Advanced Finite Element Analysis

Lecture 1

Dr. Yasmeen Taleb Obaidat

Section 6.1
Examples 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4

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• The field of finite elements is a very large field
-Continuum mechanics
-Finite element discretization
-Numerical Algorithms
-Software Considerations

• We will concentrate on
-Methods that are generally application
-Modern Techniques
- Practical procedure ..Computer-aided

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• A brief review of the course
-Geometric and material nonlinear analysis
-Static and dynamic solution
-Basic principles and their use

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 FINITE ELEMENT NONLINEAR ANALYSIS

• Nonlinear analysis in engineering mechanics can be an art

• Nonlinear analysis can be a frustration.

• It always is a great challenge.

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• Some important engineering phenomena can only be
assessed on the basis of a nonlinear analysis:

* Collapse or buckling of structures due to sudden

overloads
* Progressive damage behavior due to long-lasting severe
loads
* For certain structures (e.g. cables), nonlinear
phenomena need be included in the analysis
even for service load calculations.

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The need for nonlinear analysis has increased in recent years
due to the need for
 Use of optimized structures
 Use of new materials
 Addressing safety-related issues of structures more
rigorously

The corresponding benefits can be most important.

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Problems to be addressed by a nonlinear finite element
analysis are found in almost all branches of engineering, most
notably in

• Nuclear Engineering
• Earthquake Engineering
• Automobile Industries
• Defense Industries
• Mining Industries
• Offshore Engineering and so on

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• For effective nonlinear analysis, a good physical and
theoretical understanding is most important.

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BEST APPROACH
• Use reliable and generally applicable finite elements.
• With such methods, we can establish models that we
understand.
• Start with simple models (of nature) and refine these as
need arises.

A "PHILOSOPHY“ FOR PERFORMING A

NONLINEAR ANALYSIS

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TO PERFORM A NONLINEAR ANALYSIS
• Stay with relatively small and reliable models.
• Perform a linear analysis first.
• Refine the model by introducing nonlinearities as desired.
• Important:
-Use reliable and well-understood models.
-Obtain accurate solutions of the models.

NECESSARY FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

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A TYPICAL NONLINEAR PROBLEM
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS:
Yield Load?
Limit Load?
Plastic Zones?
Residual Stresses?
Yielding where Loads are Applied?
Creep Response?
Permanent Deflections?

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CLASSIFICATION OF NONLINEAR ANALYSES
• Materially-Nonlinear-Only (M.N.O.) analysis:
-Displacements are infinitesimal.
-Strains are infinitesimal.
-The stress-strain relationship is nonlinear.

Example:

As long as the yield point has not been reached, we have a

linear analysis.
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• Large displacements/large rotations but small strains:
-Displacements and rotations are large.
-Strains are small.
-Stress-strain relations are linear or nonlinear.

Example:

As long as the displacements are very small, we have an

M.N.O. analysis.
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• Large displacements, large rotations, large strains:
-Displacements are large.
-Rotations are large.
-Strains are large.
-The stress-strain relation is probably nonlinear.

Example:

This is the most general formulation of a problem,

considering nonlinearities in the boundary
conditions. 16
• Nonlinearities in boundary conditions Contact problems:

• Contact problems can arise with large displacements, large

rotations, materially nonlinear conditions,...

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• Example:Bracket analysis

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• Three kinematic formulations are used:

-Materially-nonlinear-only analysis (small

displacements/ small rotations and small strains)

-Total Lagrangian formulation (large displacements/

large rotations and small strains)

-Updated Lagrangian formulation (large displacements/

large rotations and large strains)

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• However, different stress-strain laws are used with the
total and updated Lagrangian formulations. In this case,

-The material law used in conjunction with the total

Lagrangian formulation is actually not applicable to
large strain situations (but- only to large displ.,-
rotation/small strain conditions).

-The material law used in conjunction with the updated

Lagrangian formulation is applicable to large strain
situations.

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• We present force- deflection curves computed using each
of the three kinematic formulations and associated
material laws:

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• The deformed mesh corresponding to a load level of 12000
lbs is shown below (the U.L.J. formulation is used).

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• Example:Platewithholeintension

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• Purpose of analysis: To accurately determine the stresses
in the plate, assuming that the load is small enough so that
a linear elastic analysis may be performed.

• Using symmetry, we only need to model one quarter of the

plate:

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• THE BASIC APPROACH OF AN INCREMENT
ALSOLUTION
-We consider a body (a structure or solid) subjected
to force and displacement boundary conditions that
are changing.
-We describe the externally applied forces and the
displacement boundary conditions as functions of
time.

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• Since we anticipate nonlinearities, we use an incremental
approach, measured in load steps or time steps

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• When the applied forces and displacements vary

-slowly, meaning that the frequencies of the loads are

much smaller than the natural frequencies of the
structure, we have a static analysis;

-fast, meaning that the frequencies of the loads are in

the range of the natural frequencies of the structure,
we have a dynamic analysis.

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• Meaning of time variable

Time is a pseudo-variable, only denoting the load level

in Nonlinear static analysis with time-independent
material properties

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• Time is an actual variable
-in dynamic analysis
-in nonlinear static analysis with time-dependent
material properties (creep)

Now Δt must be chosen carefully with respect to the physics

of the problem, the numerical technique used and the costs
involved.

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• At the end of each load (or time) step, we need to satisfy
the three basic requirements of mechanics:

-Equilibrium
-Compatibility
-The stress-strain law

This is achieved
-in an approximate manner using finite elements
-by the application of the principle of virtual work.

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• We idealize the body as an assemblage of finite elements
and apply the principle of virtual work to the unknown
state at time (t+Δ t).

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THE PRINCIPLE OF VIRTUAL WORK

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• Note:- Integrating the principle of virtual work by parts
gives

•Governing differential equations of motion

•Plus force (natural) boundary conditions just like in
infinitesimal displacement analysis.

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• Example:Truss stretching under its own weight
Assume:
– Plane cross-sections remain plane
-Constant uniaxial stress on each cross-section We then have a one-
dimensional analysis.

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