MATLAB Guide to Finite Elements

An Interactive Approach
SECOND EDITION

Peter I. Kattan

Contents of the Accompanying CD-ROM

The accompanying CD-ROM includes two folders as follows:
M-Files: This folder includes the 84 MATLAB functions written specifically to
be used with this book. In order to use them they should be copied to the working
directory in your MATLAB folder on the hard disk or you can set the MATLAB
path to the correct folder that includes these files.
Solutions Manual: This folder includes the Solutions Manual for the book. Two
versions of the Solutions Manual are provided. The file Solutions to Problems
includes detailed solutions to all the problems in the book and is about 360 pages
in length. The other file Solutions to Problems2 is a reduced version of the
solutions in about 65 pages only. The two Solutions Manuals are provided in both
DOC and RTF formats.

Preface to the Second Edition

Soon after the first edition of this book was published at the end of 2002, it
was realized that a new edition of the book was needed. I received positive
feedback from my readers who requested that I provide additional finite elements
in other areas like fluid flow and heat transfer. However, I did not want to
lengthen the book considerably. Therefore, I decided to add two new chapters thus
adding new material while keeping the size of the book reasonable.
The second edition of the book continues with the same successful format
that characterized the first edition - which was sold out in less than four years. I
continue to emphasize the important features of interactivity of using MATLAB1
coupled with the simplicity and consistency of presentation of finite elements.
One of the most important features also is bypassing the use of numerical
integration in favor of exact analytical integration with the use of the MATLAB
Symbolic Math Toolbox2. The use of this toolbox is emphasized in Chapters 12,
13, 14, and 16.
In the new edition, two important changes are immediately noted. First, I
corrected the handful of typing errors that appeared in the first edition. Second, I
added two new chapters. Chapter 16 includes another solid three-dimensional
element (the eight-noded brick element) in great detail. The final chapter (Chapter
17) provides a review of the applications of finite elements in other areas like
fluid flow, heat transfer, geotechnical engineering, electro-magnetics, structural
dynamics, plasticity, etc. In this chapter, I show how the same consistent strategy
that was followed in the first sixteen chapters can be used to write MATLAB
functions in these areas by providing the MATLAB code for a one-dimensional
fluid flow element.
One minor drawback of the first edition as I see it is the absence of a
concluding chapter. Therefore, I decided to remedy the situation by adding
Chapter 17 as a real concluding chapter to the book. It is clear that this chapter is
different from the first sixteen chapters and thus may well provide a well written
conclusion to the book.
The second edition still comes with an accompanying CD-ROM that
contains the full set of M-files written specifically to be used with this book.
These MATLAB functions have been tested with version 7 of MATLAB and
should work with any later versions. In addition, the CD-ROM contains a
complete solutions manual that includes detailed solutions to all the problems in
the book. If the reader does not wish to consult these solutions, then a brief list of
answers is provided in printed form at the end of the book.
I would like to thank my family members for their help and continued
support without which this book would not have been possible. I would also like
to acknowledge the help of the editior at Springer-Verlag (Dr. Thomas Ditzinger)
for his assistance in bringing this book out in its present form. Finally, I would
1
2

MATLAB is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc

The MATLAB Symbolic Math Toolbox is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc.

like to thank my brother, Nicola, for preparing most of the line drawings in both
editions. In this edition, I am providing two email addresses for my readers to
contact me ([email protected] and [email protected]). The old email address
that appeared in the first edition was cancelled in 2004.
Peter I. Kattan
December 2006

Preface to the First Edition

This is a book for people who love finite elements and MATLAB3. We will
use the popular computer package MATLAB as a matrix calculator for doing
finite element analysis. Problems will be solved mainly using MATLAB to carry
out the tedious and lengthy matrix calculations in addition to some manual
manipulations especially when applying the boundary conditions. In particular the
steps of the finite element method are emphasized in this book. The reader will
not find ready-made MATLAB programs for use as black boxes. Instead step-bystep solutions of finite element problems are examined in detail using MATLAB.
Problems from linear elastic structural mechanics are used throughout the book.
The emphasis is not on mass computation or programming, but rather on learning
the finite element method computations and understanding of the underlying
concepts. In addition to MATLAB, the MATLAB Symbolic Math Toolbox4 is
used in Chapters 12, 13, and 14.
Many types of finite elements are studied in this book including the spring
element, the bar element, two-dimensional and three-dimensional truss elements,
plane and space beam and frame elements, two-dimensional elasticity elements
for plane stress and plane strain problems, and one three-dimensional solid
element. Each chapter deals with only one type of element. Also each chapter
starts with a summary of the basic equations for the element followed by a
number of examples demonstrating the use of the element using the provided
MATLAB functions. Special MATLAB functions for finite elements are provided
as M-files on the accompanying CD-ROM to be used in the examples. These
functions have been tested successfully with MATLAB versions 5.0, 5.3, and 6.1.
They should work with other later versions. Each chapter also ends with a number
of problems to be used as practice for students.
This book is written primarily for students studying finite element analysis
for the first time. It is intended as a supplementary text to be used with a main
textbook for an introductory course on the finite element method. Since the
computations of finite elements usually involve matrices and matrix
manipulations, it is only natural that students use a matrix-based software package
like MATLAB to do the calculations. In fact the word MATLAB stands for
MATrix LABoratory. The main features of the book are:
1. The book is divided into fifteen chapters that are well defined ad
correlated.
2. The books includes a short tutorial on using MATLAB in Chapter 1.
3. The CD-ROM that accompanies the book includes 75 MATLAB functions
(M-files) that are specifically written to be used with this book. These
3

. MATLAB is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc

The MATLAB Symbolic Math Toolbox is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc.

functions comprise what may be called the MATLAB Finite Element

Toolbox. It is used mainly for problems in structural mechanics. The
provided MATLAB functions are designed to be simple and easy to use.
4. A sequence of six steps is outlined in the first chapter for the finite element
method. These six steps are then used systematically in each chapter
throughout the book.
5. The book stresses the interactive use of MATLAB. Each example is solved
in an interactive session with MATLAB. No ready-made subroutines are
provided to be used as black boxes.
6. Answers to the all problems are provided at the end of the book.
7. A solutions manual is also provided on the accompanying CD-ROM. The
solutions manual includes detailed solutions to all the problems in the
book. It is over 300 pages in length.
The author wishes to thank the editors at Springer-Verlag (especially Dr.
Thomas Ditzinger) for their cooperation and assistance during the writing of
this book. Special thanks are also given to my family members without whose
support and encouragement this book would not have been possible. In
particular, I would like to thank Nicola Kattan for preparing most of the
figures that appear in the book.
Peter I. Kattan
February 2002