ME 565 Advanced Finite Element Analysis

Assignment #2 (plate benchmark)

Plate element benchmark comparison

Problem Statement:
A cantilever beam of z-cross section with an end couple force of 0.6 MN is
applied as shown in the figure.1 is a benchmark to test plate element type. The
benchmark value by NAFEMS1 standard bench test reports the compressive axial stress at
the plate mid-surface to be -108 MPa at point P shown in the figure.

Figure.1
Ref: 1 National Agency for Finite Element Methods and Standards, Rev. 3, 1990 http://www.nafems.org

Objective:
The standard reported value is used to perform a convergence study of all the plate
elements available, namely linear and parabolic order triangle and quadrilateral elements.
Relevant data:
Material properties: E = 210 GPa, = 0.3.
Physical Properties: Mindlin plate element with thickness of 0.1m.

2008 Hormoz Zareh

Portland State University

ME 565 Advanced Finite Element Analysis

Assignment #2 (plate benchmark)

Loading:
A torque load of 1.2 MN-m is equivalent to a couple force of 0.6 MN applied at each
edge as a shear load is shown as the figure 2.
Constraints:
One end of the beam is clamped so as to simulate a cantilever beam condition.

Figure 2

Check Points and Tips in this problem:

Check that you apply a shear force of 0.6 MPa in opposite directions at
two edges of the Z cross-section.
Check that you have changed the thickness from the default value.
Always start with a course mesh, if possible.
Investigate whether the drilling degree of freedom has an effect
Check that you are looking for axial (Z) stress results.
Check that you are reading results at mid-layer of the plate element.
Check that there are two stress values reported at point P while you query
the two adjacent elements related to the node at P. Average those two
values manually before keying into convergence plot.

2008 Hormoz Zareh

Portland State University

ME 565 Advanced Finite Element Analysis

Assignment #2 (plate benchmark)

Convergence Study

Linear Quadrilateral Element

No. of
Elements
51
80
280
312
660

Compressive Axial
Stress at P, MPa
113
111.5
111
111
110.5

Convergence study for linear quad elements

Axial stress at P (comp) MPa

113.5
113
112.5
112
111.5
111
110.5
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

No of elements
Linear Quad

The linear quadrilateral elements have converged at a mesh density of 280 elements.

2008 Hormoz Zareh

Portland State University

ME 565 Advanced Finite Element Analysis

Assignment #2 (plate benchmark)

Parabolic Quadrilateral Element

Compressive
Axial Stress
at P, MPa
106.96
108.74
108.34
109.3
109.45
109.61
109.54

No. of Elements
9
12
15
18
21
24
32

Convergence for Parabolic Quad

Comp Axial Stress at P, MPa

110
109.5

18

21

24

32

109
12

108.5

15

108
107.5
107

106.5
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

No of elements
Parabolic Quad

The parabolic quadrilateral elements reach convergence at a mesh density of 24 elements!

2008 Hormoz Zareh

Portland State University

ME 565 Advanced Finite Element Analysis

Assignment #2 (plate benchmark)

Linear Triangle Element

No. of
Elements
30
182
320
596
1062
1346

Compressive Axial
Stress at P, MPa
39.4
78.26
79.83
95.61
99.05
100

Conv e rge nce Study for line ar Triangle

Compressiveaxial stress at P,
MPa

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0

500

1000

1500

No of Ele me nts
Linear Triangle

Linear triangle element has converged with a higher mesh density of 1062 elements.

Parabolic Triangle Element

2008 Hormoz Zareh

Portland State University

ME 565 Advanced Finite Element Analysis

No. of
Elements

Assignment #2 (plate benchmark)

Compressive Axial
Stress at P, MPa
54
82
182
320
596
1346

118
117.7
112.6
111.09
111.05
110.9

Convergence study for Parabolic Triangle

Compressive axial stress at P, MPa

119
118
117
116
115
114
113
112
111
110
0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

No of Elements
Parabolic Triangle

The convergence of parabolic triangle elements has improved compared to linear triangle
elements. They converge at mesh distribution of 320 elements.

2008 Hormoz Zareh

Portland State University

ME 565 Advanced Finite Element Analysis

Assignment #2 (plate benchmark)

Comparison

Axial Stress at P (comp),MPa

140
120

108 MPa
Theoretical Value

100
80
60
40
20
0
0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

No of elements
Linear Triangle

Parabolic Triangle

Linear Quad

Parabolic Quad

Conclusion:
Use of parabolic quadrilateral elements saves computation time and will result in accurate
results compared to other elements.

2008 Hormoz Zareh

Portland State University