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ANALYSIS OF BEAMS ON ELASTIC

FOUNDATION: THE FINITE
DEFFERENCES APPROACH
Article (PDF Available) with 979 Reads
1st Iancu-Bogdan Teodoru

3.89 Gheorghe Asachi Technical...
Abstract
In the solution of beams on elastic foundation prob lem, it is usual to use Winkler's
assumption or the concept of modulus of subgrade reaction. The general solution for the
Winkler foundation is of limited use, since practical problems (may) involve beams of nite
length, or changes in moment of inertia. Moreover, the solution cannot e asily adapt to a
change of soil's modulus of subgrade reaction. Beca use of these shortcomings, the
discrete elements me thods, among Finite Differences Method (FDM) and Finite Element
Method (FEM), are most powerful and popular, are preferred for use, since all kind of
contingencies may be accounted fo r. This paper examines the use of the Finite Differenc
es Method (FDM) for the analysis of elastic beams r esting on Winkler medium. To
estimate the deformation, soil r eaction distribution and internal forces of a conti nuous
footing subjected to external loads, a computer program, ba sed on Matlab code, has been
developed. A comparison between FDM, FEM and analytical solutions is also presented.
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ANALYSIS OF BEAMS ON ELASTIC FOUNDATION: THE FINITE

DEFFERENCES APPROACH
Teodoru I. Bogdan 1
Abstract
In the solution of beams on elastic foundation problem, it is usual to use Winklers assumption or the concept of
modulus of subgrade reaction. The general solution for the Winkler foundation is of limited use, since practical problems
(may) involve b eams of nite length, or changes in moment of inertia. Moreover, the solution cannot easily adapt to a
change of soils modulus of sub grade reaction. Because of th ese shortcomings, the discrete elements methods, among
Finite Dierences Method (FDM) and Finite Element Method (FEM), are most powerful and popular, are preferred for use,
since all kind of contingencies may be accounted for.
This paper examines the use of the Finite Dierences Method (FDM) for the analysis of elastic beams resting on
Winkler medium. To estimate the deformation, soil reaction distribution and internal forces of a continuous footing
subjected to external loads, a computer program, based on Matlab code, has been developed. A comparison between FDM,
FEM and analytical solutions is also presented.
Keywords
beams on elastic foundation, nite dierences method, numerical analysis, Winklers assumption, continuous beam
1 INTRODUCTION
The acceptance of numerical analysis in engineering problems is growing. In particular, the development of numerical
analysis and its application to geotechnical problems over th e last time ha ve provided geotechnical engineers with an
extremely powerful analysis tool. Moreover, the new codes of practice (e.g. Eurocode 7), are not as prescriptive as the older
codes and allow the designer to ch oose an appropriate method of analysis, [3]. Nevertheless, beams on elastic foundation
are most usually a nalysed based on Winklers concept in which the soil is treated as a b ed of springs. To obtain the
theoretical solution of this approach is laborious and classical solutions are not general in th eir application. Several distinct
disadvantages of the classical solution are presented below [1]:
Diicult to remove soil eect when footing tends to separate from soil
Diicult to apply multiple types of loads to a footing
Diicult to change cross section of the footing
Diicult to allow for change in subgrade reaction along footing
For these reasons numerical analyses of a beam resting on an elastic foundation are shown in full detail and modelling
aspects will be discussed (e.g. discretization dependency). Finally, the results of the numerical analyses are compared with
the result of the general solution.
2 BASICS OF FINITE DIFFERENCES FORM ULATION

Finite dierence schemes provide a n a lternative route to the conversion of continuum eld equations into
relationships between discrete numerical values. This method discretizes the domain into a regular grid dened by a certain
number of nodes which are separated in the coordinates direction by a certain spatial interval. When applying the FDM
over the domain, we will be able to approximate the objective function (e.g. displacements) at each one of the nodes.
The FDM consists of transforming the partial derivatives in dierence equations over a small interval, using the
development in Taylor's series of the objective function at each node, leading to an equation that relates the value of the
function at a particular node with its value at the neighbouring nodes. This procedure is repeated at each node composing
the grid and the assembly of the obtained equations yields a system of equations which may be numerically solved.
The method is best illustrated by a physical example, from structural mechanics. Taking the case of a beam in
bending, the average slope of the elastic curve at distance xi is given by:
1
Teodoru I. Bogdan, Ph.D. student, Gh. Asachi Technical Univesity of Iai, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of
Transportation Infrastructure and Foundations, Bd. Dimitrie Mangeron nr. 67, 700050 Iasi IS, Romania, e-mail:
bteodoru@ce.tuiasi.ro
( tan ) i = dy (1)
dx i
where y is deection.
In terms of nite dierences, assumed x = as nite values, Equation (1) can be evaluated by three approximations:
1) Central dierence
dy yi +1 yi 1
(2)
dx i 2
2) Forward dierence
dy y+i 1 yi
(3)
dx i
3) Backward dierence
dy yi yi 1
(4)
dx i
The last equations are called a nite-dierence equation. Solving these equations gives an approximate solution to the
dierential equation.
In an analogous way, we can obtain nite dierence approximations to higher order derivatives and dierential
operators. For example, b y using the above central di erence formula with step /2 for (x + /2) and (x /2) and then
applying a central dierence formula for the derivative at x,i we obta in the central dierence approximation of the second
derivative:
d2 y y i +1 2y i +y i 1
2 (5)
dx i 2
By dierentiating Equation (5) one, obtains the central dierence expression for the third derivative as
d 3 y yi 2yi 1+ + 2yi 1 + yi
3 2+ 2
(6)
dx i 2 3
These last two expressions are suicient to solve the beam resting on an elastic foundations problem by FDM.
3 SOLUTION OF A BEAM ON AN ELAS TIC FOUNDATION USING FDM

The dierential equation of the deection curve for a bending beam is given by:
d2 y
EI = M (7)
dx2
where:
- E is Youngs modulus;
- I is the moment of inertia;
- M is bending moment.
By dierentiating the above equation, with respect to x and taking into account relationship between bending moment
and shearing force, we obtain expression of the shearing force:
d3 y
EI =V (8)
dx 3
By substituting Equations (5) and (6) into Equations (7) and (8) we have:
EI
(y + 2y i + y i 1 )= Mi (9)
2 i 1
EI
( yi +2 2 yi +1 + 2yi 1 + yi 2 ) = Vi (10)
2 3
For a foundation beam, by considering Winklers concept, one can replace th e foundation with a series of
concentrated springs on the base of the footing, as shown in Fig.1. The soil pressure at any point on the beam is directly
proportional with beam deection (y) and modulus of subgrade reaction (k). For instance at the point i, soil pressure is
related by:
(p i) = k ( y)i (11)
Fig. 1 Winklers concept
By discretizing the beam domain into n elements of x = = constant, and considering pressure distribution of soil
given by known function p = f(x), one can compute the soil reaction against the beam, at each node i = 1 to n + 1. One may
use any type of pressure distributi on of soil to footing (for details see [4]), but for computational simplicity a stepped
pressure distribution is use. Thus, the reactions against the beam of Fig. 2 become:
( R )k = ( p )k B = k ( y) k B for k = 2 to i-1 (12)
1 1
( R) 1 = (p ) 1 B = k ( y ) 1 B (13)
2 2
1 1
( R) i = (p ) i B = k (y ) i B (14)
2 2
where B is width of footing.
Fig. 2 Mathematical model for the FD solution for a beam on elastic foundation
By transposing Equation (7) in nite dierences, for each node composing the grid, except extremity points (to avoid
limit condition), the bending moment at the point k = 2 to i-1 is given by:
=
j i 1
EI
2
( yk1 2yk + yk +1 ) = R ( k j) M
j P + ( ) M (15)
j=1
where:
- MP is the bending moment of axial loads;
- M is concentrated moment.
Making notation EI / 2= C and arranging, we have:

=
j i 1
Cy 2Cy k+ Cy
k 1 k+ 1+ R (k j ) = M
j =1
j + ( ) M
P (16)
Thus we have obtained i-2 equations in i unknown values of di splacements y. The n umber of equation s with nite
dierences being less than unkn owns number, we must complete with two equilibrium equations.
The sum of the moments with respect to right end, for instance:
j =i 1 m 1=
R m = M
=
j 1
j
m= i 1
P (17)
and the sum of forces in the vertic al direction:

i
R i = P (18)
1
We have now obtained i simultaneous linear equations in i unknown values of displacements y.

Cy1 2Cy2 + Cy3 + R 1 = ( MP )1 + ( ) ( M ) 1
Cy2 2Cy3 + Cy4 + R1 2 + R 2 = (M ) P 2
+ ( ) ( M )
2
Cy3 2Cy4 + Cy5 + R1 3 + R 2 2 + R 3 = (M P )3 + ( ) (M ) 3

M (19)
Cyi 2 2Cyi 1 + Cyi + R1 (i 1) + R 2 ( i 2 ) + ...+ Ri 1 = ( M P )i 1 + ( ) ( M ) i 1
R1 ( i 1) + R2 ( i 2) + R3 ( i 3) + ...+ Ri 1 = (M ) + ( ) (M )
P i i
R1 + R 2 + R3 + ...+ Ri = P
A numerical scheme for so lving a syst em of equation s is matrix method. By arran ging system of equations (19 ) for a
computer solution by the matrix method, we have:
Coeicient matrix:
C +0,5C R 2C C 0 0 L L 0 0 0
C R C + C R 2C C 0 L L 0 0 0

1, 5CR 2CR C + CR 2C C 0 L 0 0 0
M
0,5 m C ( m 1) C L L 2C R C +CR 2C C 0 0 (20)
R R

0,5 m C R ( m 1) C R ( m 2) C R L L 2C R C +C R 2 C C 0
0,5 m C R ( m 1) C R ( m 2) C R (m 3 ) C R L L 2C R C + C R 2C C
0,5 m C R ( m 1) C R (m 2 ) C R (m 3 ) C R ( m 4)C R L L 2C R C R 0

0,5C R CR CR CR CR L CR CR C R 0, 5C R
where:
- C R =kB
- m is the rows indices.
The foregoing matrix can be easily carried out by hand, for a low nu mber of division points (in literature [4] it is
recommended to use 10 divisions); increasing n umber of division points leading to a more accurate solution, but in the
same time yields diiculty in writin g coeicient matrix.
Free terms vector: is formed by right hand side terms from Equations (19) (moments of all external loads with
respect to the each station point i =2 to i-1)
Once the system of equations (19) is solved , one can compute bendin g moment and shearing forc e, by back
substitution of the beam deection (y i) into Equations (9) and (10) at each division point form the beam domain. Soil
reaction against the beam at a point iis given by Equation (11).
4 COMPUTATIONAL EXAMP LE AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

In order to estimate the capabilities and the advantages of the solution described foregoing, let us consider in some
detail a continuou s footing as a b eam on elastic foundation with loading condition shown in Fig. 4. The solution can be
adapted to continuous footings with any number of column loads which may include both axial loads as well as moments.
Fig. 4 Assumed loading for Winkler foundation
For the analysis of the longitudinal bending behaviour of the beam, three di erent methods (FEM, FDM and general
method) were performed.
In the analytical solution and FE analysis, the beam is divided into 13 elements by 0,4 m (left span ), 0,5 m (middle
spans) and 0,35 m for the right span. In FD method the beam is also divided into the same number of elements, but of
constant length.
For the a ssumed discretization of the given beam, FDM requires the solution of 14 simultaneous equations, thus
necessitating the use of a computer. In order to generate the matrix (20) for FD analysis, a computer code listing in
Appendix, based on Matlab language, has been developed. This can be used for any number of division points along beam.
Considering for reference the solution obtaining by general method, comparative results obtained by FD and FE
analysis are plotted in Fig. 5. From the plot it is evident that either of the FEM or FDM solutions tends, with a good
accuracy, to analytical result. The FDM solution yields more appropriate results, regardin g negative bending moments,
whereas FEM solution gives a good approach for positive moments.
For this discretization step, FDM doesnt give a very accura te solution regarding the positive bending moment, but its
accuracy can be easily controlled by changing the grid size. For instance, by in creasing ve times the number of divisions
yields the bending behaviour of the beam plot in Fig. 6.
-80
F DM
-60 F EM
Bending Moment [kNm]
An alytica l So lutio n
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Di sta nce alo ng be am [m ]
Fig. 5 Graphical comparison of bending behaviour of the beam
FDM computes displacements st rictly at predetermined grid points only (unlike FEM, it doesnt compute
displacement functions that can be used to interpolate displacements at the points th at are not located at the grid); to obtain
an appropriate solution in singularity points (e.g. points of application of external forces), those must be in coincidence
with a point from the grid domain.
Referring to beam with loading condition given in Fig. 4 , llin g its domain with a discretization with step chosen
according with foregoing, so with = 10, 5, 2, 1, 0,5 (cm) and so on, the values of bending moments are in good
agreement with the resuls obtained by FEM for 6580 division points (see Table 1).
Tab. 1 Comparison of bending moments values (in kNm) obtained by FD and FE analyses
+
M left M-left M+middle M-right M +right
FDM 52,5 72,6 45,6 39,0 45,1
FEM 52,5 72,7 45,6 39,1 45,0
-80
FD M - 65 e lem en ts
-60
Bending Moment [kNm]
Ana lytica l So lutio n

-40
-20
0
20
40
60
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Dis tance alo n g be am [m ]
Fig. 6 Discretization step dependency for bending behaviour of the beam
For another discretization steps, dierent th en = 10, 5, 2, 1, 0,5 (cm)..., the solution regarding positive bending
moments is plotted in Fig. 7. From this, one can s ee that for a coarse grid the solution is very unstable and t he convergence
is obtained for a nodes number by 3000 ( = 0,1 cm).
The disc retization with such a huge number of division points (which can increase computing time) can be avoid if
one chose dierent discretization steps, but not in the same time. For instance, if we want to nd the value of the left
positive bending moment we ca n perform an analysis with = 40 cm (so 15 elements); a discretization step by = 30 cm
(so 20 elements) will give the value of the middle positive bending moment.
55
Bending Moments [kNm]
50
45
40
left
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1 Citation 3 References 3 Figures
30
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 1 4 16 1 8 20 22 2 4 26 2 8 30
Num be r of divi si on poi n ts [x 1 02 ]
Fig. 7 Discretization step dependency for positive bending moments
The soil pressu re distribut ion evaluated from the numerically computed using FD an d FE and pressure distribution
obtained by analytical method are compared in Fig. 8. Good agreement between the foregoing is seen, the diagrams of
pressure being almost identically for any discretization step.
Dis ta nce alo ng be am [m ]

0 1 2 3 4 5 6
0
50 FD M
FE M
Soil pressure [kP a]

10 0 Ana lytica l So lutio n
15 0
20 0
25 0
30 0
35 0
Fig. 8 Soil pressure distribution along beam
5 CONCLUSION
The results from FD analysis are generally i n good agreement with both analytical and FE results. One limitation of
the FDM, however, is that it computes displacements at predetermined grid points only and thus accuracy of the solution
obtained is aected somehow by grid size. To obtain an appropriate solution in singularity points (e.g. p oints of application
of external forces), those must be in coincidence with a point from the grid domain; if this cant be reached one can chose
dierent discretization steps, but not in the same time.
Anyway, the FD app roach can provide satisfactory prediction of the structura l behaviour of beams resting on elastic
foundation and thus of use in professional engineering work.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author is grateful to Professor Mu at Vasile for hi s helpful comments, guidance and support in the research work
presented in this paper.
Appendix - Computer code to generate coeicient matrix for FD analysis

%F.D.M. FOR BEAMS ON ELASTIC FOUNDATION
%Coeffs matrix People who read this publication also read:
%========================================================
% INPUT DATA
L=input ('Beam length -- L = ');
n=input('Number of elements -- n Article:
= '); The BaBar superconducting coil: Design, construction and test
l=L/n; % << -------- Discretization step <<lambda>>
k=input('Modulus of subgrade reactionAug-- 1999
k = Nuclear
'); Physics B - Procee...
B=input('The width of the footing -- B = ');
I=input('Beam''s moment of inertia -- I = ');
E=input('Young''s modulus for footing -- E = ');
C=E*I/(l^2); CR=k*B*l;
%========================================================
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1 Citation i=n+1;
3 References 3 Figures
%Domain grid
Vl=1:(i-1); VL=Vl*l;
%Eq 1 to i-2
for li=1:i-2,
for c=1:i,
for m=1:i-3,
if li-c == -2,
MCRl(li,c)=C;
elseif li-c == -1,
MCRl(li,c)=-2*C;
elseif li == c,
MCRl(li,c)=C+CR*l;
elseif li-c == m,
MCRl(li,c)=(m+1).*CR*l;
end
end
end
end
Mc=MCRl;
%M_end=0
for j=i-1:-1:1
VM0(j)=j*CR*l;
VMc=[fliplr(VM0),0];
end
%sumFv=0
for j=i:-1:1
VMf(j)=CR;
end
%Assembly
M=[Mc;VMc;VMf];
M(:,1)=M(:,1)*0.5;
M(1,1)=C+0.5*CR*l;
M(i,i)=0.5*CR;
M %< --- Coefficient matrix
Literature
[1] Bowles J. E., - Foundation Analysis and Design, 3rd Ed., New York: MCGRAW-HILL EDUCATION, 1982, 816
pages, ISBN 19820070661928.
[2] Muir Wood D., - Geotechnical Modelling, Abingdon: TAYLOR & FRANCIS, 2004, 480 pages, ISBN 0415343046.
[3] Potts D. M., - Numerical analysis: a virtual dream or practical reality? , GEOTECHNIQUE, Vol. 53, No. 6, pp. 535-
572, 2003, ISSN 0016-8505.
[4] Winterkorn H.F., Fang H.Y. - Foundation Engineering Handbook , New York: VAN NOSTRAND REINHOLD CO.,
1975, 751 pages, ISBN 0442295642.
Reviewer
Mu at Vasile, Professor, Ph.D., Gh. Asachi Technical Univesity of Ia i, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of
Transportation Infrastructure and Foundations, Bd. Dimitrie Mangeron nr. 6 7, 700050 Iasi IS, Romania, Phone: +40 745
574 061, e-mail: musat@ce.tuiasi.ro.
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ANALYSIS OF BEAMS ON ELASTIC

1st Iancu-Bogdan Teodoru

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Download full-text PDF

ANALYSIS OF BEAMS ON ELASTIC FOUNDATION: THE FINITE

2 BASICS OF FINITE DIFFERENCES FORM ULATION

3 SOLUTION OF A BEAM ON AN ELAS TIC FOUNDATION USING FDM

Fig. 1 Winklers concept

( R )k = ( p )k B = k ( y) k B for k = 2 to i-1 (12)

Making notation EI / 2= C and arranging, we have:

and the sum of forces in the vertic al direction:

We have now obtained i simultaneous linear equations in i unknown values of displacements y.

Cy3 2Cy4 + Cy5 + R1 3 + R 2 2 + R 3 = (M P )3 + ( ) (M ) 3

4 COMPUTATIONAL EXAMP LE AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Fig. 4 Assumed loading for Winkler foundation

Fig. 5 Graphical comparison of bending behaviour of the beam

Ana lytica l So lutio n

Fig. 6 Discretization step dependency for bending behaviour of the beam

Fig. 7 Discretization step dependency for positive bending moments

Dis ta nce alo ng be am [m ]

Soil pressure [kP a]

Fig. 8 Soil pressure distribution along beam

Appendix - Computer code to generate coeicient matrix for FD analysis

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