SHAPE FUNCTIONS IN THE FINITE
ELEMENT METHOD
By:
Hameed Zaier
INTRODUCTION
The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a powerful
numerical technique widely used in engineering
and applied sciences to solve partial
differential equations over complex geometries.
A central concept in FEM is the shape function,
which plays a vital role in approximating the
unknown field variables within each finite
element. Shape functions help convert a
continuous domain problem into a discretized
system that can be solved computationally.
DEFINITION OF SHAPE FUNCTIONS
Shape functions, often denoted as Ni, are mathematical functions used to
interpolate the solution within an element using the nodal values. For an
element with n nodes, the approximate solution u(x) at any point inside the
element is expressed as:
𝑛
𝑢 𝑥) ≈ 𝑖=1 𝑁𝑖 (𝑥 𝑢𝑖
where:
• Ni(x) is the shape function associated with node i,
• ui is the nodal value of the field variable (e.g., displacement,
temperature),
• x is the position within the element.
SHAPE FUNCTION FOR AXIAL BAR MEMBER 1D BARB
ELEMENT -3 NODED NORMAL-CARTESIAN-
Consider element with three nodes at the ends (say 1, 2, and 3).
Let u1, u2 and u3 be the dis placements at the nodes respectively.
Let (P) be point where the displacement is u.
Let the displacement at point (P) be u=N1u1+N2u2+N3u3
Here:
N1, N2 and N3 are called shape function at the point (P) with respect to nodes at
(1, 2, and 3) respectively.
L= length of member
SHAPE FUNCTION FOR AXIAL BAR MEMBER 1D BARB
ELEMENT -3 NODED NORMAL-CARTESIAN-
X p(x)
(1) (3) (2)
𝑙
X=o x= x=𝑙
2
*let u be the displacement
any point p(x)
SHAPE FUNCTION FOR AXIAL BAR MEMBER 1D
BARB ELEMENT -3 NODED NORMAL-CARTESIAN-
𝜇 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 𝑥 + 𝑎3 𝑥 2
𝑎1
𝑢 = 1 𝑥 𝑥2 𝑎2
𝑎3
*Apply Boundary conditions
Node 1 u=u1 x1=0=x
U1 =a1+ a2(0)+a3(0)2
Node 2 u=u2 x=L=x2
U2= a1+a2(l)+a3(l)2
SHAPE FUNCTION FOR AXIAL BAR MEMBER
1D BARB ELEMENT -3 NODED NORMAL-
CARTESIAN- 𝑙
Node 3 u=u3 𝑥 = 2 = 𝑥3
𝑙 𝑙
U3= a1 + a2 (2) + a3(2)2
𝑢1 1 0 0 𝑎1
2
𝑢2 = 1 𝑙 𝑙 𝑎2
𝑙 𝑙2
𝑢3 1 𝑎3
2 4
−1
𝑎1 1 0 0 𝑢1
𝑎2 1 𝑙 𝑙2 𝑢2
= 𝑙 𝑙2
𝑎3 1 𝑢3
2 4
SHAPE FUNCTION FOR AXIAL BAR MEMBER 1D
BARB ELEMENT -3 NODED NORMAL-CARTESIAN-
−1 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑜𝑢𝑑 𝐴
𝐴 =
𝐴
1 0 0
𝑙
𝑇 1 𝑙
𝐴 = 2
𝑙2
1 𝑙2
4
𝑙3 𝑙3
𝐴 =1 −
4 2
𝑙 3 − 2𝑙 3 𝑙3
= =− = 𝐴
4 4
SHAPE FUNCTION FOR AXIAL BAR MEMBER 1D
BARB ELEMENT -3 NODED NORMAL-CARTESIAN-
𝑙3 −𝑙 2
4 2
−0 +0
−𝑙 3
4 −𝑙 3
𝑙2
0 0
4
𝑙2 𝑙2 3𝑙 2 𝑙2
4
+ − 𝑙2 = 𝑙2
−3𝑙 2 4 4 4
= −𝑙 𝑙
4
𝑙
𝑙 2 2
−𝑙 𝑙
2
𝑙 − +𝑙
2
= −
2
−𝑙 3
0 0
4
1 3𝑙 2 𝑙2 −4
𝐴−1 = 3 −𝑙 2 ∗ 3
−𝑙 4 4 𝑙
4 −𝑙 −𝑙
𝑙
2 2
SHAPE FUNCTION FOR AXIAL BAR MEMBER 1D
BARB ELEMENT -3 NODED NORMAL-CARTESIAN-
−𝑙 3
0 0
4 𝑢
3𝑙 2 𝑙2 −4 1
𝑢= 1 𝑥 𝑥2 1∗3 −𝑙 2 ∗ 3 𝑢2
4 4 𝑙 𝑢
3
−𝑙 −𝑙
𝑙
2 2 3∗3
𝑢1
−4 −𝑙 3 3𝑥𝑙2 𝑙𝑥 2 𝑥𝑙 2 𝑙𝑥 2
𝑢= + − −𝑥𝑙 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑙 𝑢2 ….(2)
𝑙3 4 4 2 4 2
𝑢3
SHAPE FUNCTION FOR AXIAL BAR MEMBER 1D BARB
ELEMENT -3 NODED NORMAL-CARTESIAN-
Wrt. U= N1u1+N2u2+N3u3
𝑢1
𝑢 = 𝑁1 𝑁2 𝑁3 𝑢2 ……(3)
𝑢3
Compare (2) and (3)
−4 −𝑙 3 3𝑥𝑙 2 𝑙𝑥 2 3𝑥 2𝑥 2
𝑁1 = 3 + − , 𝑁1 = 1 − + 2
𝑙 4 4 2 𝑙 𝑙
−4 𝑥𝑙 2 𝑙𝑥 2 −𝑥 2𝑥 2
𝑁2 = 2 − , 𝑁2 = + 2
𝑙 4 2 𝑙 𝑙
−4 4𝑥 4𝑥 2
𝑁3 = 2 −𝑥𝑙 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑙 , 𝑁3 = + 2
𝑙 𝑙 𝑙
SHAPE FUNCTION FOR AXIAL BAR MEMBER 1D BARB
ELEMENT -3 NODED NORMAL-CARTESIAN-
Node 1 X= 0 𝑁1 = 1 𝑁2 = 0 𝑁3 = 0 …..… Volition N1 at Node 1
3𝑙 2𝑙 2
Node 2 X=L 𝑁1 = 1 − + = 3 − 3 = 0 .… Volition N2 at Node 2
𝑙 𝑙
−𝑙 2𝑙 2
𝑁1 = + 2 = −1 + 2 = 1
𝑙 𝑙
4𝑙 4𝑙 2
𝑁1 = + 2 = 4−4= 0
𝑙 𝑙
𝑙 𝑙 2
𝑙 3 2 3 1
2 2
at node 3 𝑥 = 𝑁1 = 1 − + = 1− + =0
2 𝑙 𝑙2 2 2
2
𝑙 2 𝑙
− 2 1 1
𝑁2 = 2 + =− + =0
𝑙 𝑙2 2 2
2
𝑙
4𝑙 4
2
𝑁3 = − = −1 + 2 = 1
2𝑙 𝑙2
SHAPE FUNCTION FOR AXIAL BAR MEMBER 1D BARB
ELEMENT -3 NODED NORMAL-CARTESIAN-
Volition N1
(+)
At Node 1
(-)
Volition N2 (+)
At Node 2
(-)
(+) (+)
Volition N3
At Node 3
REFERENCES
1. Vu, Thu Hang, and Andrew J. Deeks. "Use of higher‐order shape functions in
the scaled boundary finite element method." International Journal for Numerical
Methods in Engineering 65.10 (2006): 1714-1733.
2. Zieli, Tomasz G. "Introduction to finite element method." (1992).
3. Liu, G. R., et al. "On the essence and the evaluation of the shape functions for
the smoothed finite element method (SFEM)." International Journal for
Numerical Methods in Engineering 77.13 (2009): 1863-1869.
4. Prof. Prakruthi Gowd, Introduction to Finite Element Method “Advanced
Structural Analysis, Shape Function for Axial Bar Member - 1D Bar Element -
3 Noded - Normal Method – Cartesian”.
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