19/07/2007 1

Lecture 5 Plate and Shell

Elements and 3D Problems
Yan Zhuge
CIVE 3011 Structural Analysis and
Computer Applications
2
Plate and Shell Elements
Plate bending element is used to model plate type
structures where the thickness is very small
compared to the other dimensions and when the
plate structure is subjected to loads which are
normal to its surface. As a consequence of this,
flexural effects dominate.
Note the similarity of 1D straight beam model to 2D flat
plate model.
Examples: floor slabs, bridge decks, sides of rectangular
water tanks and other fluid retaining structures.
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Plate and Shell Elements
Forces and Moments acting on the plate:
Relations between Forces and Stresses:
Bending moments (per unit length)

=
2 /
2 /
t
t
x x
zdz M
(N m/m)
(1)

=
2 /
2 /
t
t
y y
zdz M
(N m/m)
(2)
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Plate and Shell Elements
Twisting moment (per unit length)
Shear Forces (per unit length)
(N /m)

=
2 /
2 /
t
t
xy xy
zdz M

=
2 /
2 /
t
t
xz x
dz Q

=
2 /
2 /
t
t
yz y
dz Q
(4)
(3)
(5) (N /m)
Maximum bending stresses

2
max
6
) (
t
M
x
x
=

2
max
6
) (
t
M
y
y
= (6)
Maximum stress is always at z = t/2.
No bending stresses at midsurface(similar to the
beam model)
(N m/m)
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Finite Element for Plate
A plate is a thin solid and might be modelled by 3D solid
elements. But a solid element is wasteful of d.o.f. as it
computes transverse normal stress and transverse shear
stresses, all of which are considered negligible in a thin
plate. In sketches, thickness t may appear to be zero, but the
physically correct value is used in formulating element
stiffness matrices.
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Finite Element for Plate
The plate element normally has 3 d.o.f.
per node which are the lateral
deflection and rotation about the x and
y axes, resulting in 12 d.o.f. per
element. The displacement function is
therefore of the form:

w x y x xy y x
xy xy y xy xy
= + + + + + +
+ + + + +


1 2 3 4
2
5 6
2
7
3
8
2
9
2
10
3
11
3
12
3
(7)
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Shells and Shell Elements
Shells Thin structures which span over curved surfaces.
Examples:
Sea shell, egg shell;
Containers, pipes, tanks;
Car bodies;
Roofs, buildings (dome), etc.
Forces in shells:
Membrane forces +
Bending Moments
8
Shells and Shell Elements
A thin shell can be very strong if membrane action
dominates. However, no shell is completely free of
bending stresses.
Example: A cylindrical Container
9
Shell Elements
The most direct way to obtain a shell element is to
combine a membrane element and a bending element.
DOF at each node:
Q4 or Q8 shell element
10
Curved Shell Elements
Based on shell theories;
Most general shell elements (flat shell and plate
elements are subsets);
Complicated in formulation.
11
Solid Elements
The 3D brick elements are used to model
structures in which the thickness is substantial
when compared to the other dimensions.
Examples: valve and gear housings, bearing races, thick
welded joints, and thick walled cylinders.
For 3D solid element, all six possible stresses (three
normal and three shear) must be taken into account. By
using a number of brick elements through the thickness of
the part, the stress distribution can be accurately obtained.
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Solid Elements
A 3D brick element normally has 8 nodes,
each with 3 d.o.f., x, y and z translation.
However, some programs support
variable-node brick elements which can
support as many as 21 nodes where a high
degree of accuracy is required.
x
Y
Z
Problems of beam bending, plane stress,
plates, and so on, can all be regarded as
special cases of a 3D solid. However, 3D
models are the hardest to prepare, the
most tedious to check for errors, and the
most demanding of computer resources.
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Typical 3D Elements
Penta
Avoid using this element in 3D
stress analysis (Inaccurate! But it is
OK for dynamic analysis).
Tetrahedron
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Stress-strain Relations of 3D
Model
(1)
or
(2)
Displacements u within an element are interpolated from
nodal d.o.f. d in the usual way; that is, u = Nd, where N is
the shape function matrix. If nodes have only translational
d.o.f. and n is the number of nodes per element, N has 3n
columns for a 3D element.

x
y
z
xy
yz
zx
x
y
z
xy
yz
zx
E

=
+

( )( ) 1 1 2
1 0 0 0
1 0 0 0
1 0 0 0
0 0 0
1 2
2
0 0
0 0 0 0
1 2
2
0
0 0 0 0 0
1 2
2
= E
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Displacement Field
The Strain vector
(3)
(4)
u = Nd
(5)

u
v
w
N N
N N
N N
u
v
w
u
v
w
x1 x N
Nx1

( ) ( )
( )
3
1 2
1 2
1 2
3 3
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
L
L
L
M
or
= Bd
(6x1) (6x3N) x (3Nx1)
Stiffness Matrix

k B EBdv
T
v
=

(3xN) (3Nx6)x(6x6)x(6x3N)
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3D Solid Elements
Please note that 3D elements usually do not use
rotational d.o.f.
Loads:
Distributed loads Nodal forces
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Selection of the element types
Before defining the nodes, it is necessary to determine what
type of element is appropriate for the problem. The selection
of elements will influence the definition of the nodes.
Structures consisting of beams/trusses should be modelled with beam
or truss elements.
If the program does not provide truss element, trusses can be modelled
as beam elements without moment capability. The most common
method is to simply specify the moments of inertia as zero.
In general, any object whose length is much greater than its depth or
width can be modelled with beam elements.
Modelling beam elements is straightforward as long as the sectional
properties are properly defined and the beam is oriented properly.
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Examples of truss/beam elements
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Selection of the element types
The choice between plate and brick elements is
not always as straightforward, particularly in
problems involving bending. Plate elements
assume no variation in stress through the
thickness of the plate. This assumption is valid
provided the thickness is much less than the other
dimensions. In general, plate elements are
appropriate when the thickness is no more than
10% of the other dimensions.
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Selection of the element types
If your problem does not fit the criteria for beam
or plate elements, the first step is to evaluate
possible simplifying assumptions:
Are plane strain or axisymmetryassumptions
applicable? If so, you can still create a 2D model
using either plate or axisymmetricelements. If
you intend to use plane strain or axisymmetry,
you should redraw your preliminary sketch to
reflect this. If these assumptions do not apply,
your only recourse is a 3D element model.
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Examples of 2D elements
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Selection of the element types
Finally, you may require spring or stiffness
elements to model support points of the structure.
If the stiffness of any part of the structure is
known, this part can be modelled with spring or
stiffness elements. If other special elements are
required, such as lumped mass, these should be
noted on the preliminary sketch.