CE4011

FINITE ELEMENT METHODS

IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

Munidasa P. Ranaweera
Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology

L8-Analysis of Shells

09 April 2019
 SHELL PROBLEMS
FINITE ELEMENTS FOR SHELLS
Four Node Quadrilateral Shell Element (SAP2000)
The two-dimensional membrane element (with a normal rotation) and
the 2D plate bending element (with shear effects) are combined to
form the shell element.

Element has 6 DOF/node; 24 parameters/element

SAP2000 SHELL ELEMENT
 SHELL ELEMENT (ctd.)
The inside angle at each corner must be less than 180°. Best results for
the quadrilateral will be obtained when these angles are near 90°, or
at least in the range of 45° to 135°.
The aspect ratio of an element should not be too large. For the tri
angle, this is the ratio of the longest side to the shortest side. For the
quadrilateral, this is the ratio of the longer distance be tween the mid
points of opposite sides to the shorter such distance. Best results are
obtained for aspect ratios near unity, or at least less than four. The
aspect ratio should not exceed ten.
For the quadrilateral, the four joints need not be coplanar. A small
amount of twist in the element is accounted for by the program. The
angle be tween normals at the corners gives a measure of the degree
of twist. The normal at a corner is perpendicular to the two sides that
meet at the corner. Best results are obtained if the largest angle be
tween any pair of corners is less than 30°. This angle should not exceed
SHELL ELEMENT (ctd.)
SHELL ELEMENT (ctd.)
SHELL ELEMENT (ctd.)
 EDGE EFFECTS IN SHELLS

Attenuating edge effects (decay length)

At discontinuities (supports, point/line loads, changes in
curvature, etc.) bending moments will appear, and they can cause
stresses much larger than those due to membrane effects. The
bending effect is usually localized and will die away from the
discontinuity as;
e-lx cos lx, or e-lx sin lx .

where x is the distance from the discontinuity,

and l = [ 3 (1 – u2 )/(R2 t2 ) ]1/4

Hence small elements have to be used over the decay length

given by
x = 2p/ l = 2 p (Rt)1/2 ~ 4 (Rt)1/2
[3(1- u2 ) ]1/4

Note: This effect is similar to that in a beam on elastic foundation

 ELASTICALLY SUPPORTED STRUCTURES

P
Structure (beam on elastic foundation)

P Foundation Modulus = k

FE Model (beam elements on springs)

K/2 K K K/2
Theoretical Solution: x K = spring stiffness

Displacement w = (2Pb/k) e-bx Cos bx, b = [k/4EI]1/4

Bending Moment M = (P/b) e-bx Sin bx
1.2

1.0

0.8
D & M

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
-0.2
distance X

Near the loaded area spring spacing should be small enough to capture local effects.
 THIN SHELL PROBLEM – Cylindrical Water Tank

ANALYTICAL SOLUTION

1/4
Cylindrical Water Tank – Finite Element Analysis
Cylindrical Water Tank – Finite Element Analysis
EXAMPLE - ANALYSIS OF AN ELEVATED WATER TANK
CAPACITY 1125 m3
HALF MODEL OF THE WATER TOWER
 FORCES & MOMENTS DUE TO SELF WEIGHT

CIRCUMFERENTIAL FORCE RADIAL FORCE

CIRCUMFERENTIAL MOMENT RADIAL MOMENT

 Using Shell Elements to Model Beams
• To do a proper FE analysis, the analyst must understand
how the structure is likely to behave and how elements
are able to behave.
• In some cases it is more appropriate use shell elements
rather than beam elements.
A curved I-beam reacts to moments as shown, therefore shell
elements would be more accurate than beam elements.
Pipe bends react to moments as shown. Use shell elements or
specialized beam elements with correction factors.
 Using Shell Elements to Model Beams (ctd.)

If the load is not applied directly below the “shear

center”, the channel will twist.
Use shell elements instead of beam elements.
 Using Shell Elements to Model Beams (ctd.)

If beam flanges are wide, s = My/I is not accurate.

Beam elements will not give accurate results.
In this case, plate/shell elements should be used.
 WAFFLE SLAB –
(Grid or Coffered Floor)

2m
8 @ 2 m = 16 m

0.6 m

Typical Cell
6 @ 2 m = 12 m Plate t=0.1 m, Web t = 0.2 m

(Raju NK, Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design, CBS Publishers,1988)

WAFFLE SLAB ANALYSIS USING SHELL ELEMENTS

FE Model
 WAFFLE SLAB ANALYSIS USING SHELL ELEMENTS

LOADING
6.5 kN/m2 on slab

DEFLECTED SHAPE
Central deflection = 1.1 mm
WAFFLE SLAB ANALYSIS USING SHELL ELEMENTS
SLAB MOMENTS –
Averaged at nodes M11 (kNm/m)
Centre M11=0.146

Not averaged
Centre M11=0.269
Averaged over Slab Nodes
Centre M11=0.269
 T-BEAM ANALYSIS USING DIFFERENT ELEMENTS
Beam: Section –T, L=12 m, Load = Pressure of 6.5 kN/m2
2m

0.6 m

6top = 2.84 MPa, Central d = 3.34 mm

6bottom = -8.51 MPa
FRAME ELEMENT MODEL (fixed ends)
 T-BEAM ANALYSIS USING SHELL ELEMENTS

Shell Model
MODEL

Deflected Shape

Central Deflection
Web = 3.52 mm
Flange end = 4.02
 T-BEAM ANALYSIS USING SHELL ELEMENTS

Stresses – Longitudinal (S11)

Flange Top

2..60 MPa

Web

3.06 MPa

Shear Lag
-6.67 MPa + 4.18 MPa
T-BEAM ANALYSIS USING SOLID ELEMENTS

MODEL

Central Deflection
Web = 3.50 mm
Flange end = 3.78 mm

Deflected Shape
 T-BEAM ANALYSIS USING SOLID ELEMENTS

Stresses – Longitudinal (S11)

Flange Top

2..64 MPa

Shear Lag
2..58 MPa

Web

-6.74 MPa 4.22 MPa