Chapter 7

Two–Dimensional
Elements
Tutorial Solution
1. We have used two-dimensional rectangular elements to model temperature
distribution in a thin plate. The values of nodal temperatures for an element belonging
to such a plate are given in the accompanying figure. Using local shape functions, what
is the temperature at the center of this element?
The temperature distribution for the element is
 Ti 
T 
 
T ( e ) = [ Si Sj Sm Sn ]  j 
Tm 
 Tn 

At the center of the element x = 0.1 and y = 0.05

Substituting x = 0.1 in and y = 0.05 in into the local shape functions Eq.(7.5):

x y 0.1 0.05
Si = (1 − )(1 − ) = (1 − )(1 − ) = 0.25
l w 0.2 0.1
x y 0.1 0.05
Sj = (1 − ) = (1 − ) = 0.25
l w 0.2 0.1
xy (0.1)(0.05)
Sm = = = 0.25
lw (0.2)(0.1)
y x 0.05 0.1
S n = (1 − ) = (1 − ) = 0.25
w l 0.1 0.2

108
105
 
T (0.1, 0.05) = 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25   = 106.7 F
102
112
2. Determine the temperature at the center of the element in Problem 1 using natural
shape functions
The temperature distribution for the element is
 Ti 
T 
 
T ( e ) = [ Si Sj Sm Sn ]  j 
Tm 
 Tn 

At the center of the element  = 0.0 and  = 0.0

Substituting  = 0.0 and  = 0.0 into the local shape functions Eq.(7.7):

1 1 1
Si = (1 −  )(1 −  ) = (1 − 0)(1 − 0) =
4 4 4
1 1 1
S j = (1 +  )(1 −  ) = (1 + 0)(1 − 0) =
4 4 4
1 1 1
S m = (1 +  )(1 +  ) = (1 + 0)(1 + 0) =
4 4 4
1 1 1
S n = (1 −  )(1 +  ) = (1 + 0)(1 + 0) =
4 4 4

108
 
1 1 1 1  105
T (0.0, 0.0) =    = 106.7 F
4 4 4 4  102 

112 

6. Two-dimensional triangular elements have been used to determine the stress
distribution in a machine part. The nodal stresses and their corresponding positions for a
triangular element are shown in the accompanying figure. What is the value of stress at
x = 2.15 cm and y = 1.1 cm?
The stress distribution for the element is

 i 
 
 ( e ) = [ Si Sj Sk ]  j 
 
 k

where  i , j and  k are stresses at nodes i,j and k respectively, and the shape functions are
given by Eq. (7.18)
1 X Y
Si = ( i + i X +  iY )
2A i 2.25 0.75
1
Sj = ( j +  j X +  jY ) j 2.4 1.65
2A
1
k 1.5 1.0
Sk = ( k +  k X +  k Y )
2A Coordinates for the element

where A is the area of the triangular element and is computed from the equation

2 A = X i (Yj − Yk ) + X j (Yk − Yi ) + X k (Yi − Yj )

2 A = 2.25(1.65 − 1.0) + 2.4(1.0 − 0.75) + 1.5(0.75 − 1.65) = 0.7125
 i = X jYk − X k Y j = (2.4)(1.0) − (1.5)(1.65) = −0.075
 j = X k Yi − X iYk = (1.5)(0.75) − (2.25)(1.0) = −1.125
 k = X iY j − X jYi = (2.25)(1.65) − (2.4)(0.75) = 1.9125

 i = Y j − Yk = 1.65 − 1.0 = 0.65

 j = Yk − Yi = 1.0 − 0.75 = 0.25
 k = Yi − Y j = 0.75 − 1.65 = −0.9
 i = X k − X j = 1.5 − 2.4 = −0.9
 j = X i − X k = 2.25 − 1.5 = 0.75
 k = X j − X i = 2.4 − 2.25 = 0.15

1
Si ( X = 2.15,Y =1.1) = (−0.075 + 0.65(2.15) + (−0.9)(1.1)) = 0.4667
0.7125
1
S j ( X = 2.15,Y =1.1) = (−1.125 + 0.25(2.15) + (0.75)(1.1)) = 0.333
0.7125
1
S j ( X = 2.15,Y =1.1) = (1.9125 + ( −0.9)(2.15) + (0.15)(1.1)) = 0.2
0.7125

 (2.15,1.1) = (0.4667(7.96) + (0.333)(7.58) + (0.2)(8.27) = 7.89GPa

7. Plot the 8.0 GPa and 7.86 GPa stress contour lines for an element of the machine part
in Problem 6.
 The 8.0 GPa stress contour lines intersects i-k and j-k edges
along i-k edge
according to the relations
8.0 − 7.96 X − 2.25 Y − 0.75
= =
8.27 − 7.96 1.5 − 2.25 1.0 − 0.75

These relations results in the coordinates X = 2.15 cm and Y = 0.78 cm

along j-k edge 8.0GPa

8.0 − 7.58 X − 2.4 Y − 1.65

= =
8.27 − 7.58 1.5 − 2.4 1.0 − 1.65

These relations results in the coordinates X = 1.85 cm and Y = 1.25 cm

8.0GPa
 The 7.86 GPa stress contour lines intersects i-j and k-j edges
along i-j edge
according to the relations
7.86 − 7.58 X − 2.4 Y − 1.65
= =
7.96 − 7.58 2.25 − 2.4 0.75 − 1.65

These relations results in the coordinates X = 2.29 cm and Y = 0.99 cm

along k-j edge
7.86 − 7.58 X − 2.4 Y − 1.65
= =
8.27 − 7.58 1.5 − 2.4 1.0 − 1.65

These relations results in the coordinates X = 2.03 cm and Y = 1.39 cm

7.86 GPa
Thank you!