Example. Obtain shape functions for the one-dimensional quadratic element with three nodes.

Use local
coordinate system −1 ≤ ξ ≤

1. 1 2 3 -1 0 1 x Solution. With shape functions, any field inside element is presented as: u(ξ) = XNiui , i =
1, 2, 3 At nodes the approximated function should be equal to its nodal value: u(−1) = u1 u(0) = u2 u(1) =
u3

10 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION Since the element has three nodes the shape functions can be quadratic
polynomials (with three coefficients).

The shape function

N1 can be written as: N1 = α1 + α2ξ + α3ξ

2 Unknown coefficients αi are defined from the following system of equations:

N1(−1) = α1 − α2 + α3 = 1

N1(0) = α1 = 0

N1(1) = α1 + α2 + α3 = 0

The solution is: α1 = 0, α2 = −1/2, α3 = 1/2.

Thus the shape function N1 is equal to: N1 = − 1 2 ξ(1 − ξ)

Similarly it is possible to obtain that the shape functions N2 and N3 are equal to: N2 = 1 − ξ 2 N3 = 1 2
ξ(1 + ξ)