Nonlinear finite elements/Timoshenko beams

Timoshenko Beam edit

 
Timoshenko beam.

Displacements edit

 

Strains edit

 
 

Principle of Virtual Work edit

 

where

 
 

  = shear correction factor

Taking Variations edit

 

Take variation

 
 

Take variation

 
 

Take variation

 

Internal Virtual Work edit

 
 

Integrate by Parts edit

Get rid of derivatives of the variations.

 

Collect terms edit

 

Euler-Lagrange Equations edit

 
 

Constitutive Relations edit

 

Then,

 

where

 

Equilibrium Equations edit

 

Weak Form edit

 

Finite element model edit

Trial Solution edit

 

Element Stiffness Matrix edit

 

Choice of Approximate Solutions edit

Choice 1 edit

  = linear ( )
  = linear ( )
  = linear ( ).

Nearly singular stiffness matrix ( ).

Choice 2 edit

  = linear ( )
  = quadratic ( )
  = linear ( ).

The stiffness matrix is ( ). We can statically condense out the interior degree of freedom and get a ( ) matrix. The element behaves well.

Choice 3 edit

  = linear ( )
  = cubic ( )
  = quadratic ( )

The stiffness matrix is ( ). We can statically condense out the interior degrees of freedom and get a ( ) matrix. If the shear and bending stiffnesses are element-wise constant, this element gives exact results.

Shear Locking edit

Example Case edit

Linear  , Linear  , Linear  .

 

But, for thin beams,

 

If constant  

 

Also

  1.   Non-zero transverse shear.
  2.   Zero bending energy.

Result: Zero displacements and rotations   Shear Locking!

Recall

 

or,

 

If   and   constant

 

If there is only bending but no stretching,

 

Hence,

 

Also recall:

 

or,

 

If   and   constant, and no membrane strains

 

Hence,

 

Shape functions need to satisfy:

 

Example Case 1 edit

Linear  , Linear  , Linear  .

  • First condition   constant   constant. Passes! No Membrane Locking.
  • Second condition   linear   constant. Fails! Shear Locking.

Example Case 2 edit

Linear  , Quadratic  , Linear  .

  • First condition   constant   quadratic. Fails! Membrane Locking.
  • Second condition   linear   linear. Passes! No Shear Locking.

Example Case 3 edit

Quadratic  , Quadratic  , Linear  .

  • First condition   linear   quadratic. Fails! Membrane Locking.
  • Second condition   linear   linear. Passes! No Shear Locking.

Example Case 4 edit

Cubic  , Quadratic  , Linear  .

  • First condition   quadratic   quadratic. Passes! No Membrane Locking.
  • Second condition   linear   linear. Passes! No Shear Locking.

Overcoming Shear Locking edit

Option 1 edit

  • Linear  , linear  , linear  .
  • Equal interpolation for both   and  .
  • Reduced integration for terms containing   - treat as constant.

Option 2 edit

  • Cubic  , quadratic  , linear  .
  • Stiffness matrix is  .
  • Hard to implement.