The ?constant? bending moment three-noded triangle

✍ Scribed by Allman, D. J. ;Morley, L. S. D.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 81 KB
• Volume: 16
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1069-8299
• DOI: 10.1002/1099-0887(200010)16:10<733::aid-cnm374>3.0.co;2-v

✦ Synopsis

This paper addresses the problem of constructing an ideal three-noded at triangular plate bending ÿnite element model with constant approximations to the bending moments. Such a simple element is potentially advantageous in the treatment of non-linear analysis of thin-walled shells, but there are fundamental di culties associated with achieving an element sti ness matrix whose rank is su cient to avoid the occurrence of spurious mechanisms. An innovative solution is explored which yields a properly constituted sti ness matrix of correct rank by introducing the unusual, yet practical expedient of 'virtually constant' bending moments. Numerical results for benchmark plate bending problems where a direct energy comparison is available show barely perceptible di erences to those obtained using the conventional six-noded constant bending moment triangle.