A study of the finite element modeling of an end loaded cantilever beam

Abstract

The beam theory and the elasticity solutions for the deflection and stresses in an end-loaded cantilever are intensely used to verify and evaluate the performances of different finite elements. The finite element modeling of the displacement boundary conditions is difficult and in most part of cases is not solved correctly, which leads to errors. In this paper, a new solution is given for the modeling of the clamped edge, which is equivalent to the hypotheses used in the analytical models. The stresses and the displacements given by this finite element model are converging to the theoretical solutions of the idealized cantilever beam.