Contents

Question.................................................................................................................................................. 3
Solution ................................................................................................................................................... 3
Step 1: Modelling ................................................................................................................................ 3
Step 2: Element characteristic equation ............................................................................................. 4
Step 3: Assembly ................................................................................................................................. 4
Step 4: Boundary Conditions and solution ......................................................................................... 5
MATLAB Answer check ........................................................................................................................... 5
Screen shot of the results ................................................................................................................... 6

Question

The question is to find the expression for the axial forces instead of the torques in the above figure.

Solution
Step 1: Modelling

Analysis

Spring element
2 nodes/ element

1 DOF/ node which is ux

Total of 2 elements
Total of 3 nodes
Total of 3 DOF hence the size of the unreduced stiffness matrix is 3x3

Step 2: Element characteristic equation

Element 1 equations

F1(1) = - k1 (u2 - u1)

F2(1) = k1 (u2 - u1)
In matrix form
(1)

[ 1
1

1 1
] [ ] = [ 1(1) ]
1
2

[ 2
2

2 2
] [ ] = [ 2(2) ]
2
3

Element 2 equations
F2(2) = - k2 (u3 u2)
F3(2) = k2 (u3 u2)
In matrix form
(2)

Step 3: Assembly
There are a total of 3 DOF in the problem and thus the Global Unreduced Matrix size will be
3x3.
Below is the Global Unreduced Matrix:

1
[1
0

1
1 + 2
2

(1)

1
1
0
1 + 1
(2)
(1)
2 ] [2 ] = [2 + 2 ] = [ 2 ]
2 3
2 3
(2)
3

There are 5 unknowns and we have 3 equations (assuming P1, P2 and P3 are given)

Step 4: Boundary Conditions and solution

Due to rigid supports, Boundary conditions are,
u1 = 0
u3 = 0
Thus, the rows and columns containing u1 and u3 are cancelled

()

+
()
()
] [ ] = [ + ] = [ ]


()

And hence the reduced matrix is

()

()

[ + ][ ] = [ + ] = [ ]
From this, the value of u2 can be obtained and the below equations can be solved for the
remaining unknowns.
()

. = = +
()

. = =

MATLAB Answer check

Full command. The below command can be copied into MATLAB for results.
>> %since we just have to find the expression for forces,
>> %

[F] = [K][U]

>> syms k1 k2 k3 u1 u2 u3 %this command is needed to allow working with

expressions
>> u1 = 0; u3 = 0; %These are the boundary conditions in the problem
>> K = [k1 -k1 0; -k1 k1+k2 -k2; 0 -k2 k2]; %this is the k matrix obtained after
assembly
>> U = [u1; u2; u3]; %this is the u matrix
>> F = K*U %this final command will give us the expression for forces

Screen shot of the results

Therefore,
()

[F] =

[()

()

()
]

1 2
= [2 (1 + 2 )]
2 2