Overview

Finite Element families

Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

Finite element formulations

Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

March 13, 2013

Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

Finite Element families

Introduction
Overview of FE families

Continuum Elements
3D continuum
2D plane strain / stress
2D axisymmetry

Structural Elements
Shell elements
Beam elements

Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

Introduction
Overview of FE families

Class of FE formulations
Existing classes of Finite Elements can be characterized by the
following criteria:
Geometry modeling:
Modeling space: number of coordinates to describe geometry
(3D, 2D, 1D)
Basic Topology: basic type of topology (solid, surface, wire)

Physical modeling:
Physics: the behaviour that is modelled type of DOFs,
elementary matrices & results
Physical modeling space: 3D, 2D planar / axisymm., 1D
number & meaning of DOFs

FE formulation:
Element shape: hex, tetra, triangle, wedge, quad.
Interpolation: FE shape functions order Number of nodes
Integration: integration scheme (type / order)
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

Introduction
Overview of FE families

Main families of Finite Elements

Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

3D continuum
2D plane strain / stress
2D axisymmetry

3D continuum model

3D continuum model:
3D geometry / 3D continuum behaviour / 3D loads, may have
symmetries !!
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

3D continuum
2D plane strain / stress
2D axisymmetry

3D continuum elements
Nodal Coordinate:
xj = {x1 , x2 , x3 }
Nodal DOF:
qj = {u1 , u2 , u3 }
Coordinate Transform:
e

T : x = x() =

H() e x

Displacement Interpolation:
e h

u =

Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

H eq

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

3D continuum
2D plane strain / stress
2D axisymmetry

Example: linear hexahedron finite element

Master element geometry:
supported by 8 corner nodes, coordinates: (1 , 2 , 3 ) [1, 1]3
Basis functions:
h1(1 , 2 , 3 ) =
h2(1 , 2 , 3 ) =
h3(1 , 2 , 3 ) =
h4(1 , 2 , 3 ) =
h5(1 , 2 , 3 ) =
h6(1 , 2 , 3 ) =
h7(1 , 2 , 3 ) =
h8(1 , 2 , 3 ) =

1
8 (1
1
8 (1
1
8 (1
1
8 (1
1
8 (1
1
8 (1
1
8 (1
1
8 (1

Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

1 )(1 2 )(1 3 )
+ 1 )(1 2 )(1 3 )
+ 1 )(1 + 2 )(1 3 )
1 )(1 + 2 )(1 3 )
1 )(1 2 )(1 + 3 )
+ 1 )(1 2 )(1 + 3 )
+ 1 )(1 + 2 )(1 + 3 )
1 )(1 + 2 )(1 + 3 )
Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

3D continuum
2D plane strain / stress
2D axisymmetry

2D plane strain model

Plane Strain: constrained in longitudinal direction

2D geometry / 2D continuum behaviour / 2D loads, infinite
depth
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

3D continuum
2D plane strain / stress
2D axisymmetry

2D plane strain
2D plane strain: definition
The base hypothesis of 2D plane strain problem is:
u1,2 = u1,2 (x1 , x2 ) & u3 = 0 33 = 23 = 13 = 0
The constitutive relationship is then:

11
E
22 =

1
(1 + )(1 2)
12
0
0

0
0
12
2

Note that 13 = 23 = 0 but 33 6= 0 (Poisson effect):

33 =

E (11 + 22 )
(1 + )(1 2)

Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

11
22
12

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

3D continuum
2D plane strain / stress
2D axisymmetry

2D plane strain elements

Nodal Coordinate:
xj = {x1 , x2 }
Nodal DOF:
qj = {u1 , u2 }
Geometry & displacement interp.:
x=

H(1,2 ) e x ;

e h

u =

H eq

Stress / strain results:

= {11 , 22 , 12 }T  = {11 , 22 , 12 }T
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

3D continuum
2D plane strain / stress
2D axisymmetry

2D plane stress model

Plane Stress: no constraints in longitudinal direction

2D geometry / 2D continuum behaviour / negligible depth
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

3D continuum
2D plane strain / stress
2D axisymmetry

2D plane stress
2D plane stress: definition
The base hypothesis of 2D plane stress problem is:
33 = 23 = 13 = 0 & u1,2 = u1,2 (x1 , x2 )
The constitutive relationship is then

1
11
E

22 =
(1 2 )
12
0

written:

1
0

0
0
1
2

11
22
12

Note that 33 6= 0 and is derived from the Poisson effects:

33 = (11 + 22 )
E
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

3D continuum
2D plane strain / stress
2D axisymmetry

2D plane stress elements

Nodal Coordinate:
xj = {x1 , x2 }
Nodal DOF:
qj = {u1 , u2 }
Geometry & displacement interp.:
x=

H(1,2 ) e x ;

e h

u =

H eq

Stress / strain results:

= {11 , 22 , 12 }T  = {11 , 22 , 12 }T
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

3D continuum
2D plane strain / stress
2D axisymmetry

2D axisymmetric model

Axisymmetric model: revolution geometry

2D axisymm. geometry / 3D continuum behaviour / 2D axisymm.
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL
loadsFinite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

3D continuum
2D plane strain / stress
2D axisymmetry

2D axisymmetric elasticity
2D axisymmetric elasticity
2D axisymmetric models are written in cylindrical coordinates
{x1,2,3 } {r , z, }. The axisymmetric problem derives from the
hypotheses that it is invariant with coordinate and thus the
displacement, stress & strains fields depend only on the
coordinates r and z.
ur = ur (r , z); uz = uz (r , z); u = 0
rr =

ur
uz
ur
ur
uz
; zz =
;  = ; rz =
+
; r = z = 0
r
z
r
z
r
rr , zz , rz , = f (r , z); r = z = 0

Note that, even if we have reduced the dimensionnality of the

problem, the constitutive behaviour is fully 3D.
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

3D continuum
2D plane strain / stress
2D axisymmetry

2D axisymmetric elements
Nodal Coordinate:
xj = {x1 , x2 } = {r , z}
Axis of symmetry = OX2 Nodal DOF:
qj = {u1 , u2 } = {ur , uz }
Geometry & displacement interp.:
x=

H(1,2 ) e x ;

e h

u =

H eq

Stress / strain results:

= {rr , zz , , rz }T  = {rr , zz ,  , rz }T
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

Shell elements
Beam elements

Shell elements

Shell part (3D geometry / 2.5D structural behaviour)

Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

Shell elements
Beam elements

Shell elements

Nodal Coordinates, thickness, normal vector :

xj = {x1 , x2 , x3 } ; nj ; t j
Geometric interpolation:
X
1
a
x() =
hi (1 , 2 )( e xi + 3 t i ni )
2
i

Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

Shell elements
Beam elements

Beam elements

Wire part (3D geometry / 1.5D structural behaviour)

Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

Shell elements
Beam elements

Beam elements

Nodal Coordinates, dimensions, normal vectors :

xj = {x1 , x2 , x3 } ; nj2 ; nj3 ; t2j ; t3j
Geometric interpolation:
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

Example 1: TGV Bogie

Suitable modeling methods:

3D solids, use directly the 3D CAD model
3D shells (relatively thin plates), need to build surface model
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

Example 2: Aircraft fuselage

Suitable modeling methods:

3D shells (thin skins), need to build surface model
3D solids, ok but will require more computation time
Note: if windows are neglected and section is constrained in length direction, 2D plane strain model can be
considered.
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

Example 3: Stiffener in a sailing boat

Suitable modeling methods

2D plane stress is the best choice (no constraints in thickness
direction)
3D shells, good choice, necessary for buckling analysis
3D solids, ok but more computation cost
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations

Overview
Finite Element families
Continuum Elements
Structural Elements
Examples

Example 4: Pressure Vessel

Suitable modeling methods

3D solids, no simplification but one may assume
quasi-symmetry
3D shells, ok but thickness/length ratio is high
2D axisymmetric, ok but need to neglect side hole
Joel Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL

Finite element formulations