FEM REPORT

Submitted to: Dr. Faraz Akbar

Aisha Ahmed (AU-025)

Ali Abdullah Khan (AU-021)
Taha Ahmed Khan (AU-012)
Waleed Zain (AU-004)

JULY 12, 2017

AUTOMOTIVE DEPARTMENT
NED-UET
Introduction:
The iso-parametric formulation can be used to produce many types of useful elements and
makes it possible to generate elements that are non-rectangular and have curved sides. These
shapes have obvious uses in grading a mesh from coarse to fine, in modeling arbitrary shapes,
and in modeling curved boundaries. The isoparametric family includes elements for plane, solid,
plate and shell problems. There are also special elements for fracture mechanics and elements
for nonstructural problems.
Isoparametric formulations help us solve two kinds of problems. 1. They help simplify the
definition of the approximate displacement field for more complex planar elements (4-sided
elements, elements with curved edges ). 2. They significantly reduce the integration process
by ensuring that we always have integrals in terms of natural coordinates that are taken over
fixed bounds.
Use of the bar element makes gives relatively easy and simple approach for the understanding
of the Isoparametric Element Formulation technique. Because as it will lead the simple
expressions result. Then, we will consider the development of the isoparametric formulation of
the simple quadrilateral element stiffness matrix. Also. The term isoparametric has been
derived from the concept that using same shape functions (or interpolation functions) [N] to
define the geometry of the element as well as are used to define the displacements within the
element. Thus, when the interpolation function is u = a1 + a2s for the displacement, we use x =
a1 + a2s for the description of the nodal coordinate of a point on the bar element and, hence,
the physical shape of the element.

Advantages and Disadvantages:

The advantages of isoparametric elements include the ability to map more complex shapes and
have compatible geometries. In addition, there is no need to distinguish between straight and
curved boundaries of isoparametric elements. The disadvantages of isoparametric elements are
the possibility of poor (overstiff) performance of low order isoparametric elements and the
limited use of isoparametric elements for solving plate bending and shell problems. The
completeness condition for plate bending and shell problems (which have a higher variational
index, greater than 1) is not satisfied using isoparametric formulation.

Isoparametric Formulation for a Bar Element:

Isoparametric element equations are formulated by using a natural or intrinsic coordinate
system s which is defined by element geometry and not by orientation of the element in the
global cartesian co-ordinate system. In other words, axial coordinate s is attached to the bar
and remains directed along the axial length of the bar, regardless of how the bar is oriented in
space. There is a relationship known as transformation mapping between the natural
coordinate systems and the global catesian coordinate system x for each and every element of
a specific structure. Firstly the natural coordinate s is attached to the element with the origin
located at the center of the element. The s axis need not to be parallel to the x axis this is only
and only for the convenience. Consider the bar element to have two degrees of freedom-axial
displacements u1 and u2 at each node associated with the global x axis.

For the special case when the two axes s and xare parallel to each other, the s and x-
coordinates can be related and given by:
= + (/2)

Where xc is the global coordinate of the element centroid. Using the global coordinates x1 and
x2 in above equation with xc = x1 + x2, we can express the natural coordinate s in terms of the
global coordinates as

1 + 2
= [ ] [2/(2 1)]
2
The shape functions which is used to define a position within the bar element are found in a
similar manner to that of used previously to define displacement within a bar. Then we begin to
relate the natural coordinate system to the global cartesian coordinate system and given by,

= 1 + 2
= 1/2[(1 )1 + (1 + )2]
Shape functions used are,
N1=(1-s)/2 N2=(1+s)/2

The linear shape functions in above Eqs. map the s coordinate of any point in the element to
the x coordinate . For instance, when we substitute s =-1 into the equation we obtain x= x1.
These shape functions are shown where we may see that they have the same properties as
defined for the interpolation functions. Hence, N1 represents the physical shape of the
coordinate x when plotted over the length of the element for x1=1 and x2=0, and N2 represents
the coordinate x when plotted over the length of the element for x2=1 and x1=0. Again, we
must have N1+N2=1. These shape functions should be continuous throughout the element
domain. Also they must have finite first derivatives within the element. The displacement
function {u} within the bar is derived by using the same shape functions. The eqs are used to
define the element shape; that is,
1
{} = [1 2] { }
2

A SIMPLE ONE-DIMENSIONAL EXAMPLE:

To illustrate the fundamentals of the isoparametric approach, the one-dimensional, three-node element
shown in Figure is formulated in a natural coordinate reference system.
The shape functions Ni are written in terms of the element isoparametric reference system. The
"natural" coordinate s has a range of s=+-1.0 . The isoparametric and global reference systems
are related by the following elementary equation:

The validity of this equation can be verified at values of s=-1 ,s=0 and s=1 . No additional
mathematical references are required to understand Equation;
The global displacement can now be expressed in terms of the fundamental isoparametric
shape functions. Or:

Note that the sum of the shape functions is equal to 1.0 for all values of s ; therefore, rigid-body
displacement of the element is possible. This is a fundamental requirement of all displacement
approximations for all types of finite elements. The strain-displacement equation for this one-
dimensional element is

You may recall from sophomore calculus that this is a form of the chain rule. For any value of s
the following equations can be written:
Therefore:

The derivatives with respect to the global and isoparametric reference systems are related by:

The 3 by 3 element stiffness can now be expressed in terms of the natural system:

In general, Above equation cannot be evaluated in closed form. However, it can be accurately
evaluated by numerical integration.

Rectangular Plane Stress Element:

We can also develop the rectangular plane stress element stiffness matrix. Two advantages of
the rectangular element over the triangular element are ease of data input and simpler
interpretation of output stresses. A disadvantage of the rectangular element is that the simple
1inear~displacement rectangle with its associated straight sides poorly approximates the real
boundary condition edges.

Step 1 Select Element Type

Consider the rectangular element (all interior ang1es are 90) with comer nodes 1-4 (again
labeled counterclockwise) and base and height dimensions 2b and 2h. respectively.The
unknown nodal displacements are now given by
Step 2 Select Displacement Functions
For a compatible displacement field, the element displacement functions u and v must be linear
along each edge because only two points (the corner nodes) exist along each edge. We then
select the linear displacement functions as:

u(x,y)=a1+a2x+a3y+a4xy
v(x,y)=a5+a6x+a7y+a8xy
We can proceed in the usual manner to eliminate the a/s from Eqs. To obtain

These displacement expressions, Eqs. can be expressed equivalently in terms of the shape
functions and unknown nodal displacements as

{}=[N]{d}
where the shape functions are given by

and the Nis are again such that N1=1 at node 1 and N1 = 0 at all the other nodes, with similar
requirements for the other shape functions. In expanded form,Eqs becomes

Step 3 Define the Strain} Displacement and Stress} Strain

Relationships again the element strains for the two-dimensional stress state are given by

Using above equation and taking the derivatives of u and v as indicated, we can express the
strains in terms of the unknown nodal displacements as:

{e} = [B]{d}
Where,

Step 4 Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix and Equations

The stiffness matrix is determiried by .

Necessity of Isoparametric Formulation:

The two or three dimensional elements discussed till now are of regular geometry (e.g.
triangular and rectangular element) having straight edge. Hence, for the analysis of any
irregular geometry, it is difficult to use such elements directly. For example, the continuum
having curve boundary as shown in the (a) has been discretized into a mesh of finite elements
in three ways as shown.
The figure presents a possible mesh using triangular elements. Though, triangular elements can
suitable approximate the circular boundary of the continuum, but the elements close to the
center becomes slender and hence affect the accuracy of finite element solutions. One possible
solution to the problem is to reduce the height of each row of elements as we approach to the
center. But, unnecessary refining of the continuum generates relatively large number of
elements and thus increases computation time. Alternatively, when meshing is done using
rectangular as shown in (c), the area of continuum excluded from the finite element model is
significantly adequate to provide incorrect results. In order to improve the accuracy of the
result one can generate mesh using very small elements. But, this will significantly increase the
computation time. Another possible way is to use a combination of both rectangular and
triangular elements. But such types of combination may not provide the best solution in terms
of accuracy, since different order polynomials are used to represent the field variables for
different types of elements. Also the triangular elements may be slender and thus can affect
the accuracy. In figure d, the same continuum is discretized with rectangular elements near
center and with four node quadrilateral elements near boundary. This four-node quadrilateral
element can be derived from rectangular elements using the concept of mapping. Using the
concept of mapping regular triangular, rectangular or solid elements in natural coordinate
system (known as parent element) can be transformed into global Cartesian coordinate system
having arbitrary shapes (with curved edge or surfaces). The figure shows the parent elements in
natural coordinate system and the mapped elements in global Cartesian system.
Coordinate Transformation:
The geometry of an element may be expressed in terms of the interpolation functions as
follows.
X=N1 x1+N2x2++Nnxn
Y= N1y1+N2y2+Nnyn
Z=N1y1+N2y2+Nnyn
Where, n=No. of Nodes
N =Interpolation Functions
x ,y ,z =Coordinates of Nodal Points of the Element
One can also express the field variable variation in the element as
 () N()
As the same shape functions are used for both the field variable and description of element
geometry, the method is known as isoparametric mapping. The element defined by such a
method is known as an isoparametric element. This method can be used to transform the
natural coordinates of a point to the Cartesian coordinate system and vice versa.

Example:
The Cartesian coordinate of the point P (= 0.8, = 0.9) as shown in Fig:

As described above, the relation between two coordinate systems can be represented through
their interpolation functions. Therefore, the values of the interpolation function at point P will
be:

Thus the coordinate of point P in Cartesian coordinate system can be calculated as

Thus the coordinate of point P (= 0.8, = 0.9) in Cartesian coordinate system will be 3.275,
3.73. Solid isoparametric elements can easily be formulated by the extension of the procedure
followed for 2-D elements. Regardless of the number of nodes or possible curvature of edges,
the solid element is just like a plane element which is mapped into the space of natural co-
ordinates, i.e,

Concept of Jacobian Matrix:

A variety of derivatives of the interpolation functions with respect to the global coordinates are
necessary to formulate the element stiffness matrices. As the both element geometry and
variation of the shape functions are represented in terms of the natural coordinates of the
parent element,some additional mathematical obstacle arises. For example, in case of
evaluation of the strain vector, the operator matrix is with respect to x and y, but the
interpolation function is with and . Therefore, the operator matrix is to be transformed for
taking derivative with and . The relationship between two coordinate systems may be
computed by using the chain rule of partial differentiation as

The above equations can be expressed in matrix form as well.

[J] is known as the Jacobian Matrix for three dimensional case. Putting above and simplifying
one can get
One can also find the following expression,