Finite

Element
Method
By the

Direct Stiffness Method (DSM)

Engr Y. K. Galadima

NOTE
The subscript notations adopted in this
presentation are slightly different from those
used in the lecture notes
This presentation may contain error

General Procedure
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1.

Idealisation

2 , 2
2 , 2

2
1
1

2
3

1 , 1

1 , 1

3
4

3 , 3

3 , 3

4 , 4

4 , 4

Idealisation simply
means creating a
mathematical
model of the
physical system
by making
necessary
assumptions

General Procedure
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2.

Discretisation (decomposition) (2.4.2.2)

a)

Disconnection (2.4.2.2.1)

4
3

The local or element

axes are denoted by
and
The local coordinate
system is selected
such that the
axis aligned with the
longitudinal axis of
the element
The global
coordinate axes are
denoted by and

General Procedure
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2. Discretisation (decomposition) (2.4.2.2)
b) Localisation/isolation (2.4.2.2.2)

Pre-processing
2. Discretisation (decomposition) (2.4.2.2)
b) Localisation/isolation (2.4.2.2.2)

We will use this

element as a generic
element to derive the
stiffness equations for
the truss elements

General Procedure

Pre-processing
2. Discretisation (decomposition) (2.4.2.2)

c) Derivation of Member Stiffness Equations (2.4.2.2.3)

= cos 90

General Procedure

Pre-processing
2. Discretisation (decomposition) (2.4.2.2)
c) Derivation of Member Stiffness Equations (2.4.2.2.3)

General Procedure
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2. Discretisation (decomposition) (2.4.2.2)

c) Derivation of Member Stiffness Equations (2.4.2.2.3)
No shear for truss elements, hence

0
=

0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0

General Procedure
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2. Discretisation (decomposition) (2.4.2.2)

c) Derivation of Member Stiffness Equations (2.4.2.2.3)

Now the task is to find expressions

for the INFLUENCE
COEFFICIENTS , ,
and

General Procedure
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2.

Discretisation (decomposition) (2.4.2.2)

c) Derivation of Member Stiffness Equations (2.4.2.2.3)

Hence

General Procedure

Pre-processing
2. Discretisation (decomposition) (2.4.2.2)
c) Derivation of Member Stiffness Equations (2.4.2.2.3)

1 0 1 0
0 0
0 0
=
1 0 1 0
0 0 0 0

General Procedure
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3. Globalisation (2.4.2.3)

General Procedure
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3. Globalisation: Force field
expressing the joint forces wrt their components in the
global coordinate gives

= cos + sin
= sin + cos
And

= cos + sin
= sin + cos

General Procedure
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3. Globalisation: Force field

0 0

0 0
=

0 0

0 0

Or in short notation
=

General Procedure
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3. Globalisation: Displacement field

0 0

0 0
= 0 0

0 0
Or in short notation
=

General Procedure
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3. Globalisation: substituting the
expressions for and will give
= 1

Or
=

General Procedure
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3. Globalisation: if we write the
relationship btw the nodal forces in the
global coordinate system and their
corresponding displacement as

=
Then

General Procedure
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3. Globalisation: comparing the last two
expression shows that

=
Thus

General Procedure
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3. Globalisation
=

0 0
0 0

0
0

0
0

1
0
1
0

0
0
0
0

1
0
1
0

0
0
0
0

0 0
0 0

0 0
0 0

General Procedure
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3. Globalisation

=
2
2

Is the global stiffness matrix

General Procedure
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3. Globalisation: thus the global stiffness matrix for
the element becomes
2
2
2
2

General Procedure
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3. Globalisation: therefore, for the
element, the global stiffness equation is

I think we should take a break here

Questions

???