Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
1985 O&45-7949/85
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Printedin GreatBritain. 0 1985Pergamon
PressLtd.
Abstract-An exact stiffness matrix of a beam element on elastic foundation is formulated. A single
element is required to exactly represent a continuous part of a beam on a Winkler foundation. Thus
only a few elements are sufficient for a typical problem solution. The stiffness matrix is assembled in
a computer program and some numerical examples are presented.
INTRODUCTION
EI3 +ky = 0.
The problem of beams on an elastic foundation has
been treated by numerous authors and closed form
solutions of the differential equation have been pro- The general solution of eqn (1) can be written in
posed[l-41. terms of four functions (sign convention is shown
Numerical methods, like the finite difference in Fig. 1):
method, have been applied to solve this problem[5]
and yield approximate solutions to the differential 1
Y(X) = YOFI(h) + - 8oFz(hx)
equation, which converge to the exact solution with A
increasing number of nodes. Such numerical tech-
niques can easily be extended to handle nonlinear
foundation properties, variation of cross section di-
mensions, etc.
Finite element solution of a beam on elastic where
foundation may be obtained by discrete springs
connected to structure nodes, thus roughly ap- F,(hr) = cash AXcos AX, (3a)
proximating the problem[6]. A more complicated Fz(Ax) = t(cosh Ax sin AX + sinh hr cos LXX),
model is the Winkler foundation where the discrete
springs are smeared to form a continuous founda- (3b)
tion[6-81. This is a common technique adopted in F3@_x) = f sinh Ax sin AX, (3c)
a finite element formulation of the problem.
R(hr) = t(cosh Ax sin Xx - sinh hx cos Ax),
However, the shape functions which yield exact
solution for a free beam, yield only approximate (Ml
solutions for a beam on elastic foundation, and ac-
curacy is improved by increasing the number of ele-
ments.
In this paper an exact stiffness matrix for a beam
h=
J4EI’
4k
on a Winkler foundation is formulated. Using this and yo, 00, MO, and Q. are the values at x = 0. The
element, a single element is required between dis- slope along the beam is given by
continuities (i.e. concentrated forces, abrupt
change in section dimensions, etc.) to yield exact Y’(X) = 4XYoF4(hx) + BOFl(hx)
solutions. Only a few elements are therefore re-
quired to exactly solve a typical problem and so-
lution may be obtained on any small size micro-
computer. Some examples show the agreement
with exact solutions and comparisons with approx- The terms of the stiffness matrix, are defined as
imate methods. the holding actions at the ends of the beam, due to
unit translations and rotations, as shown in Fig. 2.
From the expression in eqns (2) and (41, all 16 terms
STIFFNESSMATRIXDERIVATION of the stiffness matrix can be found. As an example,
The differential equation for the deflection curve the values Sll-S,4, for the case shown in Fig. 2(a),
of the beam supported on an elastic foundation in are computed. The values for y. and O. are 1 and
Fig. 1, is[l] 0, respectively, and thus deflection and slope at x
13.55
1356 M. EISENBERGERand D. Z. YANKELEVSKY
‘k
Fig. 1. Beam on elastic foundation.
I.
1
1
L 1
1 1
1
L 7
1
(b) (d)
Fig. 2. Member stiffnesses.
Example 2
s33 = s,,, (1Oc)
For partially loaded beams on elastic founda-
s43= -s21, (1W tion, Hetenyi proposes a solution in form of infinite
L 60 in ( 1.524 m )
1
O- *O
2-
-20
4-
I- .\ /; 40
IO- l
1.,
*-.-.‘-*
/.dC
/d
-60
ebsh21 KN/m2
25000 -
30000 -
4oDOo-
in-ebs KN.m
sin !!E
L
Y= These values agree with the exact solution given in
Ref. 10.
(12)
CONCLUSIONS
The convergence of this solution for was tested
An exact stiffness matrix for a beam on elastic
the beam in Fig. 4. The exact solution was obtained
foundation is directly formulated. An exact solution
using the computer program, with the beam divided
of a typical problem may be achieved by assembling
into two segments. The results are given in Table
a few elements. Nodes are placed at points of
1. It is seen that three digits accuracy can be
abrupt changes in loading, foundation or beam stiff-
achieved with eight terms for both points (x = 3.m
ness, and local supports. The efftciency and exact
and x = 4.m). Four digits accuracy will require 12
results are demonstrated through examples. This
terms.
procedure can easily be implemented into any beam
program.
Example 3
A simply supported beam on elastic foundation
(Fig. 5) was analyzed by Mohr[8] using a contact REFERENCES
stiffness matrix. The same problem is solved by the
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