Question: Solve Example using
(1) two elements and
(2) eight elements. Compare your results to the exact values
Example: Consider a bar with a variable cross section supporting a load P, as shown in Figure. The bar is fixed at one end and carries the load Pat the other end. Let us designate the width of the bar at the top by the bottom by , its thickness by r, and its length by L. The bars modulus of elasticity will be denoted by E. We are interested in deter-mining how much the bar will deflect at various points along its length when it is subjected to the load P. We will neglect the weight of the bar in the following analysis. Assuming that the applied load is considerably larger than the weight of the bar
