Examples

Ex: Assemblage of spring has been shown below in the figure.

For the load and boundary conditions shown in the figure find
out nodal displacements and force in each spring.
k2=1000 N/m
k1=1000 N/m (2)

1 2 3 F3=100 N
(3)
(1)

k3=3000 N/m
We know for an element: element
 1 − 1  u   f1 
(e)

  =  (e) 
level equation (e) 1
k  
(e)
[K ] {u} = {F } (e) − 1 1  u2   f 2 
For element 1

 1000 − 1000  f1( 1 ) 

[K ] =  N / m, {F } =  ( 1 ) 
(1) (1)

− 1000 1000   f2 

For element 2
 1000 − 1000  f1( 2 ) 
= N / m, {F } =  ( 2 ) 
(2) (2)
[K ] 
− 1000 1000   f2 

For element 3

 3000 − 3000  f1( 3 ) 

= N / m, {F } =  ( 3 ) 
( 3) ( 3)
[K ] 
 − 3000 3000   f2 
 Assembling stiffness matrices and force vectors
Element connectivity table
Element no. Node numbers associated with the element
1 1, 2
2 2, 3
3 2, 3

Global matrix equation is obtained by assembling the element

level equations

[K ]{U } = {F }
Where [K] is global stiffness matrix, {U} is global displacement
vector and {F} global force vector
 Total number of degrees of freedom in the system (n)=Degrees
of freedom per node × total number of nodes
Size of global stiffness matrix=n × n
Size of global force vector= n × 1

So in the example size of global

stiffness matrix=3 × 3
Size of global force vector= 3 × 1

Assembling the elemental stiffness matrices and force vector

 1000 − 1000 0   f1
(1)

 (1) ( 3) 
[ K ] =  − 1000 1000 + 1000 + 3000 − 1000 − 3000 N / m, {F } =  f 2 + f1 + f1 
( 2)
 
 0 − 1000 − 3000 1000 + 3000   f ( 2 ) + f ( 3) 
 2 1 
  1000 − 1000 0 
[ K ] = − 1000 5000 − 4000 N / m
 
 0 − 4000 4000 

Global equation
 1000 − 1000 0   u1   F1 
− 1000 5000 − 4000 u  =  F 
  2   2 
 0 − 4000 4000  u3   F3 

u1 , u2 and u3 are the nodal displacements and F1 , F2

and F3 are external forces applied.

Applying boundary condition

u1 =0 where displacement is zero , F2 =0 and F3 =100 N

Elimination method of applying boundary
condition: Remove the rows and columns of
the stiffness matrix corresponding to dofs
whose unknowns (i.e. displacements) are
specified as zero.
 1000 − 1000 0   u1   F1 
− 1000 5000 − 4000 u  =  F 
  2   2 
 0 − 4000 4000  u3   F3 

Node number Unknown DOF number

1 u1 1
2 u2 2
3 u3 3
u1 =0
F2 =0
F3 =100 N
Here in this case DOF is 1 corresponding to u1 so first
row and first column from the matrix equation will be
removed. Now reduced matrix equation will be

 5000 − 4000 u2   0 

− 4000 4000  u  = 100
  3   

5000u2 − 4000u3 = 0 (1)

- 4000u2 + 4000u3 = 100 (2)
Solving above two equations

u1 =0, u2 =1/10 m u3 =1/8 m

 1000 − 1000 0   u1   F1 
− 1000 5000 − 4000 u  =  F 
  2   2 
 0 − 4000 4000  u3   F3 
As u1, u2 and u3 are known so one can find out forces in
each spring

k (1) (u2 − u1 ) = f1
(2)
k (u3 − u2 ) = f 2
k ( 3) (u3 − u2 ) = f 3
f1 =100 N, f2 =25 N and f3 =75 N
 Truss system: y
Ex: For a truss system shown
in figure find out nodal 2
E, A, L 100 N
displacements and reaction
(1) (2)
forces.
E=100 GPa, A= 3×10-4 m2, 45o 45o 3
L= 3 m x
1 -45o

− sin(θ ) cos(θ )  u1   f1x 

(e)
 cos2 (θ ) sin(θ ) cos(θ ) − cos2 (θ )
    (e) 
EA  sin(θ ) cos(θ ) sin 2 (θ ) − sin(θ ) cos(θ ) − sin 2 (θ )   v1   f1 y 
  =  (e) 
L  − cos (θ ) − sin(θ ) cos(θ )
2 2
cos (θ ) sin(θ ) cos(θ )  u2   f 2 x 
 − sin(θ ) cos(θ ) − sin 2 (θ ) sin(θ ) cos(θ ) sin 2 (θ )  v   ( e ) 
  2   f2 y 

[k ]{u} = {f }
e (e )
 Element connectivity table with element line
angle with x-axis
Element no. Nodes θ
1 1,2 45o
2 2,3 -45o
Element no. cos θ sin θ cos2 θ sin θ cos θ sin 2 θ
1 1 1 1 1
1
2 2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1 1
2 − −
2 2 2 2 2
 1 1 1 1  1 1 1 1 
 2 − −   2 − −
2 2 2 2 2 2 
 1 1 1 1  1 1 1 1
 − −  − − 
[ ]
k = 10  2
1 7 2 2 2N / m [ ]
k = 10  2
2 7 2 2 2N / m
− 1 −
1 1 1  − 1 1 1 1
− 
 2 2 2 2   2 2 2 2
 1 1 1 1   1 1 1 1 
− −   − − 
 2 2 2 2   2 2 2 2 
Size of global stiffness matrix = (Number of nodes × dofs per node)
× (Number of nodes × dofs per node) =(3 ×2) × (3 ×2)= 6×6
Size of global force vector =( (Number of nodes × dofs per node)
× 1)=((3 × 2) ×1 )=6 ×1
After assembling elemental stiffness matrices we get
 1 1 1 1 
 2 − − 0 0 
2 2 2
 1 1 1 1 
 − − 0 0 
 2 2 2 2 
− 1 −
1 1 1
+
1 1
− −
1 1 
[K ] = 107  21 2
1
2 2
1 1
2 2
1 1 1
2 2 
1
− − − + − 
 2 2 2 2
1
2 2 2
1 1
2
1
 0 0 − − 
 2 2 2 2
 0 0
1
−
1
−
1 1 
 2 2 2 2 
 Global equation
 1 1 1 1 
 2 − − 0 0 
2 2 2
 1 1 1 1 
 − − 0 0  1  u   f 1
1x

 2 2 2 2 v   f 1 
− 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  1   1y 
− + − −  + 
 
1 2
107  2 
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 u f f
= 2x 1x
1  v2   f 21y + f12y 
2
 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
− − − + −    
 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2  u3   f 2 x  2

−   v3   f 22y 
1 1 1 1   
 0 0 −
 2 2 2 2
 0 0
1
−
1
−
1 1 
 2 2 2 2 
Applying boundary conditions
u1 =v1 =u3 =v3 =0, external force applied on node in x-
direction=100 N and in y-direction =0
For a node DOF numbers are =(2n-1, 2n) where n is node
number, per node two DOF will be there
DOF numbers for those component of displacements which
are specified as zero=1, 2, 5, 6
Node number DOF number
1 1,2
2 3,4
3 5,6

Corresponding to those DOFs the rows and columns of

global equation can be eliminated, reduced equation is
resulted
1 0 u2  100 
 = 
7
10  
0 1   v2   0 
 1 0 u2  100 
 = 
7
10  
0 1   v2   0 
After solving above equations
u2 = 0.01 mm
v2 = 0
After substituting displacements in the global equation we can
get reaction forces at node 1 and 3

1
R1x = f = −50 N
1x
1
R1 y = f = −50 N
1y
2
R3 x = f = −50 N
2x
2
R3 y = f = 50 N
2y
Ex: For the spring assembly shown in figure, determine the force
F3 required to displace node 2 by an amount 2.5 cm to the right.
Also find out displacement of node 3 and reaction at node 1.
k1=100 kN/m u2
k2=100 kN/m
1 2 F3
(1) (2) 3

For element 1

 10 5
− 105   f
(1)

[ K ](1) =  N / m, {F } =  ( 1 ) 
(1) 1
5 
 − 10 5
10   f2 
 For element 2

 105 − 105   f
(2)

= N/m, {F } =  ( 2 ) 
(2)
[ K ]( 2 ) 5 
1

 − 105
10   f2 

Assembling the element level stiffness matrices

 1 − 1 0   u1   f1 
1

5     1 2
10 − 1 2 − 1 u2  =  f 2 + f1 
 
 0 − 1 1  u3   f 2 
   2
  1 − 1 0   u1   F1 
5     
10 − 1 2 − 1 u2  =  F2 
 
 0 − 1 1  u3   F3 
Boundary conditions given are: u1 =0, u2 =25 mm. In
this case two types of boundary conditions are there.
One, which is homogeneous (i.e. u1 =0) and other in
which displacement is non-zero.
From above three equations are obtained

105 u1 − 105 u2 = F1 (1)

5 5 5
− 10 u1 + 2 × 10 u2 − 10 u3 = F2 (2)
5 5
− 10 u2 + 10 u3 = F3 (3)
 5 5
10 u1 − 10 u2 = F1 (1)
5 5 5
− 10 u1 + 2 × 10 u2 − 10 u3 = F2 (2)
5 5
− 10 u2 + 10 u3 = F3 (3)
In equation (2) F2 =0 because no external force is acting
on node 2
From above equations
F1 =-2500 N
u3 =50 mm
F3 =2500 N
Q 1. For the assemblage of spring shown below in the
figure, determine nodal displacements, forces in each
element, and reaction.
400 N/m 100 N 400 N/m 200 N

1 2 3
Q 2. For the plane structure shown below in the figure, determine
the displacement of node 2. Assume E = 200 GPa, and A = 2000
mm2.
2 100 kN
(1) (2)
E, A E, A
1 45o 45o 3
2m
Q 3. Determine the displacements at nodes 2 and 3 along with the
reaction at fixed node 1 for the spring assemblage shown in the
figure. k=1 kN/m

k=1 kN/m

2 k=1 kN/m 3 F=10 kN

1
Questions