Source: Introduction to the Finite Element Method, 4th Edition

ISBN: 9781259861901
Authors: J. N. Reddy Ph.D.

1.7. Problems
1.1 Newton's second law can be expressed as

F = ma

where F is the net force acting on the body, m is the mass of the body, and a is the acceleration of the body in the direction of
the net force. Determine the mathematical model, that is, the governing equation of a free-falling body. Consider only the
forces due to gravity and the air resistance. Assume that the air resistance is linearly proportional to the velocity of the
falling body.

1.2 A cylindrical storage tank of diameter D contains a liquid at depth (or head) h(x,t). Liquid is supplied to the tank at a
rate of qi (m3 /day) and drained at a rate of q0 (m3 /day). Use the principle of conservation of mass to arrive at the governing
equation of the flow problem.

1.3 Consider the simple pendulum of Example 1.3.1. Write a computer program to numerically solve thelinear equation
(1.2.4) using Euler's (or forward difference) finite difference scheme. Tabulate the numerical results for two different time
steps Δt = 0.05 and Δt = 0.025 along with the exact linear solution.

1.4 Consider the simple pendulum of Example 1.3.1. Write a computer program to numerically solve thenonlinear
equation (1.2.3) using Euler's (or forward difference) finite difference scheme. Tabulate the numerical results for two
different time steps Δt = 0.05 and Δt = 0.025 along with the exact linear solution.

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 Solution Walkthrough

Finite Element Method Problem 1.4: Finite Difference Scheme for an Initial Value Problem

In this walkthrough the approximate solution to a nonlinear, second-order initial value problem for
the transient response of a pendulum is found using Euler's (or forward difference) finite
difference scheme. The second derivative is approximated using forward difference, and both
Dirichlet (first-type) and Neumann (second-type) boundary conditions are enforced. MATLAB code
for the solution scheme is provided, and a convergence study is tabulated.

Simon Jones, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

1.5 An improvement of Euler's method is provided by Heun's method, which uses the average of the derivatives at the two
ends of the interval to estimate the slope. Applied to the equation

du
= f(t,u)
dt

Heun's scheme has the form

Δt
ui+ 1 = ui + [f(ti,ui) + f(ti+ 1,u0i+ 1)] , u0i+ 1 = ui + Δt f(ti,ui)
2

The second equation is known as the predictor equation and the first equation is called thecorrector equation. Apply Heun's
method to Eq. (1.3.5) and obtain the numerical solution for Δt = 0.05.

1.6 Show that the backward difference approximation of the boundary condition inEq. (1.2.20) yields

βΔx − 1
θ N+ 1 = (1 + ) θN
k

βΔx
and that it is the same as that in Eq. (1.3.9) when
k
< 1.

Δ = 0.00625
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 1.7 Write a computer program to solve the rod problem of Example 1.3.2 using 8 intervals (i.e., Δx = 0.00625) and
determine the solution at mesh points x = 0.00625, 0.0125, 0.01875, … , 0.05 m.

Solution Walkthrough

Finite Element Method Problem 1.7: Finite Difference Scheme for a Boundary Value Problem

In this walkthrough the approximate solution to a linear, second-order boundary value problem for
1D heat transfer is found using the central finite difference scheme. The second derivative is
approximated using central difference, and a Dirichlet (first-type) and mixed boundary condition
are enforced. MATLAB code for the solution scheme is provided, and a convergence study is
tabulated.

Simon Jones, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

1.8 Repeat Problem 1.7 for 16 subdivisions and compare the finite difference solution with the analytical solution.Ans:
The finite difference solutions are

{θ} = {285.36, 271.84, 259.37, 247.92, 237.44, 227.89, 219.22,211.42, … ,176.78}T

The analytical solution at the same points is

{θ} = {285.56, 272.25, 259.99, 248.75, 238.48, 229.15, 220.71,213.13, … ,180.66}T

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