Department of Mechanical

Engineering, SUIT, Peshawar

Course: CAD/CAM
Semester: 7th
Lecturer: Engr. Mian M. Asim Zahir

Lecture 5:
Finite Element Method

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this lecture, you will be
able to:
Define what is Finite Element Method?
Understand Finite Element Method with the
help of an example

Finite Element Method

Finite Element Method (FEM) is a numerical technique
used to obtain solution to a large class of engineering
problems involving stress analysis, heat transfer and fluid
flow.
The method involves dividing the geometrical model of
the structure into very small, simple pieces called finite
elements, connected by nodes.
The procedure leads to the set of simultaneous algebraic
equations with the nodal values being unknown.
Basic steps in FEM are explained with the help of the
following example:

Finite Element Method Example

Consider a bar with variable crosssection area supporting a load P, as
shown in figure 1. The bar is fixed at one
end and carries the load P at the other
end. Let us designate the width of the
bar at the top by w1, the width of the
bar at the bottom by w2, thickness by
t, and its length by L. The bar modulus
of elasticity is denoted by E. We are
interested in determining how much the
bar will deflect at various points along
its length due to applied load P. Weight
of bar is negligible compared to applied
load.

Figure 1: A bar under

axial loading

Step 1: Divide the object into finite

elements and nodes
We begin by subdividing the problem into nodes
and elements. In order to keep this problem
simple, thus represent it by a model that has four
elements and five nodes as shown in figure 2.

The accuracy of the result can be increased by

generating a model with additional nodes and
elements, but it will increase the calculation
effort.

Divide the object into elements and nodes

Node 1

A1

Node 2

Element 1
A2

Node 3

Element 2
A3

Node 4
Node 5

l1
l2
l3

Element 3
A4
Element 4
A5

l4

PP
Figure 2: Dividing the bar into four elements and five nodes
Where l1 ,l2, l3, l4 shows the lengths of element 1,2,3 and 4 respectively.
A1, A2, A3, A4 ,, A5 shows the areas of element at nodes 1,2,3,4 and 5.

Representation of elements stiffness as spring

stiffness

Where u1 ,u2, u3, u4, u5 shows the deformation at nodes 1,2,3,4 and 5
respectively.

Finding elements stiffness

The force at nodes i and i+1 is denoted by fi and fi+1.
Force= stiffness x change in length
So,
fi = keq (ui ui+1)
fi+1 = keq (ui+1 ui)

Writing the above equation in matrix form

Each Element Stiffness Matrix

Each Element Stiffness Matrix

The stiffness matrix for each elements is as follow:

Step 2: Evaluate Global Stiffness Matrix

Global stiffness matrix is determined by adding or
assembling together each element position in Global
stiffness matrix.
Global stiffness matrix
[K](G) = [K](1G) + [K](2G) + [K](3G) + [K](4G)

Where [K](1G) denotes the position of element 1 in Global

stiffness matrix. Similarly [K](2G) denotes the position of
element 2 in Global stiffness matrix and so on.
The size of Global stiffness matrix depends upon no. of
nodes. In this example, there are five nodes, so the size of
Global stiffness matrix is 5 x 5.

Position of Each Element Stiffness Matrix in

Global Stiffness Matrix

Finding Global Stiffness Matrix

The global stiffness matrix is determined by assembling together
each element position in Global stiffness matrix.
[K](G) = [K](1G) + [K](2G) + [K](3G) + [K](4G)

[K](G) =

Finite Element formulation

The finite element formulation always lead to the
following general form:
[Global Stiffness Matrix] {Displacement Matrix} = {Load Matrix}

Applying Boundary Condition

Since the bar is fixed at the top and node 1 lies on
the top surface, the deformation of node 1 is zero.
Here boundary condition is u1=0, when applied to the
Global stiffness matrix, the first row changes as
follow.

Step 3: Solve system of algebraic equations

Next step is to solve the system of algebraic
equations that are to be obtained from the matrices
in the previous step.
In order to do so, first the values of k1 k2 k3 and k4 are
to be found.
Formula for stiffness is

For variable cross-section area of bar, average

area of the element is taken at nodes.

Where Ai+1 and Ai shows the areas at nodes i+1 and i.

E is modulus of elasticity. l is length of an element.

Finding areas

Area is changing vertically downwards

according to the function,
A(y) =0.25- 0.0125 y
A1 is (Area at node 1, located at y=0 in)

A (0) = 0.25- 0.0125(0) = 0.25 in2

A2 is (Area at node 2, located at y=2.5 in)
A (2.5) = 0.25- 0.0125(2.5) = 0.21875 in 2
A3 is (Area at node 3, located at y=5 in)
A (5.0) = 0.25- 0.0125(5.0) = 0.1875 in2
A4 is (Area at node 4, located at y=7.5 in)
A (7.5) = 0.25- 0.0125(7.5) = 0.15625 in 2
A5 is (Area at node 5, located at y=10 in)
A (10) = 0.25- 0.0125(10) = 0.125 in2

Finding stiffness values

For variable cross-section area

Converting matrix form into equation form and

Entering solving
values in Global stiffness matrix
the values
stiffness,
k1 kinto
2 k3 and
k4 in globaland
stiffness
Put
Convert
theofmatrix
form
equations,
solve
matrix.
the algebraic equations simultaneously.

By solving , the values are

u1 = 0
Solving the aboveu2 = 0.001026 in the values ofequation will
give
deformation at nodes,0.0022104in u5.u3 = u2, u3 , u and
u4 = 0.003608 in
[Global Stiffness
{Displacement
Matrix} = {Load Matrix}
u5 =Matrix]
0.005317
in
In this example, value of load is 1000 lb applied at node 5.