• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.221-238
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• 2014

A four-noded curved shell finite element for the geometrically non-linear analysis of beams curved in plan is introduced. The structure is conceived as a sequence of macro-elements (ME) having the form of transversal segments of identical topology where each slice is formed using a number of the curved shell elements which have 7 degrees of freedom (DOF) per node. A curved box-girder beam example is modelled using various meshes and linear analysis results are compared to the solutions of a well-known computer program SAP2000. Linear and non-linear analyses of the beam under increasing uniformly distributed loads are also carried out. In addition to box-girder beams, the proposed element can also be used in modelling open-section beams with curved or straight axes and circular plates under radial compression. Buckling loads of a circular plate example are obtained for coarse and successively refined meshes and results are compared with each other. The advantage of this element is that curved systems can be realistically modelled and satisfactory results can be obtained even by using coarse meshes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.68 no.6
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• pp.721-733
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• 2018

The modal frequency responses of functionally graded (FG) sandwich doubly curved shell panels are investigated using a higher-order finite element formulation. The system of equations of the panel structure derived using Hamilton's principle for the evaluation of natural frequencies. The present shell panel model is discretised using the isoparametric Lagrangian element (nine nodes and nine degrees of freedom per node). An in-house MATLAB code is prepared using higher-order kinematics in association with the finite element scheme for the calculation of modal values. The stability of the opted numerical vibration frequency solutions for the various shell geometries i.e., single and doubly curved FG sandwich structure are proven via the convergence test. Further, close conformance of the finite element frequency solutions for the FG sandwich structures is found when compared with the published theoretical predictions (numerical, analytical and 3D elasticity solutions). Subsequently, appropriate numerical examples are solved pertaining to various design factors (curvature ratio, core-face thickness ratio, aspect ratio, support conditions, power-law index and sandwich symmetry type) those have the significant influence on the free vibration modal data of the FG sandwich curved structure.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.52-57
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• 2011

Most ships and offshore structures are equipped with a variety of pipes, which inevitably contain curved portions. While it has been a usual practice to conduct bending stress analyses of these curved pipes using the straight-beam theory, this paper adopts two different types of finite elements, straight-beam elements and two-dimensional shell elements, for finite element analyses of a variety of curved pipes. It then compares the analysis results for two different types of elements to determine correction factors, which can be used to transform the bending displacements and bending stresses obtained by straight-beam elements to those obtainable by two-dimensional shell elements. The paper ends with a practical suggestion on how to efficiently use these correction factors to estimate the combined axial and normal stresses in a curved portion of a pipe.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.33-49
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• 1997

A method of analysis is proposed for curved multicell box girder grillages. The method can be used to analyze box girder grillages comprising straight and/or curved segments. Each segment can be modelled by a number of beam elements. Each element has three nodes and the nodal degrees of freedom (DOF) consist of the six DOF for a conventional beam plus DOF to account for torsional warping, distortion, distortional warping, and shear lag. This element is an extension of a straight element that was developed earlier. For a more realistic analysis of the intersection regions of non-colinear box girder segments, the concept of a rigid connector is introduced, and the compatibility requirements between adjoining elements in those regions are discussed. The results of the analysis showed good agreement with the shell finite element results, but the proposed method of analysis needs a fraction of the time and effort compared to the shell finite element analysis.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.21-42
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• 2009

The vibration characteristics of post-buckled laminated composite doubly curved shells are investigated. The finite element method is used for the analysis of post-buckling and free vibration of post-buckled laminated shells. The geometric non-linear finite element model includes the general non-linear terms in the strain-displacement relationships. The shell geometry used in the present formulation is derived using an orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system. Based on the principle of virtual work the non-linear finite element equations are derived. Arc-length method is implemented to capture the load-displacement equilibrium curve. The vibration characteristics of post-buckled shell are performed using tangent stiffness obtained from the converged deflection. The code is first validated and then employed to generate numerical results. Parametric studies are performed to analyze the snapping and vibration characteristics. The relationship between loads and fundamental frequencies and between loads and the corresponding displacements are determined for various parameters such as thickness ratio and shallowness.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.483-510
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• 2006

The dynamic instability characteristics of laminated composite stiffened shell panels subjected to in-plane harmonic edge loading are investigated in this paper. The eight-noded isoparametric degenerated shell element and a compatible three-noded curved beam element are used to model the shell panels and the stiffeners respectively. As the usual formulation of degenerated beam element is found to overestimate the torsional rigidity, an attempt has been made to reformulate it in an efficient manner. Moreover the new formulation for the beam element requires five degrees of freedom per node as that of shell element. The method of Hill's infinite determinant is applied to analyze the dynamic instability regions. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the effects of various parameters like shell geometry, lamination scheme, stiffening scheme, static and dynamic load factors and boundary conditions, on the dynamic instability behaviour of laminated composite stiffened panels subjected to in-plane harmonic loads along the boundaries. The results of free vibration and buckling of the laminated composite stiffened curved panels are also presented.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.88-93
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• 2010

Many pipes that are arranged longitudinally in ships have loops at intervals to prevent the failure of the pipes as they absorb large portions of the axial load caused by the bending of the hull girder and/or thermal loads when the pipes are carrying very hot fluids. Since the loops are curved at corners, an efficient method for conducting the structural analyses of these curved portions is required. In this paper, a pipe loop was analyzed by an analytical method and by the finite-element method in four different ways, i.e., based on straight-beam elements, curved-beam elements, 2-D shell elements, and 3-D solid elements. The results of the five analyses were compared to check the validity of the current curved-beam theory. The paper includes some suggestions on how to analyze the pipe loops efficiently.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.429-436
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• 2003

A new linkage framework between elastic shell element with finite rotation and computar-aided geometric design (CAGD) (or surface is developed in the present study. The framework of shell finite element is based on the generalized curved two-parametric coordinate system. To represent free-form surface, cubic B-spline tensor-product functions are used. Thus the present finite element can be directly linked into the geometric modeling produced by surface generation tool in CAD software. The efficiency and accuracy of the Previously developed linear elements hold for the nonlinear element with finite rotations. To handle the finite rotation behavior of shells, exponential mapping in the SO(3) group is employed to allow the large incremental step size. The integrated frameworks of shell geometric design and nonlinear computational analysis can serve as an efficient tool in shape and topological design of surfaces with large deformations.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.247-258
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• 2004

The composite shell element is developed for the solution of undamped forced vibration problem of composite curved panels. The finite element used in the current study is an 4-node enhanced assumed shell element with six degrees of freedom per node. The composite shell element is free of both shear and membrane locking phenomenon by using the enhanced assumed strain(EAS) method. A modification to the first-order shear deformation shell theory is proposed, which results in parabolic thorough-thickness distribution of the transverse shear strains and stresses. It eliminates the need for shear correction factors in the first order theory. Newmark's direct integration technique is used for carrying out the integration of the equation motion, to obtain the repones history. Parametric studies of curved composite panels are carried out for forced vibration analysis by geometrical shapes and by laminated composite; such as fiber orientation, stacking sequence.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.6 no.8
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• pp.883-899
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• 1998

The strength, deformation and buckling of a large engineering structure consisting of four ellipsoidal shells, two cylindrical shells with stiffening ribs and large holes, one conical shell and three pairs of large flanges under external pressure, self weight and heat sinks have been analysed by using two kinds of five different finite elements - four assumed displacement finite elements (shell element with curved surfaces, axisymmetric conical shell element with variable thickness, three dimensional eccentric beam element, axisymmetric solid revolutionary element) and an assumed stress hybrid element (a 3-dimensional special element developed by authors). The compatibility between different elements is enforced. The strength analyses of the top cover and the main vessel are described in the paper.