥 + 𝛼3 𝑦
𝛼1
∅ = 1 𝑥 𝑦 𝛼2
𝛼3
𝑎𝑖 𝑎𝑗 𝑎𝑘 ∅𝑖
1
∅= 1 𝑥 𝑦 𝑏𝑖 𝑏𝑗 𝑏𝑘 ∅𝑗
2𝐴 𝑐 𝑐 𝑐
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘 ∅𝑘
 ∅𝑖
∅ = 𝑁𝑖 𝑁𝑗 𝑁𝑘 ∅𝑗
∅𝑘

𝑥𝑗 𝑦𝑗 𝑥𝑘 𝑦𝑘 𝑥𝑖 𝑦𝑖
𝑎𝑖 = 𝑥 𝑦 , 𝑎𝑗 = 𝑥 𝑦𝑖 , 𝑎𝑘 = 𝑥 𝑦𝑗
𝑘 𝑘 𝑖 𝑗
1 𝑦𝑗 1 𝑦𝑘 1 𝑦𝑖
𝑏𝑖 = − , 𝑏𝑗 = − , 𝑏𝑘 = − 1 𝑦
1 𝑦𝑘 1 𝑦𝑖 𝑗
𝑥𝑗 1 𝑥𝑘 1 𝑥𝑖 1
𝑐𝑖 = − , 𝑐𝑗 = − , 𝑐𝑘 = − 𝑥 1
𝑥𝑘 1 𝑥𝑖 1 𝑗
▪ Properties of shape functions:
▪ 3 in number (one for each node)
▪ Each shape function calculates to 1 at its own node and 0 at the
other node
▪ The sum of the three shape functions at any point inside the
element is 1
Calculation of shape functions
𝑘 (55,60) EXAMPLE

𝑗 (70,50)

𝑖 (50,30)

Find shape functions for this simplex element

Calculation of shape functions

Practice:
Do EXAMPLE 4.1
3D simplex element

- -
Vector quantities
…Vector quantities

For 3D

EXAMPLE 4.5
p55
Axisymmetric element
Natural coordinates
▪ 1-D natural coordinates
▪ Geometry description

▪ So the same can be applied where integrations involving

shape function are required
▪ If the natural coordinates are raised to some power
Integration
EXAMPLE
…Natural coordinates
▪ 2-D natural coordinates
…Natural coordinates
▪ Formulae for easy integration:
Application
EXAMPLE
Conversion: natural to global coords.
p51 EXAMPLE
…Natural coordinates
▪ 3-D natural coordinates: p53/54
Conclusions
▪ The interpolation function describes how a field variable can be
approximated across a finite element
▪ Simplex elements with linear interpolation function
▪ Local coordinates simplify integration performed in the development of
system equations
▪ Scalar field variable and vector field variable
▪ Introduction to axisymmetric elements