Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method Chapter 2.
Bar and Beam Elements
FE Analysis of Frame Structures
Members in a frame are considered to be rigidly connected.
Both forces and moments can be transmitted through their
joints. We need the general beam element (combinations of bar
and simple beam elements) to model frames.
Example 2.8
Y 500 lb/ft
3000 lb 1 2
1
8 ft
E, I, A 2 3
3 4 X
12 ft
Given: E = 30 ×106 psi, I = 65 in.4 , A = 6.8 in.2
Find: Displacements and rotations of the two joints 1 and 2.
Solution:
For this example, we first convert the distributed load to its
equivalent nodal loads.
© 1998 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati 68
Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method Chapter 2. Bar and Beam Elements
3000 lb 3000 lb
72000 lb-in.
3000 lb 1 1 2 72000 lb-in.
2 3
3 4
In local coordinate system, the stiffness matrix for a general 2-D
beam element is
ui vi θi uj vj θj
EA 0 0 −
EA
0 0
L L
12 EI 6 EI 12 EI 6 EI
0 3
0 −
L L2 L3 L2
0 6 EI 4 EI 6 EI 2 EI
0 − 2
k= L2 L L L
EA EA
− L 0 0
L
0 0
12 EI 6 EI 12 EI 6 EI
0 − 3
− 0 − 2
L L2 L3 L
0 6 EI 2 EI 6 EI 4 EI
0 − 2
L2 L L L
© 1998 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati 69
Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method Chapter 2. Bar and Beam Elements
Element Connectivity Table
Element Node i (1) Node j (2)
1 1 2
2 3 1
3 4 2
For element 1, we have
u1 v1 θ1 u2 v2 θ2
1417
. 0 0 − 1417 . 0 0
0 0.784 56.4 0 − 0.784 56.4
0 56.4 5417 0 − 56.4 2708
k 1 = k 1 ' = 10 ×
4
− 1417. 0 0 1417. 0 0
0 − 0.784 − 56.4 0 0.784 − 56.4
0 56.4 2708 0 − 56.4 5417
For elements 2 and 3, we have the stiffness matrix in local
system,
ui ' vi ' θi ' uj ' vj ' θj '
212.5 0 0 − 212.5 0 0
0 2.65 127 0 − 2.65 127
0 127 8125 0 − 127 4063
k 2 ' = k 3 ' = 104 ×
− 212.5 0 0 212 .5 0 0
0 − 2.65 − 127 0 2.65 − 127
0 127 4063 0 − 127 8125
© 1998 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati 70
Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method Chapter 2. Bar and Beam Elements
where i=3, j=1 for element 2 and i=4, j=2 for element 3.
In general, the transformation matrix T is,
l m 0 0 0 0
− m l 0 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 0 0
T=
0 0 0 l m 0
0 0 0 − m l 0
0 0 0 0 0 1
We have
l = 0, m = 1
for both elements 2 and 3. Thus,
0 1 0 0 0 0
− 1 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 0 0
T=
0 0 0 0 1 0
0 0 0 − 1 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 1
Using the transformation relation,
k = TT k ' T
we obtain the stiffness matrices in the global coordinate system
for elements 2 and 3,
© 1998 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati 71
Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method Chapter 2. Bar and Beam Elements
u3 v3 θ3 u1 v1 θ1
2.65 0 − 127 − 2.65 0 − 127
0 212.5 0 0 − 212.5 0
− 127 0 8125 127 0 4063
k 2 = 104 ×
− 2.65 0 127 2.65 0 127
0 − 212.5 0 0 212.5 0
− 127 0 4063 127 0 8125
and
u4 v4 θ4 u2 v2 θ2
2.65 0 − 127 − 2.65 0 − 127
0 212.5 0 0 − 212.5 0
− 127 0 8125 127 0 4063
k 3 = 10 4 ×
− 2.65 0 127 2.65 0 127
0 − 212.5 0 0 212.5 0
− 127 0 4063 127 0 8125
Assembling the global FE equation and noticing the following
boundary conditions,
u3 = v3 = θ3 = u4 = v4 = θ4 = 0
F1 X = 3000 lb, F2 X = 0, F1Y = F2Y = − 3000 lb,
M 1 = − 72000 lb ⋅in., M 2 = 72000 lb ⋅in.
we obtain the condensed FE equation,
© 1998 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati 72
Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method Chapter 2. Bar and Beam Elements
144.3 0 127 − 1417 . 0 0 u1
0 213.3 56.4 0 − 0.784 56.4 v1
127 56.4 13542 0 − 56.4 2708 θ1
4
10 × u
− .
1417 0 0 144 .3 0 127 2
0 − 0.784 − 56.4 0 213.3 − 56.4 v2
0 56.4 2708 127 − 56.4 13542θ2
3000
− 3000
− 72000
=
0
− 3000
72000
Solving this, we get
u1 0.092 in.
v − 0.00104 in.
1
θ1 − 0.00139 rad
=
u
2 0.0901 in.
v2 − 0.0018 in.
−5
θ
2 − .
388 ×10 rad
To calculate the reaction forces and moments at the two ends,
we employ the element FE equations for element 2 and element
3. We obtain,
© 1998 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati 73
Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method Chapter 2. Bar and Beam Elements
F3 X − 672.7 lb
F3Y = 2210 lb
M 60364 lb ⋅in.
3
and
F4 X − 2338 lb
F4Y = 3825 lb
M 112641 lb ⋅in.
4
Check the results:
Draw the free-body diagram of the frame. Equilibrium is
maintained with the calculated forces and moments.
3000 lb 3000 lb
72000 lb-in.
3000 lb
72000 lb-in.
112641 lb-in.
60364 lb-in.
672.7 lb 2338 lb
2210 lb 3825 lb
Read Section 2.7 on page 33.
© 1998 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati 74
