FEDEASLab for Finite Element Analysis in CE 222

FEDEASLab (password protected) is a Matlab program for matrix structural analysis developed by Professor F.C. Filippou. This is the linear analysis version of FEDEASLab; it does not include the functions for nonlinear analysis. We will extend FEDEASLab for finite element analysis in CE 222. FEDEASLab requires Matlab Version 7.x or higher. The CEE Computer Labs has the current versions of Matlab.

The m-files for using FEDEASLab for finite element analysis are listed in two categories: (i) original FEDEASLab functions and (ii) modified functions needed for finite element analysis.

Updates on functions--March 4, 2005

Please use these updated functions:
tie.m
ElmQD4.m

Original FEDEASLab Functions

The zip-file contains the Basic FEDEASLab distribution (37k)

Modified FEDEASLab Functions

FEDEASLab was designed for structural analysis problems with a small number of DOF, hence it stores the global stiffness matrix, Kf, as a full ndf x ndf matrix. For finite element analysis, the number of DOF is much larger, and so it is necessary to store Kf in a sparse matrix form. Matlab has excellent functions for manipulating and solving sparse systems of equations.

The following zip-file contains FEAnalysis extensions. This includes the functions for creating an FE model, forming and solving the equilibrium equations, and the functions for 2-D finite element analysis.

See the Examples directory in FEAnalysis for several examples using triangular and quadrilateral elements. These are described below.

Examples

Constant Strain Triangle

The following m-files illustrate the CST element and the block/tie functions to create meshes. Another interesting example is semicircle.m, which uses CST elements to analyze a semi-circular disk in plane stress. Instead of using the block function, the mesh is generated using Delaunay triangularization, for which Matlab has a function. First, the nodal points coordinates are generated by mapping from polar coordinates.

The example delaunayMesh.m generates the FEDEASLab data structures after calling the delaunay.m function to generate the triangular element connectivity. Then the Delaunay function is called to generate the element connectivity for the triangular elements. The procedure produces an optimal mesh in the sense that the elements have the best shape for the generated nodal point coordinates. The deformed mesh for the semi-circular problem is:

Quadrilateral Element

The cantilever beam problem can be analyzed with the 4-node, quadrilateral element ElmQD4. The patch test for the element is in patchQD4.m.
Return to CE 222
Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of California, Berkeley
fenves@berkeley.edu