A Basic Derivation of the Finite Element

Method (FEM)

Jousef Murad • 7 min read

A basic approach to derive the infamous FEM formula KU=F from a one dimensional
(1D) Bar element problem.

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closed-form solutions in order to describe the
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physical behaviour of a component by means of an
FEM 🏗️
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I-Beam - Analytical Solutions to this Problem Are

Known!

For example, we can use the following analytical

solution for an I-beam to calculate the deflection:

F L3 M L2
u= + (1)
3EI 2EI
​

​ ​

Where I is the "Second Moment of Area":

1
I= (BH 3 − bh3 ) (2)
12
​
​
 ON THIS PAGE

Motivation 🧠
Introduction 👇

Notation ✍️
Nomenclature of
Elements & Nodes
I-Beam – Description of Beam Parameters 📝
Force Convention 📄
As I mentioned in my "Beginner's Guide to A Single Bar Element
FEM"...whenever engineers solve complex problems ☝️
involving complex geometries, loading conditions or Bringing Everything
material laws, they cannot use classical analytical Together 📖
approaches using closed-form methods.

FEM offers a way to solve a problem where an

analytical solution does not exist!

Introduction 👇
Whenever we cannot use the aforementioned
approach, we have to talk about numerical methods
such as the Finite Element Method (FEM) which
discretises, or subdivides our domain into finite
elements. We can call ourselves incredibly lucky that
today's computer aided engineering (CAE) tools
allow for automatic mesh generation and solving
these systems. We do not have to waste engineering
brain power anymore on deriving equations for new
problems and start "from scratch", but can instead
use FEA software tools that do the job for us.

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We could technically derive the equations by simply

taking the heat equation and deriving all equations
from that one. From my experience teaching
students, the easier approach is to describe the
behaviour of a single bar element and model it as a
spring. The behaviour of each element generally
requires the development of partial differential
equations (PDEs) for the problem and formulation of
its weak form. PDEs...weak form...?

Don't worry. That's a bit of an advanced topic and

will not be covered in this beginner friendly piece.
We derive the basic equations without considering
governing partial differential equations, weak forms
or any other fancy methods.

We solely focus on deriving the equation for a single

one-dimensional bar element which will be the
basis to derive and solve bigger systems. The
following approach will be used:

1. Look at force equilibrium of the element – assume

that the sum of the nodal internal forces acting on
the element is equal to zero

2. Apply Hooke’s law, which states that the stress σ

is a linear function of the strain ϵ

σ = Eϵ ​ (3)

3. Derive matrix for of the element stiffness matrix

K that relates the force and displacement matrices
4. ...Profit! 🚀

Notation ✍️

Nomenclature of Elements &

Nodes 📝
When talking about the FEM, a simple notation will be
used to denote element and node numbers.

Element numbers are denoted by superscripts

Node numbers are denoted by subscripts

When the variable is a vector with components in

specific directions, the component is given after the
number. In any other case we assume that we mean
the global node number.

Example:

The image below shows a simple version of one bar

element. The first node is on the left side, the second
node on the right side, as indicated by the naming of
the displacement u. The element is kept general in
this case but will be renamed once we talk about
bigger systems and need to distinguish between
elements. It will also help you when we work on the
"matrix assembly", so putting all matrices together
to build a global matrix of all elements. Stay tuned!

Example of the Nomenclature

To reemphasise, for more complex cases where we
have multiple elements in a system, u23x would mean
​

that we talk about the displacement of node 3 at

element 2 in x direction – because multiple directions
could be possible such as y, or if we talk about three
dimensions, even z.

If that is not clear just yet, don't worry! You will

understand it once we deal with bigger systems that
we are going to solve! 🙂 It might seem annoying to
do this but you will see that you understand the
derivations much more easily if we do it in such a
way.

The more familiar you become with the method, the

less we will use this notation as it will "click" at some
point and you'll become more proficient in using the
method.

Force Convention 📄
We distinguish internal axial forces (and stresses) as
well as nodal internal forces. The internal force is
positive in tension and negative in compression, i.e.
the force is positive when it points out from the
surface on which it is acting and the nodal internal
forces are positive when they point in the positive
x-direction.

Free Body Diagram of a Single Bar Element

A Single Bar Element ☝️

We will model each of our homogeneous bar
elements as a linear-elastic spring, subjected to
Hooke's law F = KU . We first note the correlation
between normal Force N , the cross sectional area
A and the uniaxial tensile stress σ

N
σ= ​
​
(4)
A

With Hooke’s law (σ = Eϵ) and the one dimensional

distortion

du(x) Δle
ϵ= = e ​ ​ ​ (5)
dx l0 ​

follows that with the length variation Δle and the

original length of the bar l0e and rearranging equation
​

Δle
N = Aσ = AEϵ = AE e (6)
l0
​

or rewrite it simply to

EA e
N= Δl (7)
l0e
​
​

which finally gives us

N = k e Δle ​ (8)

We call k e the element stiffness (sometimes called

extensional stiffness) – the superscript e indicates
that we refer to one single element only. The
elongation Δle can be described as a function of
displacements of the nodes of a bar

Δle = ue2 − ue1 ​ ​ ​ (9)

If we apply the equilibrium condition on the bar, i.e.
we take the sum of the forces applied on each node
of the element and say they are equal to zero

F1 + F2 = 0​ ​ (10)

We now apply the same principle to the other free

body diagram.

What happens if we evaluate the equilibrium?

The left side gives us

F1e + N = 0
​ ​ (11)

or

F1e = −N
​ ​ (12)

We do the same for the right side

F2e − N = 0
​
​ (13)

yielding F2e ​ = N as N for the right side shows to the

left, so is accounted for negative!
Bringing Everything Together
📖
Let's now use everything we have so far.

F2e = N = k e Δle = k e (ue2 − ue1 ) = k e ue2 − k e(14)

​ ​ ue1 ​ ​ ​ ​

We do not have to do the same for F1e as we know ​

from equation 10 that

F1e = −F2e
​ ​
​ (15)

The force equilibrium in matrix notation (tensor

notation) looks as follows

F1e −N 1 −1 ue1
F = [ e] = [
e
]=k [
e
] [ e ] =(16)
K e de
​ ​

F2 N −1 1 u2
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

​ ​

e
The matrix K is called the element stiffness
​

matrix. From a mathematical point of view, this

matrix is positive semi-definite which is symmetric
with non-negative eigenvalues.

e
The vector d is called the element displacement
​

matrix and F e the element force matrix.

​

The stiffness matrix establishes the correlation

between nodal displacements and nodal forces.
Keep in mind that the matrix K e is always singular
​

which means the matrix is non-invertible and its

determinant is zero.

To physically interpret the matrix singularity, imagine

that our little bar is able to undergo rigid body
motions and flow around in the universe as it is not
fixed yet. Or to formulate this more physically: We
have not added boundary conditions yet!
To see that this is the case, you can simple add the
rows of the stiffness matrix and you will see that the
equations are linearly dependent. When does this
happen? Whenever our system is statically under-
determined!

The mathematical property of the matrix being

positive semi-definite follows from the non-
negativity of the deformation energy of our bar for
e
arbitrary nodal displacements d (We have always ​

mechanical input in our system. No matter if it is

tension or compression!)

1 e ⊤ e e
W e (de ) = (d ) K d ≥ 0 (17)
2
​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Don't worry. We will not need this equation. I simply

wanted to put the equation here for completion and
in case you want to look it up online...and also
because I seek external validation and think
"complex" equations are cool.

To summarise, here's a simplified version of the

formula we derived in matrix notation.

−K U1
[ ] [ ] = [ 1]
K F
(18)
​ ​

−K K U2 F2
​ ​ ​ ​ ​

​ ​

If we write the same equation in the form of a

symbolic representation, we receive the renowned
"FEA Formula".

KU = F ​
(19)

👉 In the next blog, we will have a look at a simple

arithmetic example and cover how we can add
boundary conditions to statically under-determined
systems.
If this post was helpful to you, consider subscribing
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And if you would love to see another topic on FEA,

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Keep engineering your mind! ❤️

Jousef

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