THEORY QUESTIONS ECS555 model from moving freely through space.

OCT2010

1. Question 4

a) Plane stress is defined to be a state of stress in which the normal

stress and the shear stresses directed perpendicular to the plane
are assumed to be zero. That is the normal stress shear stress
are assumed to be zero. Generally, members that are thin with a
small dimension of z direction and whose loads act only in the x-y JAN2012
plane can be considered to be under plane stress.
5. Question 5
b) Plane strains is defined to be a state of strain in which the strain
normal to the x-y plane and the shear strain x-z and y-z are b) same with APR2007 a)
assumed to be zero. Realistic if the bodies of element is long in z
direction with constant cross section area subjected to loads only c) Define the term matrix
in x-y direction and not vary at z direction.
i. A matrix is a collection of numbers arranged into a fixed
number or rows and collumns. Usually the numbers are
real numbers. In general, matrices can contain complex
JUN2012 numbers.

2. Same with 0CT2010

a) Example of application of plane stress in FEA APR2011

i. Deep beams 6. Question 4

ii. Plate with holes a) General steps of the Finite Element Method in structural stress
analysis:
b) Examples of application of plane strain in FEA
i. Discretization
i. Dams
ii. Select displacement function
ii. Long underground box culvert
iii. Define stress/displacement and stress/strain relationship

iv. Derive the element stiffness and equations

APR2007
v. Assemble the element equation to obtain global equation
3. Differences between 2-D truss and beam elements
vi. Introduce boundary condition
a) Truss
vii. Solve DOE
i. Deformation occurs only in longitudinal and horizontal axis
at each node viii. Solve the strain and stress

ii. Each node has only 2 displacement ix. Interpret result

iii. Not consider bending deformation

JUN2014

b) Beam 7. Question 3

i. Deformation occurs in terms of vertical and rotation at each c) Advantages of FEM

node
i. Can readily handle very complex geometry
ii. Each node has only 2 displacement
ii. Can handle a wide variety of engineering problem
iii. Consider bending deformation
1. Solid mechanics

2. Fluids

4. Explain this terms and sketch 3. dynamic

a) Discretization iii. Can handle complex restraints

i. Divide the body into an equivalent system of finite element 1. Indeterminate structures
with associated nodes.
iv. Can handle complex loading
ii. Choose the appropriate element type to model the body
that have similar physical behaviour 1. Nodal load

iii. Elements such as 1-D, 2-D (plane stress/strain) or 3-D 2. Element load

b) Boundary condition Disadvantages of FEM

i. Stimulate the actual supports of the structure whether i. Obtain only approximate solutions
simply supported, fixed or roller support.
ii. Contain errors after run the analysis
ii. This boundary condition will prevent the finite element
iii. Mistakes by users can be fatal (rubbish in rubbish out)
OCT2007

8. Question 4

a) Same with APR2011 a)

OCT2008

9. Question 4

a) Same with JUN2014 c)

b) Small and large elements in the discretization stage:

i. When the aspect ratio increase, the inaccuracy increases.

ii. Finer subdivision of elements reduce the cost and

computer cost

iii. The small subdivision will increase accuracy but not to

small because the condition will cause ill-conditioned
stiffness matrix