Matrix Equation Analysis in FEM
Matrix Equation Analysis in FEM
METHOD
By
T. -:'{AGY
1. Introduction
Since \V orId War the event of digital computers, together with prob-
lems raised bv the ail:plaJlle and rocket industry. stimulated the deyelopment
of appropriate up-to-date structural analysis metho ds suiting actual require-
ments and the available computer technique. Far from applying the methods
already known, making use of the possibilities preEcnted by the speed of
computer metbods to solve eyer greater problems. they follow instead entirely
new ways.
The ne'w methods apply the matrix calculuE in a wide range, not only to
simplify the 'writing and programming of algorithms as the natural language
of computation methods, hut also to present an elegant and concise mathe-
matical treatment.
The most widely extended of them is the finite element method, called
by some authors the matrix displacement method. ad\'antageous by its \'er-
satility. Though initially it had heen applied in structural engineering, just
as will be here, essentially it suits to any boundary yalue problem that can
be described hy partial (or ordinary) differential equations, for arhitrary do-
mains, houndary conditions and loads. It is 'widely applied for yihration, heat
transfer and hydraulic prohlems.
The disadvantage of the finite element method is that rather small
problems require operations 'with quite large matrices, exceeding the capacity
of comparatively up-to-date computers, at an important computer time
demand.
In what follows, the finite element method will he hriefly surveyed and
a method 'will be presented, likely to cut computer time and storage capacity
for some frequent hut special cases.
C)
SiF , 8 4 I?
T 0 ( 2.1)
8x 2 8y2 8y 4
8 2F
Gv =--: 'Txy (2.2)
- 8x2 8x8y
MATRIX EQt"ATJO.\" ~L'YAL YSlS 175
Fig. 1
Pi
Pi::
p f
P
[ P!l Ph: d
pi'.'
p,
Pio:
kd = p:
or, in particular
[::~
kfi ki.' k
k'f
k" kif
k j{
ku
= [P'J
;,'
(:2A)
Blocks k are now size::: . ::: and represent the forc.> p at the node with
the first subscript produced by the displacement d of the node with the sec-
ond subscript. In case of isotropy problems according to :}Iaxwell's recip-
rocal theorem the matrix k is always symmetric, hence kif k jf •
A rectangular field is conyeniently treated by rectangular elements.
Then d and p will contain 4·:2 elements, and k 4·4 blocks, 64 elements.
Stiffness matrices of all elements being determined, matrix equation
of the entire structure can be compo~ed" Vectars p and d will include forces
Kd p. (2.5)
:\' ote that any block k lj differs from zero only if there exists at least one ele-
ment which invob;es both i and j nodes. Thereby most blocks of matrix K
will he zero blocks. and the stiffness matrix K is inyariablv symmetrical.
In the case of bending plates, the nodes have three degrees of freedom
(neglecting other displacement possibilities), thu:" an element in the xy plane
has all nodes acted upon hy displacements H'i, q!X, q>y and force components
Pi, Ji ix , lUiy ' For instance. for a triangular element (Fig. 2):
Fip;. :?
·-
1
U',
q Ix
Pi
P
l:iJ
d = (1 (! J-"'
I
•... and p :.::. (2.6)
? l','
Ji
P
Jli,.:
(I'" JJ
L "
.iIATRIX EQCATIO.Y [Link] ,"SIS 177
The finite f>lement method was seen to lead to the matrix equation
(3.1)
(3.2)
K A B -I
B* A B
(3.3)
I B* A B
B* A
L
when~
A a h
b* a b
and 1- (3.4)
178 T.l"AGY
I I i
I I I
1 I
\
1
I
1
I
i I ! i !
\ I !
i
'n
I I ! I
I
/
\
,/
\
/
I 1
'/
i
! I
',/,//"</
J X
./
/ /
/ /
/
.I /
."- ---
Fig . .•
Without entering into details, some less known matrix relationships will
briefly be presented, described with all particulars by e.g. :~VL-\cDuFFEE [3].
Direct product of two matrices is defined by the identities:
and A X· B (3.5)
the identity
n
1=1
(AiBiCi)- (f1 Ai)
1=1 ,1=1
(n (h Bi) Ci
1~1,
) (3.7)
a aoo
h = h* a lO
c c* (3.8)
En:
(3.9)
,-
0
1
1
l'"
I. (3.10)
I
m 1 0
In yie·w of the fact that the zero-th power of any (square) matrix is the
unit matrix of corresponding order:
1 1
K 2' .::2 aij /, Bin . >< B!,. ([Link])
j=O ;=0
·\UTRIX EQL1TIO.Y ASAL YSIS 181
Let us soh-e the problem for the general case first. Let the spectral
decompositions of matrices Al , A2 ••• Ai ... A" of simple structure and of
71 1,11 2 , •• nf . . . ne order in the form:
(3.12)
n1:
of the order
n ni
i~O
) {fIl!l~O
(,
N (F
.1LJ r: u
/
n
1=1
(3.14)
IF
.![Link] n
i=l
vrv-l. (3.15)
'1/=
and
1
(3.16)
rn~
.2
l11=0
C 1'1/"2 ••• :vlQ ,s Af 1
'will be called quasi-modal and quasi-spectrum. respectiyely.
Proof: Consider a term TU!!"",uD of the direct polynomial (3.13) belonging
to settled PI' f./2' ••• Pe values and substitute the spectral form of Ai matrice8
as well as the identity
CU"JL",
. ._ . " !.lQ
(3.17)
to yield:
(3.13)
1=1
11)2
Summing up and facto ring out the first and the last term in brackets (occur-
ring in all terms of the sum):
Q.E.D.
Note that the proyed theorem can be considered a generalization of a
theorem by EGERY_~RY [1]. It should be stressed that proof of the theorem had
the only restriction for the coefficient matrices lC",!l, ... UO to he regular and the
blocks were not required to he commutable. -
In the special case of the general theorem above ,,-here the direct poly-
nomial has scalars cl':I',' '!'e as coefficients, the spectral decomposition of the
hypermatrix of n = ni order
(3.20)
"'2 n
i=l
j i~l Lt) rV-l (3.21)
where modal matrix is the direct product of modal matrice5 and spectrum
r is a diagonal matrix with polynomials of matrices as elements.
Nx (3.22)
ne n, n, n
x .;z .. .2
"
/'
-"'='
AVI"Z •.. Ye tJ et'i
Ye=l Y~=l ?l=l ;=1
1 (3.23)
y -
ne
~
n,
'>'
Y:t=l
YV 1!-'2 •. . t'e
n
[J e",
i=! I
"y·here and Y"""""'D are vectors of no order:
e.i is the ),;-th uriit vector of ni order;
for
i=1
where
(3.24)
(3.25 )
r-l 2 fffi
H,:=o
1=0
nk _ 1 )' (ri , t1
1 ')}
I
(3.26)
s I~ .?; Ilg ,-,Jr', In n
where n_ 1 = 1 by definition.
Introducing a similar subscript convention for ,'ectors x and y
(3.27)
where
(3.28)
184 1'. T4GY
hA't,I.
i~l [
. lE .Tq)
>" n
i~l
C"i' (3.29)
n() iI
i=1
(if I (En"
!
/", n L;-I)
i ~= 1
-- Eno n
i=1
(lT i
(3.30)
X N-ly.
or, in detail
n"
C,':
:·-d
-1
lE
,no . >' (3.31)
Let us exaIllme the product of the four factors. Let us consider first the
product of factors "3 and I of n order, denoted by g:
c' 1 (3.32)
ne"i[ .
i=1
.\IATRIX EQCATIO.' A.\·AL YSIS 185
Putting facTor ~. under the sign of summation. and taking relationship (3.7)
into account. we may write:
n
g tI ViI e" (3.33)
i=1
DenQting the 1':-th columll vector of the ilrverse of the i-th modal matrix bv
Le. :
(3.34)
e,
g n n;-:;:n (3.35)
Q= i=1
y". >< n
i=l
(3.36)
(3.37)
gr ::; Y, 1 ," . . . le tI 11
(3.38)
,,=1 i=1
1'-1 = (3.41)
186 T. NAGY
In this expression all factors of the direct product are diagonal matrices,
thus, the whole term in brackets will be a hyperdiagonal matrix, with blocks
of order n:
m: m1 (l
::E ::E
,ti:=O P-t=O
[Link] .,",: ....!.le n
i=O
}Jt.~,. (3.42)
(3.43)
From this expression it is obvious that this procedure is only valid if of the
polynomials with matrix coefficients CU:Ll, .•. lI.~, eigeDvalues of matrices Ai
are regular. The product of hyperdiagonal matri~ 1
r-
by vector g can be illust-
rateo schematically as:
r- 1
Apparently:
\ -1
'A-here and g,-J, are vectors of dimension n" and IS a matnx of order no.
0= r- 1 ~ G (3.45)
(3.46 )
187
3.51 Solution of the Poisson differential equation b.Y the method of finite
differences. Both for biharmonical and Poisson equations the method of finite
differences leads to a matrix equation "lvith a direct polynomial coefficient of
scalar coefficient, e.g. to thl:' Poisson equation of the form:
wherl:': GOD = -4
G I0 = a Ol = -1
all = 0
{I"-l (3.49)
Innermost contraction:
m n
(3.50)
G (3.51)
1
I"-l =
and now the logical multiplication will consist III multiplying elt"lllellts with
appropriate subscripts by each other:
D r- 1
(U",PU n )· (3.52)
-W'- = UI In
,f r- 1 (3.53)
remlt analogous to the matrix equation method developed hy SZAB6 [2] for
the difference method for the solution of partial differential equations of eyen
order.
This justifies the statement that this method can he considered a general-
ization of the matrix equation method.
3.52. The finite dement method, the disc problem. Analysis (If n'ctallgular
discs with rigidly clamped edges hy the finite element method leac15 to matrix
equation (3.1), 'where the structure of ma~'ix K is found in (3.3) and (3A).
Matrix K differs but slightly from matrix K defined by (3.11), tht'refore no'w
only the hypermatrix equation
f (3.54)
will be discussed. Iteration can be applied to take into account the deYiation
and the deyiatioll excess due to accidental \ariations of the boundary eOIlcli-
tions, to be reconsidered in item 3.6.
Remind that Kis a hyperrnatrix of In 7Z b1uck rows and block c'olumns,
with a structure expressed by the relationship:
m
G L F: gijf: '" uJ;>
~ - (3.57)
!=l
111
G Ft!: f.'I. /1, (3.58)
-1
is defined as: (3.59)
. a tWO-(1"1I11enSlUna 1 matnx.
\\' 11ere '(if-1 IS . If al'} matrIces
. are diagonal matri-
Cl'S. then also will he a diagonal matrix.
the logical multiplication D = r- 1
G:
a) if ,(-1 iE 11 matrix
df!,; (3.60 )
A5 it was 5een in 3.1 and 3.2 in case of rectangular domain and rigidly
clamped edge, the stiffness matrix of the finite element method is a matrix
K close to the direct polynomial K. If houndary conditions or eyentually the-
5hape of domain yary, the stiffness matrix will differ by more from the direct
polynomial K. Therefore the equation 5Y5tem of the finite element method
lend5 it5elf to iteration. Let U5 see now the conyergencp condition of thc iter-
ation
Kx=y (3.61)
F. (3.62)
190 T. SAG"-
Obviously, since two subsequent iterations are related by the constant matrix
H N-JF (3.65)
Since the proposed method ha::: the advantage of not to establish the
large-size coefficient matrix hut only some factors of the direct polynomial.
and considering that hlocks of the coefficient matrix are combinations of the
blocks of the elementary stiffness matrix, two rather rigorous criteria have
been proved for the convergence, 'which 'we can, however, easily handle in
our case.
Provided blocks of matrices Nand F are known. a sufficient condition
of the convergence i~ the inequality
(3.67)
to be valid for each pair of coefficient hlocks (where Cind arc coefficients
of direct polynomials and respcctively).
4. Conclusions
Last but not least, one may 'wonder why to apply spectral decomposi-
tion, a complex and tedious procedure, and besides iteration. instead of directly
soh-ing the matrix equation?
JUTRIX EQC1TIO.Y [Link] YSIS
Stiffness matrices for the finite elements 'were seen in item 3 to be rather
large-size ones. Among their elements and blocks, hO'wever, there is an obvious
majority of zero blocks and zero element;:, a percentage further growing with
increasing sizes (and refined divisions). As a conclusion, storage of the entire
matrix, and conyentional solution of the equation system, is almost impossible
but at least yery lengthy a procedure fCYCn for the most up-to-date computer5.
Let us comider a disc problem of 20 by 20 diyisiom. The coefficient matrix
measures 2 . 20 . 20 = 800, its elements amounting to 640 000. A single solu-
n3
tion of thE' equation system bv Gaussian algorithm requires ~~ - 17· 10'
- .• ~ 3
operations of multiplication and diyisiol1, "without mentioning the external
storage., needed "because of the matrix much increasing the running time.
Current methods requiring to store hut th,' upper nOll-zero hand still
mean in our case to store 800 . (2 -;- 20) . 2 = 35 200 elements, and according
to BERENYI [8], there will be 167 000 operatiom for the first, and 67 000 for
any subsequent solution.
The method proposed here has t·wo advantages:
1. Reduction of occupied storage capacity, storage involving:
vectors d and p: 2s n nE
Summary
After a short presentation of the finite element method. its use for dii'cS and bending
plates will be dcscribed. The stiffness matrix can often be written as a direct polynomial or
in a rather similar form. So-called quasi-spectral decomposition of the direct polynomial is
:,uggested for the matrix equation. correcting the deviation from the direct polynomial by
iteration. The method is advantageous in that it suffices to produce and store a mere of 4-5
vectors rather than to produce the entire stiffness matrix so that it lends itself to the use of
a computer of mcdium size.
References
1. EGER"\":~R):. J.: H ypermatrices of blocks interchangeable in pairs and their use in [Link] grid
dynamics. (In Hungarian) }lTA Alk. }lat. Int. Kozl. Ill, (196·1).
~. [Link], J.: Ein }Iatrizenverfahren zur Berechnung von orthotropen stiihlernen F ahrbalm-
platten. 'Wisscnschaftliche Zeit:;chrift der Technischen Hochschule, Dresden, 9 Heft 3.
(1959,60)
:1. }IAcDcFFEE, C. c.: The theory of matrices. J. Springer. Berlin 193.3 .
.1. c\.nGYRIs, J. H.: Recent adva;lces in matrix methods of s1rllctural analysis. Pergamon
Press. Oxford. 1964 .
.;. ZIE::\"KIEVVICZ, O. c.- CHEl:::\"G. Y. I\:..: The finite element method in structural and conti-
nuum mechanics. ::\IcGraw-Hill. London. 1967.
() [Link], c.: J. :'IIath. pnres app!. Y. Y. 6, 73-120 (1900).
- BERE::\"YL}I.: Analysi5 of fk:mral plates by the "finite elemelit" method. (In Hungarian)
lYIHyepitestudomanyi Szemle XIX, ~83- 286 (1969).
8. BERE::\"YL ;\1.: Solution of linear equations in hyperstatic prohlems. (In Hungarian), ::\lanu-
script.