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Module: 2 Finite Element Formulation Techniques

Lecture 2: Galerkin Method
2.2.1 Introduction
Galerkin method is the most widely used among the various weighted residual methods. Galerkin
method incorporates differential equations in their weak form, i.e., before starting integration by
parts it is in strong form and after by parts it will be in weak form, so that they are satisfied over a
domain in an integral. Thus, in case of Galerkin method, the equations are satisfied over a domain in
an integral or average sense, rather than at every point. The solution of the equations must satisfy the
boundary conditions. There are two types of boundary conditions:
Essential or kinematic boundary condition
Non essential or natural boundary condition

4y
q = 0 ) differential equation is of fourth order.
For example, in case of a beam problem ( EI
x 4
As a result, displacement and slope will be essential boundary condition where as moment and shear
will be non-essential boundary condition.
2.2.2 Galerkin Method for2D Elasticity Problem
For a two dimensional elasticity problem, equation of equilibrium can be expressed as

x xy
+
+ Fx = 0
x
y
xy

(2.2.1)

(2.2.2)
+ Fy = 0
x
y
Where, Fx and Fy are the body forces in X and Y direction respectively. Let assume,

x and y are surface forces in X and Y direction and as angle made by normal to surface with
X axis (Fig. 2.2.1). Therefore, force equilibrium of element can be written as:

Fx (PQ) t = x (OP) t + xy (OQ) t

Fx = x

OP
OQ
+ xy
= x cos + xy sin = x cos + xyCos(90 )
PQ
PQ

Thus, Fx = x A + xy m

(2.2.3)

Where, and m are direction cosines of normal to the surface. Similarly,

Fy = xy A + y m
 


(2.2.4)

Fig. 2.2.1 Elemental stresses in 2D

AdoptingGalerkinsapproach using eq. (2.2.2 and 2.2.3)

xy y

x + xy + F u +

+
+
F
x
x y y v dxdy = 0
x

(2.2.5)

Where u and v are weighting functions i.e elemental displacements in X and Y directions
respectively. Now one can expand above equation by using Greens Theorem.
Green Theorem states that if ( x, y)and ( x, y) are continuous functions then their first and
second partial derivatives are also continuous. Therefore,

2 2

dxdy = 2 + 2 dxdy +
A+
m ds
+
x

x x y y

y
x
y

Assuming, = x ;

= u;
= 0 one can rewrite with the use of above relationas
x
y

(u )
x
dx dy + x A u ds
u dx dy = x
x
x

Similarly, assuming = y ;

y
y

(2.2.6)

(2.2.7)

= 0 and
= v
x
y

v dx dy = y

(v)
dx dy + y m v ds
y

 


(2.2.8)

Again, assuming = x y ;

x y
y

v dx dy = x y

And assuming, = x y ;

x y
y

= v;
=0
x
y
(v)
dx dy + x y A v ds
x

(2.2.9)

= 0;
= u
x
y

u dx dy = x y

(u )
dx dy + x y m u ds
y

Putting values of eqs.(2.2.7), (2.2.8) and (2.2.9), in eq. (2.2.5), one can get the following relation:

x
u ) + y (v) + xy (v) + xy (u )dx dy
(
x

y
x
y
+ x Au + y mv + xy Av + xy mu ds + Fx u dx dy + Fyv dx dy = 0
(2.2.10)
Rearranging the terms of above expression, the following relations are obtained.

x
u ) + y (v) + xy (v) + xy (u )dx dy + (Fx u + Fyv) dx dy
(
x

y
x
y

+ (x A + xy m)uds + ( xy A + y m)vds = 0

(2.2.11)

Here, Fx and Fy are the body forces and u & v are virtual displacements in X and Ydirections
respectively.
Considering firstterm of eq. (2.2.11), virtual displacement u is given to the element of unit
thickness. Dotted position in Fig. 2.2.2 shows the virtual displacement. Thus, work done by x :

x dy u + (u )dx x dyu = x (u )dxdy

x
x
Similarly, considering secondterm of eq. (2.2.11), virtual work done by body forces is

 


(2.2.12)

(F

u + Fyv)dx dy

Putting eqs.(2.2.3)
forces as:

&(2.2.4) in third term of eq. (2.2.11) we get the virtual work done by surface

uds + Fyvds

Fig. 2.2.2 Element subjected to stresses

Due to virtual displacement u , change in strain x is given by:

u + (u )dx u

x
x =
= (u )
(2.2.13)
dx
x
The virtual work doneby x is x . x .dxdy . Similarly all the individual term in the first term of
eq. (2.2.11) can be derived from eq. (2.2.13) which will be as follows:

(u )dxdy = x x dxdy
x

y (v)dxdy = y y dxdy
y

xy (v ) + (u ) = xy xy dxdy

 


(2.2.14)

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Now, the work done by internal forces will be

U = (x x +y y +xy xy ) dxdy

(2.2.15)

If external work done is represented by WE and U is the internal work done then,

U + w E = 0 or U = w E

(2.2.16)
Thus in elasticity problems, Galerkins method turns out to be the principle of virtual work, which
can be stated that A Deformable body is said to be in equilibrium,if the total work done by external
forces is equal to the total work done by internal forces. The work done above is virtual as either
forces or deformations are also virtual. Thus, Galerkinsapproach can be followed in all problems
involving solution of a set of equations subjected to specified boundary values.
2.2.3 Galerkin Method for 2D Fluid Flow Problem
Let consider the two dimensional incompressible fluid equation which can be expressed by pressure
variable only as follows.

2 p = 0

(2.2.17)

Where p is the pressure inside the fluid domain. The above equation can be expressed in 2D form as:

2p 2p
+
=0
x 2 y 2
or
p,ii = 0

(2.2.18)

Applying weighted residual method, the weak form of the above equation will become

p,ii d = 0

(2.2.19)

Integrating by parts of the above expression, the following relation can be obtained.

or

p,i d w i,i p,i d = 0

i,i

p,i d = w i p,i d

(2.2.20)

If the nodal pressure and interpolation functions are denoted by

p and N respectively, then the

pressure at any point inside the fluid domain can be expressed as

p = [ N ]{p}
Similarly, the weighted function can also be written with the help of interpolation function as

w = [ N ]{w }
 


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= differential operator.
x y

Thus, pi,i = [ L ]{p} = [ L][ N ]{p} = [ B]{p} , where, [ L ] =

Similarly, w i,i = [ L ]{W} = [ L ][ N ]{w } = [ B]{w }
T

Thus, w i,i p,i d = [ w ] [ B] [ B][ p ]d

(2.2.21)

w i p,i d = {w } [ N ]

p
d
n

(2.2.22)

Here, denotes the surface of the fluid domain and n represents the direction normal to the surface.
Thus, from eq. (2.2.20), one can write the expression as:
T

Thus, {w } [ B] [ B]{p} d = {w } [ N ]

p
d
n

Or, [G ]{p} = {S}

(2.2.23)

Where,

T
T
[ N ] [ N ] + [ N ] [ N ]d
x
y
y
x

[G ] = [ B] [ B]d =

p
and {S}= [ N ]
d

(2.2.24)

Here, n is the direction normal to the surface. Thus, solving the above equationwith the prescribed
boundary conditions, one can find out the pressure distribution inside the fluid domain by the use of
finite element technique.