AF.1.

FEM General Theory

CAE2 (20 points)

The following questions have 4 possible answers, but only one is correct. The answers must be
filled in the associated quiz, and a report explaining how the answers are obtained has to be
sent.

Exercise 1:

The following structure, which is used to support a heavy load, is given:

There are five beams, numbered from 1 to 5, that are supported by two ties whose ends are
articulated (they are free to rotate). All the beams have the same elastic modulus E, moment
of inertia I and cross area A, and the ties have an elastic modulus ET and cross area AT. The
length of beams 1, 2 and 4 is L, and the length of beams 3 and 5 and the two ties is √2𝐿. The
structure has a distributed load equal to P/L on the beams 1 and 4 and an increment of
temperature applied to beam 2.

1. The structure can be simplified by means of the symmetry properties and considering
the ties as a spring. Which one is the proper simplification? (1 point)
a.

b.
 c.

d.

2. What is the value of A’2, the beam’s area of beam 2 in the model chosen in question 1,
compared to A2, the beam’s area in the whole system? What about I’2, the equivalent
moment of inertia? (1 point)
𝐴′ = 𝐴2
a. { 2′
𝐼2 = 𝐼2
𝐴2
𝐴′2 =
b. { 2
𝐼2′ = 𝐼2
𝐴2
𝐴′2 = 2
c. { 𝐼2
𝐼2′ =
2
𝐴2
𝐴′2 =
2
d. { 𝐼2
𝐼2′ = 4
3. What is the value of the tie’s equivalent spring? (1 point)
a. 𝑘 𝑇 = 𝐸𝑇 𝐴 𝑇
𝐸𝑇 𝐴𝑇
b. 𝑘 𝑇 = 2𝐿
𝐸𝑇 𝐴𝑇
c. 𝑘 𝑇 = 4𝐿
𝐸𝑇 𝐴𝑇
d. 𝑘 𝑇 =
√2𝐿
 4. If the unknown displacements vector is defined as 𝒖 = {𝑢𝐴 , 𝑣𝐴 , 𝜃𝐴 , 𝑣𝐵 }𝑇 , the global
stiffness matrix results (4 points)

𝐸𝐴 √2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 √2𝑘 √2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 3√2𝐸𝐼

𝐿
+ 4𝐿
+ 2𝐿3 + 2 𝑇 − 4𝐿
+ 2𝐿3 2𝐿2
0
√2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 12𝐸𝐼 √2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 √2𝑘 6𝐸𝐼 3√2𝐸𝐼 12𝐸𝐼
− 4𝐿 + 2𝐿3 𝐿3
+ 4𝐿 + 2𝐿3 + 2 𝑇 𝐿2 + 2𝐿2 − 𝐿3
a.
3√2𝐸𝐼 6𝐸𝐼 3√2𝐸𝐼 4𝐸𝐼 2√2𝐸𝐼 6𝐸𝐼
2𝐿2 𝐿2
+ 2𝐿2 𝐿
+ 𝐿 − 𝐿2
12𝐸𝐼 6𝐸𝐼 12𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐴
[ 0 − 3 − 2 + ]
𝐿 𝐿 𝐿3 2𝐿
𝐸𝐴 √2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 𝑘𝑇 √2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 3√2𝐸𝐼
𝐿
+ 4𝐿 + 2𝐿3 + 2 − 4𝐿 + 2𝐿3 2𝐿2
0
√2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 12𝐸𝐼 √2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 𝑘 6𝐸𝐼 3√2𝐸𝐼 12𝐸𝐼
− 4𝐿 + 2𝐿3 𝐿3
+ 4𝐿 + 2𝐿3 + 2𝑇 𝐿2 + 2𝐿2 − 𝐿3
b.
3√2𝐸𝐼 6𝐸𝐼 3√2𝐸𝐼 4𝐸𝐼 2√2𝐸𝐼 6𝐸𝐼
2𝐿2 𝐿2
+ 2𝐿2 𝐿
+ 𝐿 𝐿2
12𝐸𝐼 6𝐸𝐼 12𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐴
[ 0 − 𝐿3 − 𝐿2 𝐿3
+ 2𝐿 ]
𝐸𝐴 √2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 √2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 3√2𝐸𝐼
𝐿
+ 4𝐿 + 2𝐿3 − 4𝐿 + 2𝐿3 2𝐿2
0
√2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 12𝐸𝐼 √2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 6𝐸𝐼 3√2𝐸𝐼 12𝐸𝐼
− 4𝐿 + 2𝐿3 𝐿3
+ 4𝐿 + 2𝐿3 𝐿2
+ 2𝐿2 − 𝐿3
c.
3√2𝐸𝐼 6𝐸𝐼 3√2𝐸𝐼 4𝐸𝐼 2√2𝐸𝐼 6𝐸𝐼
2𝐿2 𝐿2
+ 2𝐿2 𝐿
+ 𝐿 − 𝐿2
12𝐸𝐼 6𝐸𝐼 12𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐴
[ 0 − 3 − 2 + ]
𝐿 𝐿 𝐿3 2𝐿
𝐸𝐴 √2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 √2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 3√2𝐸𝐼
𝐿
+ 4𝐿 + 2𝐿3 + 𝑘 𝑇 − 4𝐿 + 2𝐿3 2𝐿2
0
√2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 12𝐸𝐼 √2𝐸𝐴 3√2𝐸𝐼 6𝐸𝐼 3√2𝐸𝐼 12𝐸𝐼
− 4𝐿 + 2𝐿3 𝐿3
+ 4𝐿 + 2𝐿3 𝐿2
+ 2𝐿2 − 𝐿3
d.
3√2𝐸𝐼 6𝐸𝐼 3√2𝐸𝐼 4𝐸𝐼 2√2𝐸𝐼 6𝐸𝐼
2𝐿2 𝐿2
+ 2𝐿2 𝐿
+ 𝐿 − 𝐿2
12𝐸𝐼 6𝐸𝐼 12𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐴
[ 0 − 3 − 2 + ]
𝐿 𝐿 𝐿3 2𝐿

Exercise 2:

The following 5 nodes 2D element and its coordinates are given:

The nodes are numbered from 1 to 5 as shown in the image, and their coordinates, referred to
the XY reference frame, are:
Node Coordinates (x,y)
1 (1,1)
2 (1,4)
3 (2,3)
4 (3,1)
5 (2,1)
5. What is the shape function of the node 2, as a function of the general coordinates 𝜉
and 𝜂? (1 point)
1
a. 𝜑2 = 4 (1 − 𝜉)(1 − 𝜂)
1
b. 𝜑2 = 2 (1 − 𝜉)(1 − 𝜂)
1
c. 𝜑2 = 4 (1 − 𝜉)(1 + 𝜂)
1
d. 𝜑2 = (1 − 𝜉)(1 + 𝜂)
2
6. What is the shape function of the node 5, as a function of the general coordinates 𝜉
and 𝜂? (1 point)
1
a. 𝜑5 = 4 (1 − 𝜉)(1 − 𝜂 2 )
1
b. 𝜑5 = (1 − 𝜉 2 )(1 − 𝜂)
4
1
c. 𝜑5 = 2
(1 − 𝜉 2 )(1 − 𝜂)
1
d. 𝜑5 = 2
(1 − 𝜉)(1 − 𝜂 2 )
7. What is the shape function of the node 1, as a function of the general coordinates 𝜉
and 𝜂? (1 point)
1
a. 𝜑1 = − 4 𝜉(1 − 𝜉)(1 − 𝜂)
1
b. 𝜑1 = (1 − 𝜉)(1 − 𝜂)
4
1
c. 𝜑1 = 4
𝜂(1 − 𝜉)(1 − 𝜂)
1
d. 𝜑1 = 𝜉(1 − 𝜉 2 )(1 − 𝜂)
4
8. What is the approximation of a coordinate x as a function of the general coordinates 𝜉
and 𝜂? (1 point)
1
a. 𝑥 = 4 (7 + 3𝜉 − 𝜂)
1
b. 𝑥 = 4 (7 + 3𝜉 − 𝜂 − 𝜉𝜂)
1
c. 𝑥 = (7 + 3𝜉 + 𝜂 − 𝜉𝜂)
4
1
d. 𝑥 = 4
(7 + 3𝜉 − 𝜂 2 − 𝜉𝜂)
9. What is the approximation of a coordinate y as a function of the general coordinates 𝜉
and 𝜂? (1 point)
1
a. 𝑦 = 4 (9 − 𝜉 − 5𝜂)
1
b. 𝑦 = 4 (9 − 𝜉 + 5𝜂)
1
c. 𝑦 = 4 (9 − 𝜉 + 5𝜂 − 𝜉𝜂)
1
d. 𝑦 = 4 (9 + 𝜉 + 5𝜂 + 𝜉𝜂)
10. What is the Jacobian of the transformation? (2 points)
1 1
(3 − 𝜂) − (1 + 𝜂)
a. 𝐽 = [ 41 1
4
]
− 4 (1 + 𝜉) 4
(5 − 𝜉)
3 1
4
−4
b. 𝐽 = [ 1 5]
−4 −4
 1 1
(3 + 𝜂) (1 + 𝜂)
4 4
c. 𝐽 = [ 1 1 ]
− 4 (2𝜂 + 𝜉) 4 (1 + 𝜉)
1 1
(3 − 𝜂 2 ) − (1 + 𝜂)
4 4
d. 𝐽 = [ 1 1 ]
− 4 (1 + 𝜉) 4 (5 − 𝜉 2 )
11. Is the transformation valid? (1 point)
a. No, because the determinant of the Jacobian becomes 0 at some point.
b. Yes, because the determinant of the Jacobian becomes 0 outside the region
that is being transformed.
c. Yes, because the determinant of the Jacobian never becomes 0.
d. It is not possible to tell.

Exercise 3:

The element of the previous exercise is under a set of loads and a temperature increase of
ΔT=200°. The modulus of elasticity is E = 73.1 GPa, the thermal expansion coefficient α = 2·10 -6
°C-1 and the Poisson coefficient is ν = 0.3. The measured displacements at the nodes are shown
in the following table:

Node u (·10-3 cm) v (·10-3 cm)

1 2 1
2 1.5 2
3 1 2.5
4 0.5 1
5 1 1

The stress at the point x = 7/4 cm and y = 9/4 cm has to be calculated.

12. What are the normalized coordinates 𝜉 and 𝜂 of this point? (1 point)
a. 𝜉 = 1 and 𝜂 = 1.
b. 𝜉 = 0 and 𝜂 = 1.
c. 𝜉 = 0 and 𝜂 = 0.
d. 𝜉 = −1 and 𝜂 = 1.
13. What are the deformations at the target point? (1 point)
−679
a. 𝜀 = { 571 } · 10−6
321
570
b. 𝜀 = {1075} · 10−6
1421
−604
c. 𝜀 = { 499 } · 10−6
542
−290
d. 𝜀 = { 604 } · 10−6
625
14. What part of the previous result is due to the thermal load? (1 point)
−800
a. 𝜀 = { 1700 } · 10−6
1900
400
b. 𝜀 = {400} · 10−6
0
−20
c. 𝜀 = { 44 } · 10−6
0
200
d. 𝜀 = {200} · 10−6
0
15. What are the stresses at the target point (consider a planar stress state)? (2 points)
−43.75
a. 𝜎 = { 54.03 } 𝑀𝑃𝑎
32.54
−40.51
b. 𝜎 = { 60.94 } 𝑀𝑃𝑎
41.77
−82.51
c. 𝜎 = {−12.22} 𝑀𝑃𝑎
9.04
−75.17
d. 𝜎 = { 55.02 } 𝑀𝑃𝑎
60.33