ANNALS of Faculty Engineering Hunedoara – INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING
Tome XIX [2021] | Fascicule 4 [November]
1. Damir HODŽIĆ
BENDING ANALYSIS OF CANTILEVER BEAM IN FINITE
ELEMENT METHOD
1.University of Bihać, Faculty of Technical Engineering, Bihać, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
Abstract: Paper describes bending of cantilever beam and its analysis using finite element method. Cantilever beam
is a structural member and in this paper a two dimensional Finite Element model for steel material beam has been
developed to study. This work aims to analyze bending analysis of cantilever beam with boundary conditions. The
outputs of finite element model are used to investigate effect of point load on integrity of beam and mechanical
properties of material.
Keywords: cantilever beam, bending analysis, finite element method
1. INTRODUCTION
The finite element method is a numerical procedure for solving engineering problems and mathematical
physics problems. In most cases when the analyzed structure has a complex geometry, when the load is
complex and when the structures are made of different materials, it is not possible to find a solution in
analytical form. Analytical solution means obtaining analytical formulas for calculating the required
characteristics (deflection, temperature, stress etc.) at different points in the structure. To obtain such data,
differential or partial differential equations should be solved. This can only be done for very simple problems.
For complex geometry and complex load it is not possible to find solutions in analytical form. Therefore,
numerical methods are used and the most commonly used method is the finite element method. Solving
problems by the finite element method comes down to solving a system of algebraic equations. The obtained
solutions are approximate and refer to certain points of the structure. The modeling process consists of
discretizing the continuum. Such a model consists of finite elements, which are connected in nodes along
boundary common lines or common surfaces. Equations are set for each finite element and their combination
gives the equations of the whole structure. Depending on the type of problem being solved, appropriate data
are obtained as solutions. Thus, in the case of calculating the stress-strain state of a structure, the results are
the displacements of each node of the structure and the stresses within each element. Displacements and
stresses are due to the action of an external load. In problems not related to structural analysis unknown in
the nodes may be some other physical quantities e.g. temperature [1].
The finite element method has the greatest advantage that it can be expanded in all areas and is therefore
available to all technical and scientific disciplines. Today, in addition to the known linear calculations, the
more complicated ones are also carried out.
The structure to be calculated is broken down into a multitude of small building blocks, the finitely large
elements, the physical properties of which are known exactly or approximately. The finite number of links
corresponds to the nodes that connect the individual elements. These links correspond to a linear system of
equations that can be solved numerically particularly well [2, 3].
2. BENDING OF CANTILEVER BEAM
To show how to solve a cantilever beam using Finite Element Method it will be analysed beam in Figure 1,
which is fixed at one end and supported by a roller support at the other end. It is loaded by concentrated load
of 20 [kN] at the center of the span. Modulus of elasticity of the beam material is E=2·105 [MPa] and moment
of inertia is I=2500 [cm4]. It is necessary to calculate deflection under the load [4,5].
F = 20 kN
5m 5m
Figure 1. Cantilever beam to be analyzed
23 | F a s c i c u l e 4
ANNALS of Faculty Engineering Hunedoara – INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING
Tome XIX [2021] | Fascicule 4 [November]
First, let the beam divide into two parts and make a free body diagram, Figure 2.
v1; F1 v2; F2 v3; F3
1 2
1 3
2
Ɵ1; M1 Ɵ2; M2 Ɵ3; M3
Figure 2. Free body diagram of loaded cantilever beam
In figure 2 factors are:
≡ Vertical deflection – v
≡ Shear force – F
≡ Slope deflection - ϴ
≡ Bending moment – M
There are 3 nodes and 2 elements at the free body diagram and in each node it is necessary to consider all 4
factors. Modulus of elasticity and moment of inertia are same for both beam elements. Now it has to be
calculated nodal deflection for both beam elements using stiffness matrix. Common stiffness matrix for beam
element is:
⎡12 6l − 12 6l⎤
2
E∙I ⎢6l 4l − 6l 2l2 ⎥
[K] = 3 ⎢ (1)
l −12 − 6l 12 − 6l ⎥
⎢ ⎥
⎣ 6l 2l2 − 6l 4l2 ⎦
Due to the same datas for both elements (element length, modulus of elastixity and moment of inertia)
stiffness matrices fort both elements will be identical:
⎡12 6l − 12 6l⎤
2 2
⎢6l 4l − 6l 2l ⎥
[K1 ] = [K 2 ] = 400 ∙ ⎢ ⎥ (2)
⎢−12 − 6l 12 − 6l ⎥
⎣ 6l 2l2 − 6l 4l2 ⎦
The first term of equation (2) is calculated:
E1 ∙I1 2·107 ·2500 N
3 = = 400 (3)
l1 5003 cm
Now, input the values for length l = 5 [m] in the matrices and mark rows and columns of the matrices with
vertical and slope deflection. Element 1 – vertical and slope deflection of nodes 1 and 2 and element 2 - vertical
and slope deflection of nodes 2 and 3.
(4)
(5)
Global stiffness matrix for beam can be calculated as:
(6)
24 | F a s c i c u l e 4
ANNALS of Faculty Engineering Hunedoara – INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING
Tome XIX [2021] | Fascicule 4 [November]
Finite element equation is formatted:
[K] = [u] ∙ [F] (7)
where: [u] – displacement vector; [F] – deformation vector
Now, global stiffness matrix can be written as:
(8)
Boundary conditions for the beam are:
≡ Fixed support (node 1) vertical and slope deflection is null v1 = Ɵ1 = 0
≡ Roller support (node 3) vertical deflection and moment is null v3 = M3 = 0
≡ Node 2 – M2 = 0 ; F2 = -20 000 N
And now it is possible to calculate vertical and slope deflections at nodes 2 and 3 and reactions at the fixed
support, node 1:
v2 = -3,646 [cm]
ϴ2 = - 0,003125 [rad]
ϴ3 = - 0,0125 [rad]
F1 = 13,75 [kN]
M1 = 3,75 [kNm]
3. SOFTWARE ANALYSIS
Of course, it is possible to analyse example of cantilever beam in software and to compare results wit the
results calculated with finite element method. For this example sofware Ansys was used and the results for
vertical and slope deflections at nodes 2 and 3 and reactions at the fixed support are shown in Figure 3 [4].
Figure 3. Results for vertical and slope deflections at nodes 2 and 3 and reactions at the fixed support using
software Ansys
Now, compare calculated results and results obtained by software, Table 1.
Table 1. Comparison of results
Factor FEM Software
v2 -3.646 -3.701
ϴ2 -0.003125 -0.0032
ϴ3 -0.0125 -0.013
F1 13.75 13.75
M1 3.75 3.75
4. CONCLUSION
The paper presents a simple example of a cantilever beam for which the basic parameters were calculated
using the finite element method and using software. A comparison of the obtained results shows that the
results are quite equal and the best match is in fixed support of cantilever beam. The finite element method is
an efficient method by which the parameters on the structure can be determined. The results obtained by this
method are with high accuracy and are reliable in the analysis and calculation of structures.
25 | F a s c i c u l e 4
ANNALS of Faculty Engineering Hunedoara – INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING
Tome XIX [2021] | Fascicule 4 [November]
Note:
This paper is based on the paper presented at International Conference on Applied Sciences – ICAS 2021, organized
by University Politehnica Timisoara – Faculty of Engineering Hunedoara (ROMANIA) and University of Banja
Luka, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Banja Luka (BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA), in Hunedoara, ROMANIA,
12–14 May, 2021.
References
[1] Zaimović Uzunović N, Lemeš S 2002 Metod konačnih elemenata, Dom štampe Zenica
[2] Kunow A 2000 Finite-Elemente-Methode – Anwendungen und Lösungen, Huthig Verlag Heidelberg
[3] Kasat A S, Varghese V 2012 Finite element analysis of prestressed concrete beams, International Journal of
Advanced Technology in Civil Engineering, Volume 1, Issue 4.
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfyElneBW98
[5] Shelke S 2017, Static/Modal Analysis of Cantilever Beam, International Journal of Advance Research and
Innovative Ideas in Education, Volume 3, Issue 4.
[6] ANSYS Tutorial
ISSN 1584 – 2665 (printed version); ISSN 2601 – 2332 (online); ISSN-L 1584 – 2665
copyright © University POLITEHNICA Timisoara, Faculty of Engineering Hunedoara,
5, Revolutiei, 331128, Hunedoara, ROMANIA
http://annals.fih.upt.ro
26 | F a s c i c u l e 4
