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”.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING