Two-dimensional Shape Functions
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\frac{(x_1 y_2 - x_2 y_1) + x (y_1 - y_2) + y (x_2 - x_1)}{2A} | \frac{(x_1 y_2 - x_2 y_1) + x (y_1 - y_2) + y (x_2 - x_1)}{2A} | ||
</math> | </math> | ||
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+ | ::<math>L_i (x,y) = \frac{1}{2 A} \left [ a_i + b_i x + c_i y \right ] \qquad</math> | ||
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+ | that is exactly the '''shape functions for a triangular element of three nodes'''. | ||
== References == | == References == |
Revision as of 16:27, 4 November 2009
Shape functions are selected to fit as exact as possible the Finite Element Solution. If this solution is a combination of polynomial functions of nth order, these functions should include a complete polynomial of equal order.
That is, a complete polynomial of nth order can be written as:
with: the number of terms.
More specifically:
polynomial order n | number of terms p | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Constant: ![]() |
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Linear: ![]() |
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Quadratic: ![]() |
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A quick way to easily obtain the terms of a complete polynomial is by using the Pascal's triangle:
order n | new polynomial terms | number of terms p |
---|---|---|
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Linear | ![]() |
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Quadratic | ![]() |
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Cubic | ![]() |
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Quartic | ![]() |
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Contents |
Shape Functions for Triangular Elements
The Three Node Linear Triangle
- The solution
for each triangular element can be approached by their corresponding
to be expressed using the shape functions:
- If the shape functions are lineal polynomials (three-node triangular element, n=3), and remembering:
- this expression can be written as:
with
the element area and
- And the system of equations is:
- The element area is computed as the half of the determinant of the coordinates matrix:
- Finally, the different parameters can be expressed in terms of the nodal local coordinates as:
- with
Areal Coordinates
In order to generalise the procedure to obtain the shape functions, the areal coordinates is a very useful transformation.
In a triangle, areal or barycentric coordinates are defined as each of the partial subareas obtained by dividing the triangle in three sections.
That is, if we use a inner point P of the triangle of area A as the common vertex of the three subareas A1, A2 and A3, then:
Note that:
- A1 + A2 + A3 = A
- L1 + L2 + L3 = 1
- If P is the Centroid or Center of Mass of the triangle, then L1 = L2 = L3 = 1/3
For the Finite Element Method is also interesting to note that:
with xp and yp the coordinates of P or any other point inside the triangle (x,y). This is equivalent to the following system of equations:
that is exactly the shape functions for a triangular element of three nodes.