Curved Mindlin beam and axi-symmetric shell elements—A new approach

✍ Scribed by R. A. Day; D. M. Potts

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1990
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 485 KB
• Volume: 30
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0029-5981
• DOI: 10.1002/nme.1620300704

✦ Synopsis

Two sets of strain definitions for analysis of curved Mindlin beams and axi-symmetric shells are examined. Their conventional finite element implementations are shown to be unsuitable. The parameter used as a nodal degree of freedom in the first conventional method to describe the cross section rotation is in general a discontinuous function and has no clear physical meaning. The second conventional method has relied on an incorrect differentiation for its successful use in finite element analysis. A new approach which overcomes these problems is presented. Examples are given to illustrate the incorrect results that can be obtained from the two conventional methods and to show that the new approach provides accurate solutions to general curved beam and axi-symmetric shell problems.