aSchool of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;bDepartment of Mechanical and Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Trento, Via Mesiano77, I-38100 Povo (TN), Trento, Italy
Abstract:
This paper describes the application of the isoparametric spline finite strip method to the linear elastic analysis of tri-dimensional perforated folded plate structures. The general theory of the isoparametric spline finite strip method is introduced. Kinematics assumptions and the procedure for combining in-plane (membrane) and bending effects are set out. Particular attention is paid to the procedure for rotating the stiffness matrix and load vector from local to global coordinates. The reliability of the method is demonstrated by comparisons with finely meshed finite element analysis results. Square stiffened perforated plates in compression and bending are analysed.