Recall clamped rod under an axial load:

q( X ) = q0 = const .

X
L

𝑑2 𝑈
𝐴𝐸 2 +𝑞 𝑋 =0; U = axial deflection
𝑑𝑋

𝑑𝑈
𝑈 0 =0 (essential BC) 𝐴𝐸 |𝑋=𝐿 = 0 (natural BC)
𝑑𝑋

Want: Obtain a finite element solution with three linear elements by minimizing
the domain residual 𝑅𝑑 𝑋 using the weak form of the Galerkin
weighted residual statement. Develop the solution in matrix form.
 GWR = Galerkin weighted residual

Step 0: Obtain weak form

trial solution
𝐿
෡
𝑑2 𝑈
GWR statement: න 𝑤(𝑋) 𝐴𝐸 2
+ 𝑞𝑜 𝑑𝑋 = 0
𝑑𝑋
0
domain residual, 𝑅𝑑 𝑋
weighting
function

𝐿 𝐿 𝑋=𝐿
෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
Weak form of GWR: 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑤 𝑋 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋=0
0 0

0 (natural BC)

𝐿 𝐿
෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑤 𝑋 = 𝐿 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋 = 0 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋=𝐿
𝑑𝑋 𝑋=0
0 0
 Step 1: Assume a trial solution (three linear pieces in this case)

trial soln. with three

linear pieces
෡4
𝑈
෡3
𝑈
෡2
𝑈 assume finite elements are
of uniform length for simplicity

෡1 element 1 element 2 element 3

𝑈 𝑋
node 1 node 2 node 3 node 4
0 𝐿/3 2𝐿/3 𝐿

෡ 𝑋 =𝑈
𝑈 ෡1 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 + 𝑈
෡2 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 + 𝑈
෡3 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 +𝑈
෡4 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋

where the trial functions 𝑁𝑏1 , 𝑁𝑏2 , 𝑁𝑏3 and 𝑁𝑏4 are the linear basis functions

෡1 , 𝑈
𝑈 ෡2 , 𝑈
෡3 and 𝑈
෡4 are the constant coefficients to be determined.
 In this case, the linear basis functions are defined as

𝑁𝑏1 𝑁𝑏2 𝑁𝑏3

1
𝑁𝑏4

𝑋
node 1 node 2 node 3 node 4
element 1 element 2 element 3
0 𝐿/3 2𝐿/3 𝐿

Normally, at this point we would enforce the essential boundary condition leading to
1 0 0
෡ 𝑋=0 =𝑈
𝑈 ෡1 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 = 0 + 𝑈
෡2 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 = 0 +𝑈
෡3 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 = 0 + 𝑈
෡4 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋 = 0 = 0

෡1 = 0. However we will wait to enforce this BC at the end of the problem

and thus 𝑈
Step 2: Minimize domain residual via weak form to get trial solution coefficients
෡2 , 𝑈
𝑈 ෡3 and 𝑈
෡4

𝐿 𝐿
෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
Recall weak form: 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 − 𝑤 𝑋 = 0 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋=0
0 0

We may get three equations from this weak form by first setting 𝑤 = 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋),
re-setting 𝑤 = 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 , re-setting 𝑤 = 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 and then re-setting 𝑤 = 𝑁𝑏4 (𝑋):

𝐿 𝐿
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
(1) 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 − 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 = 0 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋=0
0 0

𝐿 𝐿
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
(2) 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 − 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 = 0 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋=0
0 0

𝐿 𝐿
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
(3) 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 − 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 = 0 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋=0
0 0

𝐿 𝐿
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏4 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
(4) 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 − 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋 = 0 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋=0
0 0
In matrix form

𝐿 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝐿 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝐿 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝐿 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏4 𝐿

‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋 ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋 ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋 ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋 ‫׬‬0 𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 ෡1
𝑈
𝐿 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝐿 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝐿 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝐿 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑁𝑏4 𝐿 1
‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 ෡2
𝑈 ‫׬‬0 𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑋 0 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 = 𝑞𝑜 𝐿 − 𝐴𝐸
𝐿 𝑑𝑁 𝑑𝑁
‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋𝑏3 𝑑𝑋𝑏1 𝑑𝑋
𝐿 𝑑𝑁 𝑑𝑁
‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋𝑏3 𝑑𝑋𝑏2 𝑑𝑋
𝐿 𝑑𝑁 𝑑𝑁
‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋𝑏3 𝑑𝑋𝑏3 𝑑𝑋
𝐿 𝑑𝑁 𝑑𝑁
‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋𝑏3 𝑑𝑋𝑏4 𝑑𝑋 ෡3
𝑈 ‫׬‬0 𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑋 0 𝑑𝑋 𝑋=0
෡4
𝑈 𝐿
0
𝐿 𝑑𝑁 𝑑𝑁 𝐿 𝑑𝑁 𝑑𝑁 𝐿 𝑑𝑁 𝑑𝑁 𝐿 𝑑𝑁 𝑑𝑁
‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋𝑏4 𝑑𝑋𝑏1 𝑑𝑋 ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋𝑏4 𝑑𝑋𝑏2 𝑑𝑋 ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋𝑏4 𝑑𝑋𝑏3 𝑑𝑋 ‫׬‬0 𝑑𝑋𝑏4 𝑑𝑋𝑏4 𝑑𝑋 𝑁
‫׬‬0 𝑏4 𝑑𝑋

(4𝑥4) (4𝑥1) (4𝑥1)

(4𝑥1)

෡
becomes 1 −1 0 0 𝑈1 1/2 1
𝐴𝐸 −1 2 1 ෡2
0 𝑈 1 0 ෡
𝑑𝑈
= 𝑞𝑜 ℎ 1 − 𝐴𝐸
ℎ 0 −1 2 −1 𝑈෡3 0 𝑑𝑋 𝑋=0
0 0 −1 1 𝑈
෡4 1/2 0

෡1 = 0 from the essential boundary conditions and the system above may be solved for 𝑈
𝑈 ෡2 , 𝑈
෡3 ,
෡4 and 𝐴𝐸 𝑑 𝑈
𝑈 ෡ Τ𝑑𝑋
𝑋=0
The previous global system may be alternatively obtained from local (element)
contributions.

Finite element codes like ANSYS make use of this local (element) level approach.

To see how we do this, go back to weak form without enforcement of the natural BC

𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
(*) 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 0
0 0

term (a) term (b) term (c)

Term (a):
𝐿 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑 𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
0 𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

trial soln. with three

linear pieces
෡4
𝑈 assume finite elements are
෡3
𝑈 of uniform length h = L/3
෡2
𝑈 for simplicity

෡1 element 1 element 2 element 3

𝑈 𝑋
node 1 node 2 node 3 node 4
𝑋2 = 𝐿/3 𝑋3 = 2𝐿/3 𝑋4 = 𝐿
𝑋1 = 0
Term (b):
𝐿 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4

𝑞𝑜 න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞0 න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋
0 𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

trial soln. with three

linear pieces
෡4
𝑈 assume finite elements are
෡3
𝑈 of uniform length h = L/3
෡2
𝑈 for simplicity

෡1 element 1 element 2 element 3

𝑈 𝑋
node 1 node 2 node 3 node 4
𝑋2 = 𝐿/3 𝑋3 = 2𝐿/3 𝑋4 = 𝐿
𝑋1 = 0
Term (c):

𝐿 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 = 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 0
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
 Term (c):

𝐿 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 = 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 0
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3

Why (how) is this true? This can be seen by expanding the terms on the right hand side
 Term (c):

𝐿 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 = 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 0
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3

Why (how) is this true? This can be seen by expanding the terms on the right hand side

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
+ 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
+ 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
=
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤 𝑋2 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋1 𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤 𝑋3 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋2 𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤 𝑋4 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋3 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋
2 1 3 2 4 3
 Term (c):

𝐿 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 = 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 0
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3

Why (how) is this true? This can be seen by expanding the terms on the right hand side

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
+ 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
+ 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
=
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤 𝑋2 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋1 𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤 𝑋3 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋2 𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤 𝑋4 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋3 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋
2 1 3 2 4 3
 Term (c):

𝐿 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 = 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 0
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3

Why (how) is this true? This can be seen by expanding the terms on the right hand side

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
+ 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
+ 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
=
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤 𝑋2 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋1 𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤 𝑋3 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋2 𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤 𝑋4 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋3 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋
2 1 3 2 4 3
 Term (c):

𝐿 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 = 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 0
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3

Why (how) is this true? This can be seen by expanding the terms on the right hand side

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
+ 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
+ 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
=
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤 𝑋2 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋1 𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤 𝑋3 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋2 𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤 𝑋4 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋3 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋
2 1 3 2 4 3

𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈
= 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
 Term (c):

𝐿 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 = 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 0
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3

Why (how) is this true? This can be seen by expanding the terms on the right hand side:

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
+ 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
+ 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
=
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤 𝑋2 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋1 𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤 𝑋3 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋2 𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤 𝑋4 𝐴𝐸 − 𝑤 𝑋3 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋
2 1 3 2 4 3

𝑋4 =𝐿
෡
𝑑𝑈
= 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1 =0

So re-expression of term (c) as shown at top of slide is correct.

 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
So weak form (*) 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 becomes
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 0
0 0

term (a) term (b) term (c)

 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
So weak form (*) 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 becomes
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 0
0 0

term (a) term (b) term (c)

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑑𝑋 =
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

(**)
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4

𝑞0 න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
So weak form (*) 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 becomes
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 0
0 0

term (a) term (b) term (c)

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑑𝑋 =
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

(**)
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4

𝑞0 න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑤 𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑤(𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3

Recall 𝑈෡ 𝑋 = 𝑈෡1 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 + 𝑈෡2 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 + 𝑈෡3 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 +𝑈෡4 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋

෡1 , 𝑈
Linear system of eqns. for 𝑈 ෡2 , 𝑈
෡3 , 𝑈
෡4 is obtained by setting 𝑤 = 𝑁𝑏1 , 𝑁𝑏2 , 𝑁𝑏3 , 𝑁𝑏4 in (**)
Setting 𝑤 = 𝑁𝑏1 in (**), we get

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 + න
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 + න
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 =
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

(1)
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4

𝑞0 න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋

𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
Setting 𝑤 = 𝑁𝑏1 in (**), we get

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 + න
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 + න
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 =
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

=0 =0
(1)
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4

𝑞0 න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋

𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3
=0 =0

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3

=0 =0

Note that 𝑁𝑏1 is zero over elements 2 and 3

So in summary, letting 𝑤 = 𝑁𝑏1 , (**) becomes

𝑋2 𝑋2 𝑋2
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (1)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑋1 𝑋1

since 𝑁𝑏1 is zero over elements 2 and 3

𝑁𝑏1 𝑁𝑏2 𝑁𝑏3

1
𝑁𝑏4

𝑋
node 1 node 2 node 3 node 4
element 1 element 2 element 3
𝑋1 = 0 𝑋2 = 𝐿/3 𝑋3 = 2𝐿/3 𝑋4 = 𝐿
Setting 𝑤 = 𝑁𝑏2 in weak form in (**), we get

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 + න
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 + න
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 =
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

(2)
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4

𝑞0 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋

𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
Setting 𝑤 = 𝑁𝑏2 in weak form in (**), we get

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 + න
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 + න
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 =
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3

=0
(2)
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4

𝑞0 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋

𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3
=0

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3

=0

Note that 𝑁𝑏2 is zero over element 3

 So in summary, letting 𝑤 = 𝑁𝑏2 , (**) becomes

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋1 𝑋2

(2)
since 𝑁𝑏2 is zero over element 3

𝑁𝑏1 𝑁𝑏2 𝑁𝑏3

1
𝑁𝑏4

𝑋
node 1 node 2 node 3 node 4
element 1 element 2 element 3
𝑋1 = 0 𝑋2 = 𝐿/3 𝑋3 = 2𝐿/3 𝑋4 = 𝐿
 Similarly, letting 𝑤 = 𝑁𝑏3 , (**) becomes

𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3

(3)
since 𝑁𝑏3 is zero over element 1

𝑁𝑏1 𝑁𝑏2 𝑁𝑏3

1
𝑁𝑏4

𝑋
node 1 node 2 node 3 node 4
element 1 element 2 element 3
𝑋1 = 0 𝑋2 = 𝐿/3 𝑋3 = 2𝐿/3 𝑋4 = 𝐿
Finally, letting 𝑤 = 𝑁𝑏4 , (**) becomes

𝑋4 𝑋4 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏4 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏4 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (4)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋3 𝑋3

since 𝑁𝑏4 is zero over elements 1 and 2

𝑁𝑏1 𝑁𝑏2 𝑁𝑏3

1
𝑁𝑏4

𝑋
node 1 node 2 node 3 node 4
element 1 element 2 element 3
𝑋1 = 0 𝑋2 = 𝐿/3 𝑋3 = 2𝐿/3 𝑋4 = 𝐿
 ෡1 , 𝑈
So the linear system of eqns. for 𝑈 ෡2 , 𝑈
෡3 , 𝑈
෡4 obtained from weak form in (**) is

𝑋2 𝑋2 𝑋2
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (1)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑋1 𝑋1

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋1 𝑋2

(2)

𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3

(3)

𝑋4 𝑋4 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏4 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏4 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (4)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋3 𝑋3
 Element 1’s contribution to system of eqns in (1)-(4) is highlighted in blue:

𝑋2 𝑋2 𝑋2
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (1)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑋1 𝑋1

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋1 𝑋2

(2)

𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3

(3)

𝑋4 𝑋4 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏4 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏4 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (4)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋3 𝑋3
 Element 2’s contribution to system of eqns in (1)-(4) is highlighted in red:

𝑋2 𝑋2 𝑋2
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (1)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑋1 𝑋1

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋1 𝑋2

(2)

𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3

(3)

𝑋4 𝑋4 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏4 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏4 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (4)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋3 𝑋3
 Element 3’s contribution to system of eqns in (1)-(4) is highlighted in green:

𝑋2 𝑋2 𝑋2
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (1)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑋1 𝑋1

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋1 𝑋2

(2)

𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3

(3)

𝑋4 𝑋4 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏4 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏4 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (4)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋3 𝑋3
In matrix form, element 1’s contribution to left hand side (LHS) and right hand side (RHS) of
system of equations in (1)-(4) is obtained by looking at the blue terms:

LHS RHS
𝑋2
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑 𝑢ො
𝑋2 ෡ 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑈 𝑋2 𝑑𝑋
න 𝐴𝐸 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑞𝑜 න
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)
𝑑𝑋 +
𝑋1
𝑋1
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑋 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) 𝑋2
𝑋1 𝑑 𝑢ො
𝑑𝑋 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
In matrix form, element 1’s contribution to left hand side (LHS) and right hand side (RHS) of
system of equations in (1)-(4) is obtained by looking at the blue terms:

LHS RHS
𝑋2
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑 𝑢ො
𝑋2 ෡ 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑈 𝑋2 𝑑𝑋
න 𝐴𝐸 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑞𝑜 න
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)
𝑑𝑋 +
𝑋1
𝑋1
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑋 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) 𝑋2
𝑋1 𝑑 𝑢ො
𝑑𝑋 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1

෡ 𝑋 =𝑈
Over element 1, 𝑈 ෡1 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 + 𝑈
෡2 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 + 𝑈
෡3 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 +𝑈
෡4 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋

෡1 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 + 𝑈
=𝑈 ෡2 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 since 𝑁𝑏3 and 𝑁𝑏4 are both zero over element 1

𝑁𝑏1 𝑁𝑏2 𝑁𝑏3

1
𝑁𝑏4

𝑋
node 1 node 2 node 3 node 4
element 1 element 2 element 3
In matrix form, element 1’s contribution to left hand side (LHS) and right hand side (RHS) of
system of equations in (1)-(4) is obtained by looking at the blue terms:

LHS RHS
𝑋2
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑 𝑢ො
𝑋2 ෡ 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑈 𝑋2 𝑑𝑋
න 𝐴𝐸 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑞𝑜 න
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)
𝑑𝑋 +
𝑋1
𝑋1
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑋 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) 𝑋2
𝑋1 𝑑 𝑢ො
𝑑𝑋 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1

෡ 𝑋 =𝑈
Over element 1, 𝑈 ෡1 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 + 𝑈
෡2 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 + 𝑈
෡3 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 +𝑈
෡4 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋

෡1 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 + 𝑈
=𝑈 ෡2 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 since 𝑁𝑏3 and 𝑁𝑏4 are both zero over element 1

෡
𝑑𝑈 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 ෡1
𝑈
Plugging in = above,
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 ෡2
𝑈
In matrix form, element 1’s contribution to left hand side (LHS) and right hand side (RHS) of
system of equations in (1)-(4) is obtained by looking at the blue terms:

LHS RHS
𝑋2
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑 𝑢ො
𝑋2 ෡ 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑈 𝑋2 𝑑𝑋
න 𝐴𝐸 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑞𝑜 න
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)
𝑑𝑋 +
𝑋1
𝑋1
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑋 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) 𝑋2
𝑋1 𝑑 𝑢ො
𝑑𝑋 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1

෡ 𝑋 =𝑈
Over element 1, 𝑈 ෡1 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 + 𝑈
෡2 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 + 𝑈
෡3 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 +𝑈
෡4 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋

෡1 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 + 𝑈
=𝑈 ෡2 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 since 𝑁𝑏3 and 𝑁𝑏4 are both zero over element 1

෡
𝑑𝑈 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 ෡1
𝑈
Plugging in = above, element 1’s contribution to the LHS becomes
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 ෡2
𝑈
𝑋2 𝑋2
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏2
𝑋2
න 𝑑𝑋 න 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 ෡1
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑈 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 ෡1
𝑈 ෡1
𝐴𝐸 1 −1 𝑈
න 𝐴𝐸 𝑑𝑋
𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 = 𝐴𝐸 𝑋2 𝑋2 =
𝑋1
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑈෡2 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 ෡2
𝑈 ෡2
ℎ −1 1 𝑈
න 𝑑𝑋 න 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋
ℎ = 𝐿/3 is the uniform
element length
Also, the RHS contribution becomes ෡ 𝑋2
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑋2
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋) 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑞𝑜 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑋2
𝑋1
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1

𝑋 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋) −𝐴𝐸(𝑑𝑈෡ Τ𝑑𝑋)𝑋=𝑋

= 𝑞𝑜 ‫ 𝑋׬‬2 𝑑𝑋 + 1
1 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) ෡
𝐴𝐸(𝑑𝑈Τ𝑑𝑋)𝑋=𝑋2
 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋2 − 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
Also, the RHS contribution becomes ෡ 𝑋2
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑋2
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋) 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑞𝑜 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑋2
𝑋1
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1

෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑋 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋) −𝐴𝐸(𝑑𝑈෡ Τ𝑑𝑋)
𝐴𝐸 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋2
𝑋=𝑋1 𝑑𝑋
− 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋
= 𝑞𝑜 ‫ 𝑋׬‬2 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑋2 𝑋1
1 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) ෡Τ𝑑𝑋)𝑋=𝑋
𝐴𝐸(𝑑𝑈 2
 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋2 − 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
Also, the RHS contribution becomes ෡ 𝑋2 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑑𝑈 = −𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 𝑋1
𝑋2
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋) 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑞𝑜 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑋2
𝑋1
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1

෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑋 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋) −𝐴𝐸(𝑑𝑈෡ Τ𝑑𝑋)
𝐴𝐸 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋2
𝑋=𝑋1 𝑑𝑋
− 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋
= 𝑞𝑜 ‫ 𝑋׬‬2 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑋2 𝑋1
1 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) ෡Τ𝑑𝑋)𝑋=𝑋
𝐴𝐸(𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
2
= 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2

since 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 = 𝑋2 = 0, 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 = 𝑋1 = 1, 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 = 𝑋2 = 1, 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 = 𝑋1 = 0

𝑁𝑏1 𝑁𝑏2 𝑁𝑏3

1
𝑁𝑏4

𝑋
node 1 node 2 node 3 node 4
element 1 element 2 element 3
𝑋1 = 0 𝑋2 = 𝐿/3 𝑋3 = 2𝐿/3 𝑋4 = 𝐿 ℎ = 𝐿/3 is the uniform
element length
𝑋1 = 0 𝑋2 = ℎ 𝑋3 = 2ℎ 𝑋4 = 3ℎ
 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋2 − 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
Also, ෡ 𝑋2 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑑𝑈 = −𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 𝑋1
𝑋2
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋) 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑞𝑜 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑋2
𝑋1
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1

𝑞𝑜 1 ෡ Τ𝑑𝑋)
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑋 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋) −𝐴𝐸(𝑑𝑈 𝐴𝐸 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋2
𝑋=𝑋1 𝑑𝑋
− 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋
2ℎ 1 = 𝑞𝑜 ‫ 𝑋׬‬2 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑋2 𝑋1
1 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) ෡Τ𝑑𝑋)𝑋=𝑋
𝐴𝐸(𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
2
= 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2

since 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 = 𝑋2 = 0, 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 = 𝑋1 = 1, 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 = 𝑋2 = 1, 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 = 𝑋1 = 0

𝑁𝑏1 𝑁𝑏2 𝑁𝑏3

1
𝑁𝑏4

𝑋
node 1 node 2 node 3 node 4
element 1 element 2 element 3
𝑋1 = 0 𝑋2 = 𝐿/3 𝑋3 = 2𝐿/3 𝑋4 = 𝐿 ℎ = 𝐿/3 is the uniform
element length
𝑋1 = 0 𝑋2 = ℎ 𝑋3 = 2ℎ 𝑋4 = 3ℎ
 𝑋2
෡
𝑑𝑈
So the RHS contribution ends up being 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑋2
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋) 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑞𝑜 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑋2
𝑋1
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
෡
𝑑𝑈
−𝐴𝐸
𝑞𝑜 1 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
= +
2ℎ 1 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2

since 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 = 𝑋2 = 0, 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 = 𝑋1 = 1, 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 = 𝑋2 = 1, 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 = 𝑋1 = 0

𝑁𝑏1 𝑁𝑏2 𝑁𝑏3

1
𝑁𝑏4

𝑋
node 1 node 2 node 3 node 4
element 1 element 2 element 3
𝑋1 = 0 𝑋2 = 𝐿/3 𝑋3 = 2𝐿/3 𝑋4 = 𝐿 ℎ = 𝐿/3 is the uniform
element length
𝑋1 = 0 𝑋2 = ℎ 𝑋3 = 2ℎ 𝑋4 = 3ℎ
So finally, element 1’s contribution to left hand side (LHS) and right hand side (RHS) of the
system of equations in (1)-(4) is

LHS

𝑋2 𝑋2
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏2
න 𝑑𝑋 න 𝑑𝑋
𝑋1 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 ෡1
𝑈 ෡1
𝐴𝐸 1 −1 𝑈
𝐴𝐸 𝑋2 𝑋2 =
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 ෡2
𝑈 ෡2
ℎ −1 1 𝑈
න 𝑑𝑋 න 𝑑𝑋
𝑋1 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋

RHS

෡
𝑑𝑈
−𝐴𝐸
𝑞𝑜 1 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
+
2ℎ 1 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
So finally, element 1’s contribution to left hand side (LHS) and right hand side (RHS) of the
system of equations in (1)-(4) is

LHS

𝑋2 𝑋2
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏2
න 𝑑𝑋 න 𝑑𝑋
𝑋1 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 ෡1
𝑈 ෡1
𝐴𝐸 1 −1 𝑈
𝐴𝐸 𝑋2 𝑋2 =
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 ෡2
𝑈 ෡2
ℎ −1 1 𝑈
න 𝑑𝑋 න 𝑑𝑋
𝑋1 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋

RHS

𝑋2
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 −𝐴𝐸
𝑋2
𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋) 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1 𝑞𝑜 1 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑞𝑜 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑋2 = +
𝑋1
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) ෡
𝑑𝑈 2ℎ 1 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑋1

Note that the above contributions could be written by simple inspection of the blue terms in
equations (1)-(4) (see next slide).
 By inspecting the blue terms we may obtain the contributions of element 1 on previous slide :

𝑋2 𝑋2 𝑋2
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (1)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑋1 𝑋1

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋1 𝑋2

(2)

𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3

(3)

𝑋4 𝑋4 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏4 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏4 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (4)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋3 𝑋3
 ෡
𝑑𝑈 𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 ෡1
𝑈
Note that over element 1, = . Also 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋2 = 0, 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋1 = 1, 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋2 = 1, 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋1 = 0
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 ෡2
𝑈

𝑋2 𝑋2 𝑋2
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (1)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑋1 𝑋1
෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 ෡1
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑈 = −𝐴𝐸
෡2 𝑑𝑋
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑈 𝑋1

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋1 𝑋2
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 ෡1
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
෡2 = 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑈 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2 (2)

𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3

(3)

𝑋4 𝑋4 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏4 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏4 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (4)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋3 𝑋3
 Go back to equations (1)-(4). Element 2’s contribution is given in red:

𝑋2 𝑋2 𝑋2
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (1)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑋1 𝑋1

𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋1 𝑋2

(2)

𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3

(3)

𝑋4 𝑋4 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏4 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏4 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (4)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋3 𝑋3
 ෡
𝑑𝑈 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑁𝑏3 ෡2
𝑈
Note that over element 2, = . Also 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋3 = 0, 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋2 = 1, 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋3 = 0, 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋1 = 1
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 ෡3
𝑈

𝑋2 𝑋2 𝑋2
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏1 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏1 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏1 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (1)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑋1 𝑋1
෡
𝑑𝑈
= −𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏2 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋1 𝑋2
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 ෡2
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑈
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑈෡3
෡
𝑑𝑈 (2)
= 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋3 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏3 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 + 𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋2 𝑋3
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 ෡2
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑈
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑈෡3
(3)

𝑋4 𝑋4 𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑁𝑏4 𝑑 𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 න 𝑑𝑋 = 𝑞𝑜 න 𝑁𝑏4 𝑋 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑁𝑏4 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 (4)
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋3 𝑋3
Thus, element 2’s contribution to left hand side (LHS) and right hand side (RHS) of the system of
equations in (1)-(4) is

LHS

𝑋3 𝑋3
𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑁𝑏3
න 𝑑𝑋 න 𝑑𝑋
𝑋2 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 ෡2
𝑈 𝐴𝐸 1 ෡2
−1 𝑈
𝐴𝐸 𝑋3 𝑋3 =
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑁𝑏2 𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑁𝑏3 ෡3
𝑈 ℎ −1 1 𝑈෡3
න 𝑑𝑋 න 𝑑𝑋
𝑋2 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋

RHS

𝑋3
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 −𝐴𝐸
𝑋2
𝑁𝑏2 (𝑋) 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2 𝑞𝑜 1 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
𝑞𝑜 න 𝑑𝑋 + = +
𝑋1
𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋) ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑋3 2ℎ 1 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑋2
Finally, element 3’s contribution to left hand side (LHS) and right hand side (RHS) of the system
of equations in (1)-(4) is

LHS

𝑋4 𝑋4
𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑁𝑏4
න 𝑑𝑋 න 𝑑𝑋
𝑋3 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 ෡3
𝑈 𝐴𝐸 1 ෡3
−1 𝑈
𝐴𝐸 𝑋4 𝑋4 =
𝑑𝑁𝑏4 𝑑𝑁𝑏3 𝑑𝑁𝑏4 𝑑𝑁𝑏4 ෡4
𝑈 ℎ −1 1 𝑈෡4
න 𝑑𝑋 න 𝑑𝑋
𝑋3 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3 𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋

RHS

𝑋4
෡
𝑑𝑈 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 −𝐴𝐸
𝑋2
𝑁𝑏3 (𝑋) 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3 𝑞𝑜 1 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
𝑞𝑜 න 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑋4 = +
𝑋1
𝑁𝑏4 (𝑋) ෡
𝑑𝑈 2ℎ 1 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑁𝑏4 (𝑋)𝐴𝐸 𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑑𝑋 𝑋4
𝑋3
Element 1’s contribution to left hand side (LHS) and right hand side (RHS) of (1)-(4)

LHS RHS
෡
𝑑𝑈
−𝐴𝐸
𝐴𝐸 1 ෡1
−1 𝑈 𝑞𝑜 1 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
෡2 +
ℎ −1 1 𝑈 2ℎ 1 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2

may be expanded as

LHS RHS

෡
𝑑𝑈
෡1 −𝐴𝐸
1 −1 0 0 𝑈 𝑑𝑋
1 𝑋1
𝐴𝐸 −1 1 0 0 ෡2
𝑈 𝑞𝑜 1 ෡
ℎ 0 0 0 0 ෡3 + 𝐴𝐸 𝑑𝑈
𝑈 2ℎ 0 𝑑𝑋
0 0 0 0 ෡4
𝑈 0 𝑋2
0
0
Element 2’s contribution to left hand side (LHS) and right hand side (RHS) of (1)-(4)

LHS RHS
෡
𝑑𝑈
−𝐴𝐸
𝐴𝐸 1 ෡2
−1 𝑈 𝑞𝑜 1 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
෡3 +
ℎ −1 1 𝑈 2ℎ 1 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3

may be expanded as

LHS RHS

0
0 0 ෡1 ෡
𝑑𝑈
0 0 𝑈 −𝐴𝐸
0
𝐴𝐸 0 1 −1 0 ෡2
𝑈 𝑞𝑜 1 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
0 −1 1 0 ෡3 +
ℎ 𝑈 2ℎ 1 ෡
𝑑𝑈
0 0 0 0 ෡4 0 𝐴𝐸
𝑈 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
0
Element 3’s contribution to left hand side (LHS) and right hand side (RHS) of (1)-(4)

LHS RHS
෡
𝑑𝑈
−𝐴𝐸
𝐴𝐸 1 ෡3
−1 𝑈 𝑞𝑜 1 𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
෡4 +
ℎ −1 1 𝑈 ℎ 1 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋4

may be expanded as

LHS RHS

0
0 0 ෡1 0
0 0 𝑈 ෡
0 𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 0 0 0 0 ෡2
𝑈 𝑞𝑜 0 −𝐴𝐸
ℎ 0 1 −1 + 𝑑𝑋 𝑋
0 ෡3
𝑈 2ℎ 1 3

0 0 −1 1 ෡4
𝑈 1 𝑑𝑈෡
𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋
4
Adding all element contributions we get

1 −1 0 0 ෡1
𝑈 0 0 0 0 ෡1
𝑈 0 0 0 0 ෡1
𝑈
−1 1 0 0 ෡2
𝑈 0 1 −1 0 ෡2
𝑈 + 0 0 0 0 ෡2
𝑈
+
0 0 0 0 ෡3
𝑈 0 −1 1 0 ෡3
𝑈 0 0 1 −1 ෡3
𝑈
0 0 0 0 ෡4
𝑈 0 0 0 0 ෡4
𝑈 0 0 −1 1 ෡4
𝑈

෡
𝑑𝑈 0 0
−𝐴𝐸 ෡
𝑑𝑈 0
= 1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1 0 −𝐴𝐸 0 𝑑𝑈෡
𝑞𝑜 1 𝑞𝑜 1 𝑑𝑋 𝑞𝑜 0 −𝐴𝐸
෡ 𝑋2
+ 𝐴𝐸 𝑑𝑈 + +
෡ + + 𝑑𝑋 𝑋
2ℎ 0 2ℎ 1 𝑑𝑈 2ℎ 1 3
𝑑𝑋 𝐴𝐸 ෡
0 𝑋2 0 𝑑𝑋 1 𝑑𝑈
0 𝑋3 𝐴𝐸
0 𝑑𝑋 𝑋
0 4
Adding all element contributions we get

1 −1 0 0 ෡1
𝑈 0 0 0 0 ෡1
𝑈 0 0 0 0 ෡1
𝑈
𝐴𝐸 −1 1 0 0 ෡2
𝑈 𝐴𝐸 0 1 −1 0 ෡2
𝑈 𝐴𝐸 0 0 0 0 ෡2
𝑈
+ +
ℎ 0 0 0 0 ෡3
𝑈 ℎ 0 −1 1 0 ෡3
𝑈 ℎ 0 0 1 −1 ෡3
𝑈
0 0 0 0 ෡4
𝑈 0 0 0 0 ෡4
𝑈 0 0 −1 1 ෡4
𝑈

෡
𝑑𝑈 0 0
−𝐴𝐸 ෡
𝑑𝑈 0
= 1
𝑑𝑋 𝑋1 0 −𝐴𝐸 0 𝑑𝑈෡
𝑞𝑜 1 𝑞𝑜 1 𝑑𝑋 𝑞𝑜 0 −𝐴𝐸
෡ 𝑋2
+ 𝐴𝐸 𝑑𝑈 + +
෡ + + 𝑑𝑋 𝑋
2ℎ 0 2ℎ 1 𝑑𝑈 2ℎ 1 3
𝑑𝑋 𝐴𝐸 ෡
0 𝑋2 0 𝑑𝑋 1 𝑑𝑈
0 𝑋3 𝐴𝐸
0 𝑑𝑋 𝑋
0 4
So we end up with the same global system we had before:

෡
𝑑𝑈
−𝐴𝐸
1 −1 0 0 ෡1
𝑈 1/2 𝑑𝑋 𝑋1
𝐴𝐸 −1 2 −1 0 ෡2
𝑈 𝑞
= 𝑜 1 + 0
ℎ 0 0 2 −1 ෡3
𝑈 ℎ 1 0
0 0 −1 1 ෡4
𝑈 1/2 𝑑𝑈෡
𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋4
Note that

0 from
essential BC ෡
𝑑𝑈
−𝐴𝐸
1 −1 0 0 ෡1
𝑈 𝑑𝑋
2 𝑋1 =0
𝐴𝐸 −1 2 −1 0 ෡2
𝑈 𝑞𝑜 1 0
= +
ℎ 0 0 2 −1 ෡3
𝑈 ℎ 1 0
0 0 −1 1 ෡4
𝑈 2 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋4 =𝐿

0 from
natural BC

෡
𝑑𝑈
෡2 , 𝑈
May solve the system above for 𝑈 ෡3 , 𝑈
෡4 and 𝐴𝐸 (the reaction at the rod clamped end)
𝑑𝑋 𝑋 =0
1
Recall element 2’s contribution to left hand side (LHS) and right hand side (RHS) of (1)-(4)

LHS RHS
෡
𝑑𝑈
−𝐴𝐸
𝐴𝐸 1 ෡2
−1 𝑈 𝑞𝑜 1 𝑑𝑋 𝑋2
෡3 +
ℎ −1 1 𝑈 2ℎ 1 ෡
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3

The RHS may be written in short-hand notation as (2)

𝑞𝑜 1 −𝑃left
+ (2)
2ℎ 1 𝑃right

(2)
෡
𝑑𝑈
where 𝑃left = 𝐴𝐸 = axial force at the left node of element 2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋2

(2)
෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑃right = 𝐴𝐸 = axial force at the right node of element 2
𝑑𝑋 𝑋3
For generic element K with node K to the left and node K to the right

𝑋
node K node K+1
element K

we have that element K’s contribution to the global system of equations is

LHS RHS

(𝐾)
𝐴𝐸 1 −1 𝑈෡𝐾 𝑞𝑜 1 −𝑃left
+ (𝐾)
෡𝐾+1
ℎ −1 1 𝑈 2ℎ 1 𝑃right

where
(𝐾)
෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑃left = 𝐴𝐸 = axial force at the left node of element K
𝑑𝑋 𝑋𝐾

(𝐾)
෡
𝑑𝑈
𝑃right = 𝐴𝐸 = axial force at the right node of element K
𝑑𝑋 𝑋𝐾+1
Example: Rod under distributed and concentrated axial forces

q0 F=100 N

0.5L
0.75L
L

𝑑2𝑈
𝐴𝐸 2 +𝑞 𝑋 =0; U = axial deflection
𝑑𝑋
𝑈 0 =0 (essential BC)
𝑑𝑈
𝐴𝐸 | = 0 (natural BC; axial force at 𝑋 = 𝐿 )
𝑑𝑋 𝑋=𝐿
Example: Rod under distributed and concentrated forces
qo F =100 N

0.5L
0.75L
L
Given
• F = 100 N
• A = 30 mm2 = 30 * 10-6 m2
• E = 2 * 1011 N/m2
• qo= 100 N/m
Want: Solve for axial deflection using Galerkin weak form
with four piecewise linear segments
 qo qo F=100N

elem.1 elem. 2 elem. 3 elem. 4

node 1 node 2 node 3 node 4 node 5

h =L/ 4 = 0.25m h h h

From previous work the contribution of element K to the Galerkin weak

form global system is:
LHS RHS
𝑞0 ℎ (𝐾)
𝐴𝐸 1 −1 𝑈෡ 𝐾 2 −𝑃left
. +
ℎ −1 1 𝑈෡ 𝐾+1 𝑞0 ℎ (𝐾)
2
𝑃right
deflections (trial soln.)
at nodes K and K+1
axial forces to the left
and to the right of
element K
For element 1:
LHS RHS
𝑞0 ℎ (1)
𝐴𝐸 1 −1 𝑈෡ 1 2
−𝑃left
𝑞0 ℎ + (1)
ℎ −1 1 𝑈෡ 2 𝑃right
2

with

−6 2 𝑁
𝐴𝐸 30 ∗ 10 𝑚 (2 ∗ 1011 )
= 𝑚2
ℎ 0.25𝑚

𝐿 1𝑚
𝑞0 = 100 𝑁Τ𝑚 ℎ= = = 0.25𝑚
4 4

෡ 1 = 0 (essential BC) will be enforced later

Note: 𝑈
Let’s re-express these contributions as:
LHS RHS
 1 − 1 0 0 0 𝑈 ෡1 𝑞0 ℎ (1)
 − 1 1 0 0 0 ෡ 2
− 𝑃left
  𝑈2 𝑞0 ℎ 𝑃
(1)
𝐴𝐸 righ𝑡
 0 0 0 0 0 𝑈 ෡3 2 + 0
ℎ   ෡ 0
 0 0 0 0 0 𝑈
 4 0 0
 0 0 0 0 0 𝑈 ෡5 0 0

෡ 1 = 0 (essential BC) will be enforced later

Note: 𝑈
For element 2:

LHS RHS
𝑞0 ℎ (2)
𝐴𝐸 1 −1 𝑈෡ 2 2
−𝑃left
𝑞0 ℎ + (2)
ℎ −1 1 𝑈෡ 3 𝑃right
2
May be re-expressed as:

LHS RHS
0 0 0 0 0 Û𝑈 ෡1 1  0   00(2) 
0 1 − 1  
0 0 Û𝑈෡2 2 q l0/ 2 −𝑃 − (2)
left
p
AE 
𝐴𝐸  𝑞0𝑜 ℎ/2  (2)0 
0 − 1 1 0 0 Û𝑈 ෡3 3 / 2 ++ 𝑃
q𝑞0𝑜lℎ/2 pl( 2 ) 
−right
ℎl     00   0 
0 0 0 0 0 Û𝑈 ෡4 4  0   0 
0 0 0 0 0 Û𝑈
෡5 5  0   00 
For element 3:
LHS RHS
(3)
𝐴𝐸 1 −1 𝑈෡ 3 0 −𝑃left
+ (3)
𝑙 −1 1 𝑈෡ 4 0 𝑃right
This may be re-expressed as:

LHS RHS
𝑈෡1
0 0 0 0 0 0
𝑈෡ 2 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 (3)
𝐴𝐸 −𝑃left
𝑙
0 0 1 −1 0 𝑈෡ 3 0 + (3)
0 0 −1 1 0 0 𝑃right
𝑈෡ 4 0
0 0 0 0 0 𝑈෡ 5 0
For element 4:
LHS RHS
(4)
𝐴𝐸 1 −1 𝑈෡ 4 0 −𝑃left
+ (4)
ℎ −1 1 𝑈෡ 5 0 𝑃right
This may be re-expressed as:

LHS RHS
𝑈෡1
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0
0 0 0 0 0 𝑈෡ 2 0 0
𝐴𝐸
ℎ
0 0 0 0 0 𝑈෡ 3 0 + (4)
−𝑃left
0 0 0 1 − 1 𝑈෡ 4 0
0 (4)
𝑃right
0 0 0 −1 1 𝑈෡
5
Assembly:
Summing up all contributions to LHS and RHS of the weak
form, we get:
LHS RHS
(1)
𝑞0 ℎ −𝑃left
෡
0 𝑈1 2 (1) (2)
1 −1 0 0 𝑃right −𝑃left
෡2 𝑞0 ℎ 𝑞0 ℎ
−1 2 −1 0 0 𝑈 + 2 (2) (3)
𝐴𝐸
0 −1 2 −1 ෡3 =
0 𝑈
2
+ 𝑃right − 𝑃left
ℎ 𝑞0 ℎ
0 0 −1 2 −1 𝑈
෡4 (3) (4)
2 𝑃right − 𝑃left
0 0 0 −1 1 𝑈
෡5 0
(4)
0 𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
𝑞0 ℎ
2 𝑅1
𝑞0 ℎ 𝑞0 ℎ 0
+ 2
= 2
+ 0
𝑞0 ℎ
2
100𝑁
0 0
0
(1) (4)
where 𝑅1 = −𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 is the reaction at clamped end and 𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 =0
is the natural boundary condition
 ෡ 1 = 0 (essential BC) and solving, we get :
Substituting for 𝑈

෡ 2 = 0.00573 mm
𝑈
෡ 3 = 0.0104 mm
𝑈
෡4 = 𝑈
𝑈 ෡ 5 = 0.0146 mm (this is as expected (rigid body
motion))

Note that in this solution process, R1 is treated as an

unknown which may be solved after having solved for
෡ 2, 𝑈
𝑈 ෡ 3, 𝑈
෡ 4 and 𝑈෡ 5.