*Department of Mathematics and Actuarial Science, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Bondo, Kenya
**ACK Milimani Girls Secondary School, Musanda, Kenya
***Department of Mathematics, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya
Online published on 12 November, 2013.
Finite element method is a class of mathematical tool which approximates solutions to initial and boundary value problems. Finite element, basic functions, stiffness matrices,systems of ordinary differential equations and hence approximate solutions of partial differential equations which involves rendering the partial differential equation into system of ordinary differential equations. The ordinary differential equations are then numerically integrated.
We present a finite element approach in solving fourth order linear beam equation: utt + c2 uxxxx = f x,t, which arises in model studies of building structures wave theory.
In physical application of waves in building structures, coefficient c2, has the meaning of flexural rigidity per linear mass density and f x,t external forcing term. In this paper, we give a solution to the beam equation with c2 = 139 and f x,t = 100.
Beam equation, finite element, approximation functions, stiffness matrix
