Finite Element Methods in Linear

Structural Mechanics
Homework 1 [Link]. G. Meschke
[Link]. V. Gudzulic

Name: Matr.-Nr.:

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To be submitted latest on Friday, 20.12.2019, to IC 6/167.
A B C D
This homework is parametrised by the last 4 digits of your student ID A B C D .

Task 1:

The structure depicted in the figure below is discretised with three truss finite elements 1 to
3 . It is loaded in the vertical direction at the node 4 . The spring attached to the node 4 is
horizontal, aligned with the global x1 -axis. The nodes 1 and 2 are fixed to the ground. There is
a guided support at node 3 , so that this node has only one degree of freedom, in the x1 x2 -plane.
The spring at node 3 is aligned in the same direction as the guided support.

a) Determine all independent nodal degrees of freedom for the truss structure. Consider sym-
metry conditions if possible.

b) Find the vector of unknown displacements u for the given structure in the global coordinate
system.

c) Determine the normal stresses in all three truss elements.

Geometry:
A
a=2+ m
10
0.1 · A
b=6+ m
1+B
C
c=5+ m
10
4 b D
d=3+ m
10
3 1 1 A1,2 = 3.0 · 10−3 m2
x2 F A3 = 4.0 · 10−3 m2
2 a
α = 10◦
x1
x3
3 a
α Material parameters:
d c
2 E = 210 000 MN/m2

Load:
F = 1.8 MN

Springs:
k1,2 = 1.0 · 109 N/m
 Finite Element Methods in Linear
Structural Mechanics
Homework 1 [Link]. G. Meschke
[Link]. V. Gudzulic

Task 2:

Consider a standard cubic truss element as shown in the figure below. Derive the element stiffness
matrix for one finite element of this type.

Given:
E = 2.1 · 1011 Pa
1 2 3 4 A = 1.0 · 10−2 m2
ξ L=2m

Hint: Take the necessary shape function derivatives from the manuscript.
 Finite Element Methods in Linear
Structural Mechanics
Homework 1 [Link]. G. Meschke
[Link]. V. Gudzulic

Task 3:

Consider a structure of two linear truss elements as depicted in the figure below. The different
line loads are defined by the functions p1 (x1 ) and p2 (x02 ).

a) Determine the necessary number of integration points nnec for each element, so that the
numerical integration of the local load vector rep is exact.
b) Determine the local load vector rep , using numerical integration with 1, 2, ..., nnec integration
points, for each element.
c) For element 2 , find the relative error rel for the components of the load vector related to
the node 3 due to the numerical integration with n < nnec integration points.

krref − rk
rel =
krk

Hint: Take the local load vector obtained by integrating with nnec integration points as
a reference solution.
d) Assemble the global load vector of the system (6 components).

p1 (x1) C
L1 = 5 +
D+1
B−A
p2 (x2') L2 = 6 +
1 20
x1 2 β = 20◦
x2' β 3
x2 L1 p1 (x1 ) = 10
L2 !
0 x0 2
1 − 22


p2 x2 = 10 ·
L2

Remark: The homework tasks are supposed to be solved by hand. You may, of course, pro-
gram the solutions in order to check your hand calculations if you want.