Finite Element Method in

Geotechnical Engineering
S HORT COURS E ON COM P U TATI ONAL G EOTECHNI CS + DYN A MI CS
BOU L DE R , COLOR A DO
JAN UARY 5 - 8 , 2 0 0 4

Stein Sture
Professor of Civil Engineering
University of Colorado at Boulder
 Contents
Steps in the FE Method
Introduction to FEM for Deformation Analysis
Discretization of a Continuum
Elements
Strains
Stresses, Constitutive Relations
Hookes Law
Formulation of Stiffness Matrix
Solution of Equations

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

 Steps in the FE Method
1. Establishment of stiffness relations for each element. Material properties and
equilibrium conditions for each element are used in this establishment.

2. Enforcement of compatibility, i.e. the elements are connected.

3. Enforcement of equilibrium conditions for the whole structure, in the present

case for the nodal points.

4. By means of 2. And 3. the system of equations is constructed for the whole

structure. This step is called assembling.

5. In order to solve the system of equations for the whole structure, the
boundary conditions are enforced.

6. Solution of the system of equations.

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering
 Introduction to FEM for
Deformation Analysis
General method to solve boundary
value problems in an approximate
and discretized way

Often (but not only) used for

deformation and stress analysis

Division of geometry into finite

element mesh

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

 Introduction to FEM for
Deformation Analysis
Pre-assumed interpolation of main
quantities (displacements) over
elements, based on values in points
(nodes)
Formation of (stiffness) matrix, K, and
(force) vector, r
Global solution of main quantities in
nodes, d
dD KD=R
rR
kK

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

 Discretization of a Continuum
2D modeling:

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

 Discretization of a Continuum
2D cross section is divided into element:

Several element types are possible (triangles and quadrilaterals)

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering
 Elements
Different types of 2D elements:

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

 Elements
Example:

Other way of writing:

ux = N1 ux1 + N2 ux2 + N3 ux3 + N4 ux4 + N5 ux5 + N6 ux6
uy = N1 uy1 + N2 uy2 + N3 uy3 + N4 uy4 + N5 uy5 + N6 uy6
or
ux = N ux and uy = N uy (N contains functions of x and y)

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

 Strains
Strains are the derivatives of displacements. In finite elements they are
determined from the derivatives of the interpolation functions:

ux N
xx a1 2a3 x a4 y ux
x x
u N
yy y b2 2b4 x b5 y uy
y y
u u N N
xy x y (b1 a2 ) (a4 2b3 )x (2a5 b4 )y ux uy
y x x y

Bd
or

(strains composed in a vector and matrix B contains derivatives of N )

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

 Stresses, Constitutive Relations
Cartesian stress tensor, usually composed
in a vector:

Stresses, s, are related to strains :

s = C

In fact, the above relationship is used in

incremental form:

C is material stiffness matrix and

determining material behavior
Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering
 Hookes Law
For simple linear elastic behavior C is based on Hookes law:

1 0 0 0

1 0 0 0
E 1 0 0 0
C
(1 2 )(1 ) 0 0 0 2 0 0
1

2
0 0 0 0 1
0

0 0 0 0 0 1
2

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

 Hookes Law
Basic parameters in Hookes law:
Youngs modulus E
Poissons ratio
Auxiliary parameters, related to basic parameters:
Shear modulus Oedometer modulus

E E(1 )
G E oed
2(1 ) (1 2 )(1 )
Bulk modulus

E
K
3(1 2 )

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

 Hookes Law
Meaning of parameters
s1
E
s 2
in axial compression

3

1
in axial compression
axial compression 1D compression
s1
E oed
1
in 1D compression

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

 Hookes Law
Meaning of parameters
p
K
v
in volumetric compression

s xy
G
xy
in shearing

note: s xy xy

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Hookes Law
Summary, Hookes law:

s xx 1 0 0 0 xx

s
yy 1 0 0 0 yy
s zz E 1 0 0 0 zz

s
xy (1 2 )(1 ) 0 0 0 2
1
0 0 xy
s yz 0 0 0 0 2
1
0 yz

s
zx 0 0 0 0 0 1
2 zx
 Hookes Law
Inverse relationship:

xx 1 0 0 0 s xx


yy 1 0 0 0 s yy
zz 1 1 0 0 0 s zz

xy E 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 s xy
yz 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 s yz
s

zx 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 zx

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

 Formulation of Stiffness Matrix
Formation of element stiffness matrix Ke

K e BT CB dV
Integration is usually performed numerically: Gauss integration
n

pdV p i i (summation over sample points)

i1
coefficients and position of sample points can be chosen such that the integration is exact

Formation of global stiffness matrix

Assembling of element stiffness matrices in global matrix

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

 Formulation of Stiffness Matrix
K is often symmetric and has a band-form:
# # 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

# # # 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 # # # 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 # # # 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 # # # 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 # # # 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 # # # 0 0 (# are non-zeros)
0 0 0 0 0 0 # # # 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 # # #
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 # #

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering

Solution of Equation
Global system of equations:
KD = R
R is force vector and contains loadings as nodal forces

Usually in incremental form: KD R

Solution:
1
D K R
n
D
D
i1
(i = step number)
 Solution of Equations
From solution of displacement

D d
Strains:
i Bui

Stresses:
s i s i1 Cd

Computational Geotechnics Finite Element Method in Geotechnical Engineering