CIVL491 Applied Finite Element Analysis for Civil Engineers

Practice Problem # 1
Introduction to the Finite Element Method:

Spring Elements

The basic concept of the finite element method stems from determining the global stiffness
matrix of a structural system, applying forces and solving for displacements. A structure built
of spring elements can provide a simple, yet instructive way to illustrate this basic concept.
In this assignment, for the spring assemblage shown, apply the finite element method
(manually) to determine the following response parameters:
A. The displacements of all nodes
B. The reaction forces
C. The internal forces in each spring

Then, develop the STRAND7 model to obtain:

D. A printout of the displacements of all nodes
E. A printout of the reaction forces

For the list of students and the problem parameters, see page 2.

Due: This is a non-assessable task

A/Prof Alex Remennikov

2
Results
Student
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

k1
(N/m)
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1100
1100
1100
1100
1100
1200
1200

k2
750
750
750
750
750
750
750
750
750
750
850
850

k3
500
600
700
800
500
600
700
800
500
600
700
800

F1 (N)
400
500
600
400
500
600
400
500
600
400
500
600

F2
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300

F3
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
300
300

Max d
0.46
0.35
0.28
0.44
0.38
0.31
0.43
0.35
0.34
0.43
0.41
0.35

Nax N
290.63
296.55
301.60
261.39
309.38
316.93
272.16
279.02
331.21
281.79
313.41
318.93

13
14
15
16
17
18
19

1200
1200
1200
1000
1000
1000
1000

850
850
850
850
850
850
850

500
600
700
800
500
600
700

400
500
600
400
500
600
400

300
300
300
300
300
300
300

300
300
300
300
300
300
300

0.56
0.46
0.38
0.46
0.53
0.44
0.48

319.67
325.54
330.61
318.87
333.52
337.11
309.44

20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

1000
1100
1100
1100
1100
1100
1200
1200
1200
1200
1200
1100

850
750
750
750
750
750
750
750
750
750
750
850

800
500
600
700
800
500
600
700
800
500
600
700

500
600
400
500
600
400
500
600
400
500
600
400

300
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400

300
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
300

0.39
0.46
0.66
0.56
0.48
0.70
0.55
0.46
0.61
0.56
0.45
0.67

303.45
390.75
340.58
346.59
351.79
352.60
360.71
365.75
323.71
374.19
378.57
352.03

32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45

1100
1100
1100
1100
1300
1300
1300
1300
1300
1100
1100
1100
1100
1100

850
850
850
850
850
850
850
850
850
750
750
750
750
750

800
500
600
700
800
500
600
700
800
600
700
800
500
600

500
600
400
500
400
500
600
400
500
500
600
400
500
600

400
400
400
400
300
300
300
300
300
400
400
400
400
400

300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
300
200
200
200
200
200

0.57
0.57
0.70
0.58
0.42
0.52
0.42
0.44
0.37
0.57
0.47
0.62
0.58
0.47

357.81
416.30
363.56
368.93
310.95
342.09
346.82
301.50
305.40
358.15
362.88
321.44
371.68
375.72