A finite element large displacement analysis of stiffened plates

A finite element analysis of the large deflection behaviour of stiffened plates using the isoparametric quadratic stiffened plate bending element is presented. The evaluation of fundamental equations of the stiffened plates is based on Mindlin's hypothesis. The large deflection equations are based on von Kármán's theory. The solution algmrithm for the assembled nonlinear equilibrium equations is based on the Newton-Raphson iteration technique. Numerical solutions are presented for rectangular plates and skew stiffened plates.     

Design and analysis of small submersible pressure hulls

Small submersibles, which permit man to observe and work as part of the three-dimensional undersea environment, are among the most promising tools for achieving effective exploitation of the oceans. An important element of any submersible is the pressure hull, frequently contributing one-fourth to one-half and more of the total vehicle weight. The Naval Ship Research and Development Center has played a major role in developing pressure hull structures for undersea vehicles. This paper describes some of the principal structural features of existing and envisioned small submersibles and summarizes recent advances in design and analysis methods. Particular emphasis is given to computer programs developed and/or used at the Center. Specifically, it describes advances in stress, stability, and vibration analyses as well as early stage developments in structural fatigue and reliability analyses. It also discusses computer programs and automated procedures designed for rapid response in feasibility studies and preliminary and final design cycles; these provide for both the generation of input data and the graphical display of computed results.     

Structural synthesis of frame reinforced,submersible, circular,cylindrical hulls

This paper describes a mathematical programming procedure for the automated optimal structural synthesis of frame stiffened, cylindrical shells. For a specified set of design parameters such as external pressure, shell radius and length and material properties, the method generates those values of the design variables that produce a minimum weight design. The skin, frame web and frame flange thicknesses and the flange width are treated as continuous variables. Frame spacing is considered a discrete variable. Constraint equations control local and general shell and frame instability and yield. Limits may be placed on the variable values, and certain geometric or space constraints can be applied. The mixed (continuous and discrete nonlinear programming problem is solved by a combination of a discrete ‘Golden Search’ for the optimal number of frames and the ‘Direct Search Design Algorithm’ which provides the optimum values of the continuous variables.     

A simple mixed finite element for static limit analysis

In this paper, we investigate the behavior of a simple mixed finite element for the limit analysis of plane structures. In particular, its ability to overcome incompressibility locking in plane strain situations is investigated. The element is constructed from a piecewise constant displacement field and a piecewise bilinear stress field, and is used within a mathematical programming based discrete representation of the classical static formulation. Several benchmark examples of both plane stress and plane strain situations are solved to illustrate the predictive accuracy and to assess the large-scale capability of the element. The results are compared with those obtained by a recent sophisticated enhanced strain mixed element formulation.     

A combined Rayleigh-Ritz/finite element method for the nonlinear analysis of stiffened plated structures

The paper describes a hybrid method for the non-linear analysis of steel plates and stiffened plating in which local (finite element) displacement functions are supplemented or replaced by global functions. The method is applied to the collapse analysis of box-girder bridges.     

Finite element analysis of stiffened plates

A finite element method is presented in which the constraint between stiffener and member is imposed by means of Lagrange multipliers. This is performed on the functional level, forming augmented variational principles. In order to simplify the initial development and implementation of the proposed method, two-dimensional stiffened beam finite elements are developed. Several such elements are formulated, each showing monotonic convergence in numerical tests. In the development of stiffened plate finite elements, the bending and membrane behaviors are treated seperately. For each, the stiffness matrix of a standard plate element is modified to account for an added beam element (representing the stiffener) and additional terms imposing the constraint between the two. The resulting stiffened plate element was implemented in the SAPIV finite element code. Exact solutions are not known for rib-reinforced plated structures, but results of numerical tests converge monotonically to a value in the vicinity of an approximate “smeared” series solution.     

Large deformation static and dynamic finite element analysis of extensible cables

Approximate numerical integration of the element total potential energy with polynomial interpolation of the displacements creates high order nonlinear, extensible, cable finite elements. Successful computations of static and dynamic large displacement cable problems are carried out with the element.     

Mixed least-squares finite element model for the static analysis of laminated composite plates

This paper presents a mixed finite element model for the static analysis of laminated composite plates. The formulation is based on the least-squares variational principle, which is an alternative approach to the mixed weak form finite element models. The mixed least-squares finite element model considers the first-order shear deformation theory with generalized displacements and stress resultants as independent variables. Specifically, the mixed model is developed using equal-order C⁰ Lagrange interpolation functions of high p-levels along with full integration. This mixed least-squares-based discrete model yields a symmetric and positive-definite system of algebraic equations. The predictive capability of the proposed model is demonstrated by numerical examples of the static analysis of four laminated composite plates, with different boundary conditions and various side-to-thickness ratios. Particularly, the mixed least-squares model with high-order interpolation functions is shown to be insensitive to shear-locking.     

Finite element analysis of eccentrically stiffened plates in free vibration

A compound finite element model is developed to investigate eccentrically stiffened plates in free vibration. The plate elements and beam elements are treated as integral parts of a compound section, and not as independent bending components. The derivation is based on the assumptions of small deflection theory. In the orthogonally stiffened directions of the compound section, the neutral surfaces may not coincide. They lie between the middle surface of the plate and the centroidal axes of the stiffeners. The results of this study are compared with existing ones and with those of the orthotropic plate approximation. Modifications to the existing equivalent orthotropic rigidities are proposed.     

A static analysis of metal matrix composite spur gear by three-dimensional finite element method

A number of engineering components have recently been made using metal matrix composite (MMC) materials, due to their overwhelming advantages, such as light weight high strength, higher dimensional stability and minimal attack by environment, when compared with polymer-based composite materials, even though the cost of MMCs are very high. Power transmission gears are one such area able to make use of MMC materials. Here an attempt is made to study and compare the performance of gears made of MMC materials with that of conventional steel material gears. It may be concluded from this study that MMC materials are highly suitable for making gears that are to transmit even fairly large power.     

Finite element free vibration analysis of eccentrically stiffened plates

A new finite element model is proposed for free vibration analysis of eccentrically stiffened plates. The formulation allows the placement of any number of arbitrarily oriented stiffeners within a plate element without disturbing their individual properties. A plate-bending element consistent with the Reissner-Mindlin thick plate theory is employed to model the behaviour of the plating. A stiffener element, consistent with the plate element, is introduced to model the contributions of the stiffeners. The applied plate-bending and stiffener elements are based on mixed interpolation of tensorial components (MITC), to avoid spurious shear locking and to guarantee good convergence behaviour. Several numerical examples using both uniform and distorted meshes are given to demonstrate the excellent predictive capability of this approach.     

Solution errors in finite element analysis

The development of the finite element method so far indicates that it is a discretization technique especially suited for positive definite, self-adjoint, elliptic systems, or systems with such components. The application of the method leads to the discretized equations in the form of $\text{u}\text{?}\text{=}\text{f(u)}$, where u lists the response of the discretized system at n preselected points called nodes. Instead of explicit expressions, vector function f and its Jacobian f,_u are available only numerically for a numerically given u. The solution of $\text{u}\text{?}\text{=}\text{f(u)}$ is usually a digital computer. Due to finiteness of the computer wordlength, the numerical solution $\text{u}{}_{\mathrm{c}}$ is in general different from u. Let $\text{u}\text{(}\text{x}\text{, t)}$ denote the actual response of the system in continuum at points corresponding to those of u. In the literature. $\text{u}\text{(}\text{x}\text{, t)-}\text{u}$ is called the discretization errors, $\text{u}\text{-}\text{u}{}_{\mathrm{c}}$ the round-off errors, and the s is. $\text{u}\text{(}\text{x}\text{, t)-}\text{u}{}_{\mathrm{c}}$ is called the solution errors. In this paper, a state-of-the-art survey is given on the identification, growth, relative magnitudes, estimation, and control of the components of the solution errors.     

Geometric nonlinear analysis of stiffened plates by the spline finite strip method

Geometric nonlinear analysis of stiffened plates is investigated by the spline finite strip method. von Karman’s nonlinear plate theory is adopted and the formulation is made in total Lagrangian coordinate system. The resulting nonlinear equations are solved by the Newton–Raphson iteration technique. To analyse plates having any arbitrary shapes, the whole plate is mapped into a square domain. The mapped domain is discretised into a number of strips. In this method, the displacement interpolation functions used are: the spline functions in the longitudinal direction of the strip and the finite element shape functions in the other direction. The stiffener is elegantly modelled so that it can be placed anywhere within the plate strip. The arbitrary orientation of the stiffener and its eccentricity are incorporated in the formulation. All these aspects have ultimately made the proposed approach a most versatile tool of analysis. Plates and stiffened plates are analysed and the results are presented along with those of other investigators for necessary comparison and discussion.     

Effects of the finite hybrid element on MHD stability calculations in a cylindrical plasma

Effects of the finite hybrid element on linear stability calculations of the ideal internal modes in a cylindrical plasma are investigated analytically and numerically. The finiteness of the poloidal mesh size Δ_θ most affects the growth rate, and an artificial correction of the toroidal mode number n to ñ(q, Δ_θ) is necessary. This correction makes the convergence of the growth rate almost quadratic for the case of constant safety factor q. When q is not constant, however, the radial dependence of ñ causes a deviation of the convergence from the quadratic form.     

A refined analysis of laminated plates by finite element displacement methods—I. Fundamentals and static analysis

This and a companion paper (Computers and Structures 26, 915–923, 1987) present a local finite element model based on a refined approximate theory for thick anisotropic laminated plates. The three-dimensional problem is reduced to a two-dimensional case by assuming piecewise linear variation of the in-plane displacements u and ρ and a constant value of the lateral displacement w across the thickness. By using a substructuring technique the present model is demonstrated to be practical and economical. The static bending stresses, transverse shearing stresses and in-plane displacements are predicted in the present paper. The vibration and buckling analyses will be presented in the second paper. Comparison with both exact three-dimensional analysis and a high-order plate bending theory shows that this model provides results which are accurate and acceptable for all ranges of thickness and modular ratio.     

Nonlinear finite element analysis of shell structures using the semi-loof element

The Semi-Loof Shell element originally developed by Irons [2] for linear elastic analysis of thin shell structures is formulated to include large deflection and plastic deformation effects. In this paper the details of the finite element formulation of the problem using total Lagrangian coordinate systems are presented and different element matrices are given. For plastic materials following the Prandtl-Reuss flow rule with isotropic strain hardening a multi-layer approach using a subincremental technique is employed. Numerical results on the performance of the element for a variety of applications are presented. These computer studies include complete load-deflection curves into the post-buckling range and comparisons are made with other existing results. Current experience with the element indicates that it is a reliable and competitive element for nonlinear analysis of shells of general geometry.     

The analysis of incompressible hyperelastic bodies by the finite element method

A method is developed for the finite element analysis of problems involving incompressible hyperelastic bodies; the constitutive relation is based on a class of strain-energy functions due to Ogden [4], which involve sums of real powers of principal stretches. Incremental equilibrium equations are derived from a rate form of the principle of virtual work and an additional set of equations which express the condition of incompressibility in an average manner, is appended to the equilibrium equations. Examples of solutions are given and compared either with closed-form solutions or with numerical solutions found using conventional approaches.     

Bifurcation and collapse analysis of stringer and ring-stringer stiffened cylindrical shells with cutouts

This paper presents results for cylindrical shell configurations using the STAGS computer program. Discontinuities have been imposed upon the shell's skin by incorporating symmetrical cutout openings. In addition, the surface is stiffened with both stringer and ring-stringer arrangements.The cutout problem has been shown to be highly nonlinear for smooth surface shells, but the author has found that bifurcation and collapse loads are close when one is considering stiffened skin configurations. In order to arrive at this conclusion, it was necessary to evaluate the following:—comparison between smeared and discrete stiffener theory for linear solutions—numerical finite difference convergence as directed toward buckling determination—collapse load results with the various skin stiffeners.This paper also includes a linear bifurcation study relating to stiffening effects around cutout areas present within stringer and ring-stringer shell surfaces. Comparisons have been made between a variety of geometric positions considering cutout frame and thickened skin additions. The investigation points toward an optimum positioning.