• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.471-490
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• 1997

In this paper, the classical Irons' patch tests which have been generally accepted for the convergence proof of a finite element are performed for Mindlin plate bending elements with a special emphasis on the nonconforming elements. The elements considered are 4-node and 8-node quadrilateral isoparametric elements which have been dominantly used for the analyses of plate bending problems. It was recognized from the patch tests that some nonconforming Mindlin plate elements pass all the cases of patch tests even though nonconforming elements do not preserve conformity. Then, the clues for the Mindlin plate element to pass the Irons' patch tests are investigated. Also, the convergent characteristics of some nonconforming Mindlin plate elements that do not pass the Irons' patch tests are examined by weak patch tests. The convergence tests are performed on the benchmark numerical problems for both nonconforming elements which pass the patch tests and which do not. Some conclusions on the relationship between the patch test and convergence of nonconforming Mindlin plate elements are drawn.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 1997

A 4-node element for efficient finite element analysis of plate bending is presented in this paper. This element is formulated based on Mindlin plate theory to take account of shear deformation. To overcome the overestimation of shear stiffness in thin Mindlin plate element, especially in the lower order element, five nonconforming displacement modes are added to the original displacement fields. The proposed nonconforming element does not possess spurious zero-energy mode and does not show shear locking phenomena in very thin plate even for distorted mesh shapes. It was recognized from benchmark numerical tests that the displacement converges to the analytical solutions rapidly and the stress distributions are very smooth. The element also provides good results for the case of high aspect ratio.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.631-632
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• 2010

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 1988

The present work is concerned with the improvement of finite element for the analysis of plate bending structures. The element formulation is based upon Mindlin plate concept. The displacement field of this element is formed by adding nonconforming modes to two rotational displacement components of a 'heterosis plate element. The element has the requisite numbers of zero eigenvalues associated with rigid body modes to avoid the spurious zero energy mode. It is shown that the results obtained by the element converged to the exact solutions very rapidly as the mesh is refined and exhibited reliable solutions through numerical studies for standard benchmark problems. This element is shown to overcome the shear locking problem completely in very thin plate situation even for irregular meshes.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.83-90
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• 1987

The applications of reduced integration technique, addition of nonconforming modes, and their coupling to the Mindlin plate elements to improve their basic behavior are reviewed and the establishment of a series of new plate elements by combined use of these schemes are presented in this paper. The element formulation is based upon quadratic Mindlin plate concept. The results obtained by new elements converged to the exact solutions very rapidly as the mesh is refined and showed reliable solutions even for severely distorted meshes. The new elements have the requisite numbers of zero eigenvalues associated with rigid body modes to avoid the spurious zero energy modes. These elements are shown to be applicable to the wide range of plate problems, giving a high accuracy for both thick and thin plates.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.207-231
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• 1999

A versatile 4-node shell element which is useful for the analysis of arbitrary shell structures is presented. The element is developed by flat shell approach, i.e., by combining a membrane element with a Mindlin plate element. The proposed element has six degrees of freedom per node and permits an easy connection to other types of finite elements. In the plate bending part, an improved Mindlin plate has been established by the combined use of the addition of non-conforming displacement modes (N) and the substitute shear strain fields (S). In the membrane part, the nonconforming displacement modes are also added to the displacement fields to improve the behavior of membrane element with drilling degrees of freedom and the modified numerical integration (M) is used to overcome the membrane locking problem. Thus the element is designated as NMS-4F. The rigid link correction technique is adopted to consider the effect of out-of-plane warping. The shell element proposed herein passes the patch tests, does not show any spurious mechanism and does not produce shear and membrane locking phenomena. It is shown that the element produces reliable solutions even for the distorted meshes through the analysis of benchmark problems.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.234-241
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• 1999

In this study, an improved 8-node flat shell element is presented for the analysis of shell structure, by combining 8-node membrane element with drilling degree-of-freedom and 8-node plate bending element based on the recently presented technique. Firstly, 8-node membrane element designated as CLM8 is presented in this paper. The element has drilling degree-of.freedom in addition to transitional degree-of-freedom. Therefore the element possesses 3 degrees-of-freedom per each node which as well as the improvement of the element behavior, permits an easy connection to other element with rotational degree-of -freedom. Secondly. 8-node flat shell element was composed by adding 8-node Mindlin plate bending element to the membrane element. The behavior of the introduced plate bending element is further improved by combined use of nonconforming displacement modes, selectively reduced integration scheme and assumed shear strain fields. The element passes in the patch test, doesn't show spurious mechanism and doesn't produce shear locking phenomena. Finally, Numerical examples are presented to show the performance of flat shell element developed in the present study.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2013

This study attempts to simulate the structure of a woody leaf netted venation system by using topology optimization techniques. Based on finite element method (FEM) analysis of an incompressible fluid, a topology optimal design is applied to those woody leaf netted venation models. To solve the transverse shear locking problem of a thin plate caused by the Mindlin-Reissner plate model where a leaf netted venation is assumed to be a thin plate, a P1-nonconforming element and selective reduced integration are employed. Topology optimal design is applied to multiple physical domains. Combined with the Darcy-Stokes flow problems and extended to the optimal design of fluid channels, the multiple physical models of the flow system are analyzed and venation patterns of leafs are simulated. The calculated optimal shapes are compared with the natural shapes of woody leaf venation patterns. This interdisciplinary approach may improve our understanding of the leaf venation system.