FINITE ELEMENT METHODS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

IV YEAR B-Tech. CIVIL I-SEMESTER 2008

UNIT # I: APPROXIMATING THE SOLUTION FOR SIMPLY

SUPPORTED BEAM

First step - Assume any approximate mathematical function to the deflection-curve that
satisfies the boundary conditions; such as, y = 0, when x = 0, and y = 0, when x = l.

x 3x ------------------------------------------------(a)
y = a1 sin + a 2 sin
l l

Rayleigh-Ritzs method (minimum potential energy method) - steps:

From elementary strength of materials, the Strain Energy, U, of the beam due to bending
is
2
EI
l
d2y
U=
2 0 dx 2 dx
2
EI
l
2 a1 x 9 2 a 2 3x
U=
2 0 l 2
sin
l
2 sin
l
dx
l

EI
l
4 a12 2 x 81 4 a 2 2 2 3x 18 4 a1a 2 x 3x
U=
2 0 l 4
sin
l
+
l 4
sin
l
+
l 4
sin sin
l
dx
l
 EI
l
4 a12 1 2x 81 4 a 2 2 1 6x 18 4 a1a 2 1 2x 4x
U=
2 0 l 4 2 1 cos l + l 4 2 1 cos l + l 4 2 cos l cos l dx

EI 4 a1 2 1 l
l
2x 81 4 a 2 2 1 l
l
6x 18 4 a1a 2 1 l 2x l 4x
l

U= 4 x sin + x sin + sin sin

2 l 2 2 l 0 l 4 2 6 l 0 l 4 2 2 l 4 l 0

EI 4 2
U=
4l 3
(
a1 + 81a 2 2 ) ------------------------------------------------(b)

The potential energy, H, due to loads is given by,

l
H = q. y.dx
0

l
x 3x
H = q. a1 sin + a 2 sin .dx
0 l l
l
x l 3x l
H = q.a1. cos . + a 2. cos .
l l 3 0

l l l l
H = q a1. + + a 2. +
3 3

2.q.l a2
H = a1 + ------------------------------------------------(c)
3

The total potential energy, , of the beam is

=U+H ------------------------------------------------(d)

EI 4 2 2.q.l a2
=
4l 3
(
a1 + 81a 2 2

) a1 +
3
------------------------------------------------(e)

From Rayleigh-Ritzs method, Potential energy must be minimum for stable-equilibrium

state. Hence,

=0 =0
a1 a 2

Applying =0 and =0 conditions to equation (e), we get,
a1 a 2

EI 4 2ql ------------------------------------------------(g)
3
a1 =0
2l

81EI 4 2ql ------------------------------------------------(h)

3
a2 =0
2l 3

Arranging the above equations (g) and (h) into matrix form:

EI 4 2ql
3 0 a1
2l 4 =
0 81EI a 2 2ql
2l 3 3

[K][U]=[F]
Solving the above for a1 and a2 and then substituting them in eq. (a).

ql 4
Maximum deflection (i.e., at l/2) is y max = a1 a 2 = 76.82 EI

This maximum deflection coincides with the exact value that is from elementary strength
of materials y max = 5 ql 4
384 EI