Truss Element

Outline

Introduction to 2-D FE Analysis

Truss Bar problem
2-D Cantilever problem
Frame element

Objectives
Understand what truss element is and its degree of

freedom
Understandhow to develop the transformation matrix
Know how to formulate the stiffness matrix of truss
element

CAE (FEM) Syllabus Structure

1-D
Problem
1-D element
-spring
-bar

2-D
Problem
1-D element
-Truss
-Beam
-Frame

2-D element
-Linear
-Quadratic

Why 2-D Analysis?

Two-dimensional analysis allows us to

determine detailed information concerning
deformation, stress and strain, within a
complex shaped two-dimensional elastic body.

Introduction
In 1-D problems, we have equations in 1-D axis
x
Force

In x-Dir.

Force1
Force2

In the bar longitudinal-Dir.

Force

In y-Dir.

Introduction
E1

E2

100 N

Cantilever
(Variable or constant area)
In all 1-D cases, we applied one equilibrium principles
at two node for each element.
And we have obtained 2 equations for each
Element.

force

Metal plate with cut

Introduction
As a reminder:
For a 1-D , the 2 equilibrium equations
are written in local element coordinates as:
u1e

u2e

ke

F1e 1e

2e

F2e

Element e

k e ( u1e u e2 ) F1e
k e ( u1e u e2 ) F2e

And transferred to Matrix, as:

[ Ke ]

{ue} {Fe}

k e k e u1e

e
k e u 2
k

F1e
e
F2

Introduction
Step from
1-D to 2-D
From local coordinates to Global Coordinates
x ` Local coordinates

Directed according
to the element direction

Y
y`
Global coordinates
Fixed in space

X
Look, now for each node we will write 2 equilibrium equations
Hence, For each element, they will be 4 equations

Introduction

Original before
deformation
After
deformation

2-D Stress Analysis

In 1-D analysis, assuming small displacements and
elastic material behavior we have:

a) A strain-displacement eqn.,
and,
b) A stress-strain eqn.
(1D Hookes Law)

L L0 du

L0
dx

Question: What is the 2-D or 3-D form of these equations?

2-D FE Analysis
Three cases will be considered under
the 2-D simulation :
Truss Problem
Beam Problem
Frame Problem

2-D Truss Bar Problem

Definition: Truss
An engineering structure consisting of straight members

connected at their ends by means of bolts, rivets, pins or

welding
Tension and compression capability only (no bending).

Degree of Freedom
Truss has tension and compression capability
No bending
Therefore, in 2-D problem, truss element has 2 dof at

each node
Displacements in x and y directions
U2y

node 1

U1y

ke
q

U1x

node 2
U2
x

Truss Bar Problem

A truss structure consists only of two-force members:
direct tension and compression.

Typical plane 2-D trusses

Truss Bar Problem

What is the size of the element stiffness matrix for a 2-D
truss element?
U2y
node 2

F2x
ke
node 1

U1y

U2x
F2y

F1x
U1x
F1y

The element stiffness matrix is now a 4 x 4 instead of

a 2 x 2 in 1-D analysis, because each node can now
move in the x- or y- direction. In this case each node
has 2 DOFs.

Truss Bar Problem

U2y
F2x

ke
node 1

U1y

node 2
U2x
F2y

F1x

U1x

The four nodal equilibrium

equations for the element can be
written in matrix form as:

F1y

k11
Where k11, , k44 are sixteen k
unknown stiffness coefficients 21
k 31
to be determined.

k 41

k12
k 22
k 32
k 42

k13
k 23
k 33
k 43

k14 U1x F1x

U F
k 24 1y 1y

k 34 U2x F2x

k 44 U2y F2y

Truss Bar Problem

x

X
4(= 0)

1
X
Y
X

2 (= 90)
X

Since there are many cases, I need to generalize

Truss Bar Problem

There are two frames of references for the truss problems:
Global coordinate system (X,Y)
Local coordinate system (x, y)
1. Choose the global (X,Y) system to represent the
location of each joint (or, node).
2. Track the orientation of each member (or, element)
by angle, .
3. Write the transformation of the displacement from
local to global

UiY

Uiy

i
X

UjX = ujx cos - ujy sin

UjY = ujx sin + ujy cos

UiX

UiX

UiX = uix cos - uiy sin

UiY = uix sin + uiy cos

Truss Bar Problem

UjY
j

UiY

Displacements of nodes
UjX

UjX = ujx cos - ujy sin

UjY = ujx sin + ujy cos

UiX UiX = uix cos - uiy sin

UiY = uix sin + uiy cos

X
In Matrix form: {U}=[T]{u}

Local displacements in Global CS

U iX uix cos q uiy sin q 0 0
U iY uix sin q uiy cos q 0 0
U jX 0 0 u jx cos q u jy sin q
U jX 0 0 u jx sin q u jy cos q
These linearequations can be written in matrix form;
U iX cos q
U
iY sin q

U
jX 0
U jX 0

sin q

cos q

cos q

sin q

uix

0 uiy

sin q u jx

cos q u jy
0

[T] is called the transformation matrix

=> {U}=[T]{u}

Truss Bar Problem

Is it only the displacement can be analyzed at the nodes??

The forces can be analyzed as well

Truss Bar Problem

Forces at nodes

FjY
j

FiY

FjX

FjX = fjx cos - fjy sin

FjY = fjx sin + fjy cos

FiX FiX = fix cos - fiy sin

FiY = fix sin + fiy cos

X
In Matrix form: {F}=[T]{f}

Similar to displacement
U iX uix cos q uiy sin q 0 0
U iY uix sin q uiy cos q 0 0
FjX 0 0 f jx cos q f jy sin q
FjX 0 0 f jx sin q f jy cos q
These linearequations can be written in matrix form;
FiX cos q
F
iY sin q

FjX 0

F
jX 0

sin q

cos q

cos q

sin q

f ix

0 f iy

sin q f jx

cos q
f jy

[T] is called the transformation matrix

=> {F}=[T]{f}

Truss Bar Problem

Direction cosines?

l cos q
2
le

x2 x1 2 y2 y1 2

le

y
1
(x1,y1)

(x2,y2)

y2-y1

x2-x1
x

then

y2 y1
m cos
sin q
le

x2 x1
l cos q
le

m sin q

Now, the Transformation matrix becomes

cos q
sin q
T
0

sin q

cos q

cos q

sin q

0
l m 0
0 m
l
0
0

sin q 0
0
l m

cos q 0
0 m
l
0

Local force-stiffness-displacement
matrices
For 1-d problem:

f ix k k uix
f
u

jx k k jx

k is defined as equivalent
stiffness
k

EA
L

For 2-d problem:

f ix k
f
iy 0
f jx k

f jy 0

f ix 1
f
iy k 0
f jx 1

f jy 0

0 k 0 uix
u

0 0 0 iy
0 k 0 u jx

0 0 0 u jy

0 1 0 uix

0 0 0 uiy
0 1 0 u jx

0 0 0 u jy

Truss Bar Problem

We want to relate the forces to the deformation by using the spring eqn.
What is the element (spring) equation?

f=k.u
If we have multi forces, multi displacements in the same element,
it should be written in matrix format
Remember: this is
in local coordinates
But, we have
{f}=[T]{F}

{f}= [k] {u}

&

{u}=[T]{U}

Truss Bar Problem

Compensate for {f} and {u}, getting:
[T]{F} = [k] [T]{U}

Multiply both sides by [T], getting:

{F} = [T][k] [T]{U}

where, [T][k] [T]= [K] , element stiffness matrix

This will result in the general 2-D element relation, as

Truss Bar Problem

{F} = [K] {U}

Force matrix

FiX
FiY
FjX
FjY

l2
lm

2
lm
m
= k
l 2 lm

lm m 2

lm
2
lm m
l2
lm

2
lm
m
l2

Element stiffness matrix

Ee Ae
le

Displacement
matrix

UiX
UiY
UjX
UjY

Truss Bar Problem

Reactions and Stresses
After getting the forces and displacements, Further information:

the Reaction forces

From the equilibrium equation applied on the element,
R = ku f
Generally, for set of elements with 2-D,

{R} = [K]{U} {F}

the Stresses in the element
From the definition of the stress

e = fe /Ae = ke u / Ae = ke (ui uj)e / Ae

Reaction forces

R K U F
G

R1 X
R
1Y
R2 X

R
2
Y

R3 X

R
3Y
R4 X

R
4Y
R
5X
R5Y

G
K

U1x F1x
U F
1y 1y
U 2 x F2 x

U
2
y
F2 y

U 3 x F3 x

U
3 y F3 y
U 4 x F4 x

U
4 y F4 y
U F
5x 5x
U 5 y F5 y

Stress in each element

=

( )
( )

= =
=

( )
=

=
= 1

cos

sin
=

sin
cos
0
0

0
0
0
0
cos sin
sin cos

Any questions?
Transformation matrix
Directional cosines
Element stiffness matrix (for Truss)

Truss Bar Problem

UjX = ujx cos - ujy sin
UjY = ujx sin + ujy cos
UiX = uix cos - uiy sin
UiY = uix sin + uiy cos

In Matrix form:
{U}=[T]{u}
or {u}=[T]{U}

The 4 displacement equations

can be re-written as
m ujy

UjX = l ujx
UjY = m ujx + l ujy
UiX = l uix - m uiy
UiY = m uix + l uiy

In Matrix form, still same:

{U}=[T]{u}
or {u}=[T]{U}

Truss Bar Problem

FjX = fjx cos - fjy sin
FjY = fjx sin + fjy cos
FiX = fix cos - fiy sin
FiY = fix sin + fiy cos

In Matrix form:

{F}=[T]{f}

or {f}=[T]{F}

The 4 force equations

are re-written as
m fjy

FjX = l fjx
FjY = m fjx + l fjy
FiX = l fix - m fiy
FiY = m fix + l fiy

In Matrix form, still same:

{F}=[T]{f}
or

{f}=[T]{F}