FINITE ELEMENT METHOD IN CIVIL ENGINEERING (13A01606)

QUESTION BANK
1 & II UNITS
1. Write down the following?
a. Merits and demerits of FEM? 2M
b. Steps involved in FEM 2M
c. Advantages of FEM 2M
d. Disadvantages of FEM 2M
e. Discretization 2M
2. Using Rayleigh – Ritz method determine the expression for maximum displacement, when the
cantilever beam subjected to point W, KN at the free end. Also, compare it with the standard
expression. 10M
3. Draw a typical three-dimensional element and indicate state of stress in their positive senses.
Derive the equations of equilibrium in case of a three-dimensional stress system. 10M
4. Derive the shape function for 1D – two noded line element and derive stiffness matrix for the
same by using shape function. 10M
5. Determine the nodal displacement, element stresses and support reactions of the axially loaded
bar as shown in Fig. 11.20. Take E = 200 GPa and P = 30 kN. 10M

6. Write down the following?

a. Global coordinate system 2M
b. Local coordinate system 2M
c. Natural coordinate system 2M
d. Disadvantages of FEM 2M
e. Discretization 2M
7. Explain Rayleigh Ritz formulation with example. 10M
8. a. Explain the terms ‘Plane stress’ and ‘Plane strain’ problems. 5M
b. Explain the term ‘Axi-symmetric problems’. 5M
9. Briefly explain shape function and derive shape function for 1D – two noded line element 10M
10. Determine the nodal displacements at node 2, stresses in each material and support reactions 10M
in the bar shown in Fig., due to applied force
P = 400 × 103N.
A 1 = 2400 mm2 A2 = 1200 mm2
L 1 = 300 mm l 2 = 400 mm
E 1 = 0.7 × 105 N/mm2 E2 = 2 × 105 N/mm2
11. Write down the following?
a. Global coordinate system 2M
b. Local coordinate system 2M
c. Natural coordinate system 2M
d. Merits and demerits of FEM? 2M
e. Steps involved in FEM 2M
12. Using Rayleigh – Ritz method determine the expression for maximum displacement, when the
cantilever beam subjected to point P, KN at the free end. Also, compare it with the standard
expression. 10M
13. Draw a typical 3D element and indicate state of stress in their positive senses. Derive the
equations of equilibrium in case of a three-dimensional stress system. 10M
14. Explain discretization and different types of elements in FEM 10M
15. Explain the elimination method of imposing boundary conditions with example problem. In
axially loaded cases, how do you find the support reactions after getting required displacements? 10M
16. Write down the following?
a. Global coordinate system 2M
b. Local coordinate system 2M
c. Natural coordinate system 2M
d. Merits and demerits of FEM? 2M
e. Steps involved in FEM 2M
17. Using Rayleigh – Ritz method determine the expression for maximum displacement, when the
cantilever beam subjected to point P, KN at the free end. Also, compare it with the standard
expression. 10M
18. Draw a typical 3D element and indicate state of stress in their positive senses. Derive the
equations of equilibrium in case of a three-dimensional stress system. 10M
19. Explain the elimination method of imposing boundary conditions with example problem. In
axially loaded cases, how do you find the support reactions after getting required displacements? 10M
20. For a tapered plate of uniform thickness t = 10mm as shown in fig, find the displacement 10M
at the nodes by forming into two element model. The bar has mass density
7800 kg/m3, E = 2 x 105 MN/m2. In addition to self-weight, the plate is
subjected to a point load P = 10kN at the free end. Also determine stress
in the element and reaction force at the support.
 FINITE ELEMENT METHODS IN ENGINEERING
OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. In 2-D FEM, every node has _______ D.O.F [ ]

(A) 4 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 1
2. The matrix taken for plane stress/ strain condition is associated with _______ [ ]
(A) Geometric (B) Material properties (B) Boundary (D) All
3. The stiffness matrix for 2-D FEM consists of ________ [ ]
(A) Local co-ordinates (B) Global co-ordinate
(C) Directional cosines (D) Natural co-ordinates
4. If the nodes are nine in number for triangular element, it is __________ [ ]
(A) Liner strain triangle (B) Constant strain triangle
(C) Quadratic strain triangle (D) 2-D triangular element
5. The element which has more no of nodes to define geometry when compared to that of
displacement is called ________ [ ]
(A) Sub parametric (B) Triangular element (C) Isoparametric (D) Super parametric
6. Area is equal to _________ the determinant [ ]
(A) Twice (B) Thrice (C) Four times (D) None
7. Lagrange’s polynomial is used to define _______ [ ]
(A) Shape functions (B) Jacobian (C) Both (D) None
8. If there are internal nodes, it is _________ element [ ]
(A) Lagrange’s (B) Serendipity (C) Hermitian (D) Jacobian
9. In Axisymmetric case, Jacobian consists of _______ co – ordinates [ ]
(A) x,y (B) r,z (C) u,v (D) θ,r
10. The stiffness matrix for plane strain condition is given by _________ [ ]
(A) K = BT B 2 Π r det J. (B) K = BT E B V (C) K = BT D A le (D) K = BT B 2 Πr
11. Quartic elements consist of _________ nodes for rectangle [ ]
(A) 8 (B) 12 (C) 9 (D) 20
12. The range of natural co-ordinate L is ________ [ ]
(A) 0, -1 (B) -1, 0, 1 (C) 0, 1 (D) -1, 0, 2
13. The element which has less no of nodes to define geometry when compared to that of
displacement is called ________ [ ]
(A) Triangular element (B) Super parametric (C) Isoparametric (D) Sub parametric
14. The four components of strain in axi symmetric condition is _______ [ ]
(A) εz, εr , εθ, γyz (B) εx, εy , εz, γxz (C) εx, εr , εy, εθ (D) εz, εr , εθ, γzr
15. ξ value is varies from __________ [ ]
(A) -1 to 1 (B) -1 to 0 (C) 0 to 1 (D) -1
16. [K] {δ} = ____________________ [ ]
(A) {F} (B) {B} (C) {E} (D) {A}
17. If an element has 3 nodes then size of stiffness matrix of the total structure is_______ [ ]
(A) 2 X 2 (B) 3 X 3 (C) 1 X 1 (D) 4 X 4
18. The process of modeling a structure using suitable number, shape and size of the
elements is called [ ]
(A) FEM model (B) Discretization (C) Both (D) None
19. The dimension of stiffness matrix is N x N where N is number of __________ [ ]
(A) Elements (B) Unknowns (C) Nodes (D) Forces
20. The force matrix due to temperature stress in 1-D is given by [ ]
(A) EAα∆T [1 -1] T (B) EAα∆T [1 1] T (C) EAα∆T [-1 1] T (D) EAα∆T [-1 1]
1. FEM can be easily used to get solutions for ____________ [ ]
(A) Isotropic (B) Anisotropic (C) Both (D) None
2. Retaining wall is an example for ___________condition [ ]
(A) Plane stress (B) Plane strain (C) Axisymmetric (D) All
3. Strain displacement matrix is given by [ ]
(A) 1 / le [ -1 1] (B) 1 / le [ 1 -1] (C) 1 / le -1 (D) 1/ le 1
1 1
4. The dimension of stiffness matrix is N x N where N is number of __________ [ ]
(A) Elements (B) Nodes (C) Unknowns (D) Forces
5. The four components of strain in axi symmetric condition is _______ [ ]
(A) εz, εr , εθ, γyz (B) εx, εy , εz, γxz (C) εx, εr , εy, εθ (D) εz, εr , εθ, γθr
6. The transformation from x to ξ can be written for linear shape function as __________ [ ]
(A) ξ = 2( x2 – x1) ( x – x1) – 1 (B) x = N1 ξ 1 + N2 ξ 2
2
(C) ξ = (x2 – x1) (x – x1) – 1 (D) None

7. In 1-D every node is permitted to displace in __________ [ ]

(A) + x direction (B) – x direction (C) both (D) + Y direction
8. From principle of minimum potential energy δπ =_________________ [ ]
(A) U + wp (B) U –wp (C) Both (D) Zero
9. [K] {δ} = ____________________ [ ]
(A) {A} (B) {B} (C) {E} (D) {F}
10. If an element has 4 nodes then size of stiffness matrix of the total structure is________[ ]
(A) 2 X 2 (B) 3 X 3 (C) 1 X 1 (D) 4 X 4
11. The process of modeling a structure using suitable number, shape and size of the
elements is called [ ]
(A) FEM model (B) Discretization (C) Both (D) None
12. The equation for total potential energy of the spring is given by______________ [ ]
1
(A) Ku (B) –Pu + (2 Ku2) (C) 12Ku2 + pu (D) All

13. The total potential energy is sum of potential energy due to _____________ [ ]
(A) Internal stress (B) External stress (C) External load (D) both a and c
14. ξ value is varies from __________ [ ]
(A) -1 to 0 (B) -1 to 1 (C) 0 to 1 (D) -1
15. First order differentiation of total potential energy is 0 then the structure is said to be [ ]
(A) Static and equilibrium (B) neutral (C) Equilibrium (D) Un stable
16. The solution by FEM is____ [ ]
(A) Always exact (B) mostly approximate
(C) Sometimes exact (D) never exact
17. Discrete analysis covers_______ [ ]
(A) All 2-D trusses & frames (B) all 3-D trusses & frames
(C) All 2-D and 3-D trusses & frames (D) no trusses; only frames
18. FEM is a generalization of________ [ ]
(A) Rayleigh-Ritz method (B) Weighted residual method
(C) Finite difference method (D) Finite volume method
19. Variational principle is the basis for_________ [ ]
(A) Displacement method (B) Weighted residual method
(C) Finite difference method (D) Finite volume method
20. Displacement method is based on minimum________ [ ]
(A) Potential energy (B) strain energy
(C) Complementary strain energy (D) work done
1. Stain displacement matrix (Є) is given by (where q=1) [ ]
(A) 1/le [-1 1] (B) 1/le [1 -1] (C) 1 / le -1 (D) 1/ le 1
1 1
2. The dimension of stiffness matrix is N X N where N is number of _____________ [ ]
(A)Elements (B) Nodes (C) Unknowns (D) Forces
3. Viscous drag is an example for______________ [ ]
(A) Body force (B) Point load (C) Traction force (D) Gravity force
4. FEM can be easily used for get solutions for_____________ [ ]
(A) Isotropic (B) Anisotropic (C) Unisotropic (D) Both a & b
5. The four components of strain in axisymmetric condition is _____________ [ ]
(A) Ez, Er,Eθ ,δ θ r (B) Ez, Er,Eθ ,δ yz (C) Ex, Ey,Ez ,δ xz (D) Ex, Er, Ez , Eθ,
6. In 1-D every node is permitted to displace in ___________ [ ]
(A) ± y direction (B) ± x direction (C) ± z direction (D) All the above
7. The transformation from x to ξ can be written for linear shape function as __________ [ ]
(A) ξ = 2/{(x2 - x1) . (x - x1)}-1 (B) ξ = 3/{(x2 - x1) . (x - x1)}+1
(C) ξ = {2(x - x1) / (x2 - x1)}-1 (D) All the above
8. Retaining wall is a example for _______________ [ ]
(A) Plane stress (B) Plane strain (C) Axisymmetric (D) All
9. The process of modeling a structure using suitable number, shape and
size of the elements is called [ ]
(A) FEM model (B) Discretization (C) Both (D) None
10. Finite element modeling word was first used by_______________ [ ]
(A) Kani (B) Clough (C) You (D) None
11. The equation for total potential energy of the spring is given by______________ [ ]
(A) Ku (B) –pu+1/2Ku2 (C) 12Ku2 + pu (D) All
12. From principle of minimum potential energy δπ =_________________ [ ]
(A) U + wp (B) U –wp (C) Both (D) Zero
13. [K] {δ} = ____________________ [ ]
(A) {A} (B) {B} (C) {E} (D) {F}
14. If an element has 4 nodes then size of stiffness matrix of the total structure is_______ [ ]
(A) 2 X 2 (B) 3 X 3 (C) 1 X 1 (D) 4 X 4
15. The general formula for the half –band width NBW, for the bar element given ______[ ]
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4
16. Hybrid method is best suited for problems with prescribed___ [ ]
(A) displacements (B) forces (C) stresses (D) temperature
17. Primary variable in FEM structural analysis is______ [ ]
(A) displacement (B) force (C) stress (D) strain
18. Stress boundary conditions can be prescribed in _____ [ ]
(A) displacement method (B) hybrid method
(C) force method (D) mixed method
19. Prescribed loads catt40rm input data in _____ [ ]
(A) displacement method (B) hybrid method
(C) force method (D) mixed method
20. Stiffness matrix approach is used in___________ [ ]
(A) displacement method (B) stress method
(C) force method (D) mixed method
1. Transformation matrix for all elements [ ]
(A) is always same (B) is different (C) depends on element axes (D) depends on material
2. Transformation matrix relates coordinate system in element coordinate system with [ ]
(A) displacements (B) stresses (C) stiffness coefficients (D) material properties
3. Primary variable in FEM structural analysis is [ ]
(A) displacement (B) force (C) stress (D) Stiffness
4. A singular stiffness matrix means [ ]
(A) unstable structure (B) one or more DOF are unrestrained
(C) wrong connectivity of elements (D) wrong solution expected
5. One possible load in structural analysis is the specified [ ]
(A) nodal temperature (B) stress in an element (C) heat flow (D) strain in an element
6. Assembled stiffness matrix after applying boundary conditions is NOT [ ]
(A) square (B) symmetric (C) handed (D) singular
7. Determinant of assembled stiffness matrix before applying boundary conditions is [ ]
(A) < 0 (B) = 0 (C) > 0 (D) depends on the problem
8. Determinant of assembled stiffness matrix after applying boundary conditions is [ ]
(A) < 0 (B) = 0 (C) > 0 (D) depends on the problem
9. A pipe with internal pressure behaves __ a hollow pipe same section [ ]
(A) with exactly same deflection as (B) with lesser bending deflection than
(C) with more bending deflection than (D) with a different type of deflection
10. Any point in a structure can have maximum of _ SOF [ ]
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 6
II. A 1-0 structural element is a [ ]
(A) truss element (B) beam element (C) pipe element (D) all of them
12. Meshing for 1-0 elements is [ ]
(A) essential (B) optional (C) reduces input data (D) depends on other data
13. A structure with loads at joints only is usually modeled by [ ]
(A) truss elements (B) beam elements (C) pipe elements (D) anyone of them
14. A frame with nodal loads only is modeled as an assembly of truss elements, if resistance
to rotational degree of freedom of joints is [ ]
(A) very small (B) not related (C) very large (D) depends on other data
15. A frame with nodal loads only is modeled as an assembly of beam elements,
if resistance to rotational degree of freedom of joints is [ ]
(A) very small (B) not related (C) very large (D) depends on other data
16. A frame with distributed loads along members is modeled by an assembly of elements[ ]
(A) truss (B) beam (C) pipe (D) anyone of them
17. A frame with welded joints can be approximated by truss elements [ ]
(A) always (B) sometimes (C) never (D) depends on assumed flexibility of rotation
18. A structure assembled by bolts/rivets at each joint is modeled by truss elements [ ]
(A) always (B) sometimes (C) never (D) depends on assumed flexibility of rotation
19. Stress across any 1-0 element is assumed to be constant [ ]
(A) true for beam elements (B) true for truss elements
(C) true for pipe element (D) true for all 1-0 elements
20. A bar is modeled as 1-0 element only if its [ ]
(A) area of cross section is small (B) moment of inertia is small
(C) length is very large compared to cross section dimensions (D) all the above