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PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000

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EXAMPLE 5-005
SOLID – RECTANGULAR PLATE WITH STATIC LOADS

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
In this example, a rectangular plate, modeled with solid elements, is subjected to
an out-of-plane (Z direction) uniform load and an out-of-plane center
concentrated load. The uniform and concentrated loads are applied in different
load cases. The plate center displacement in the direction of the load is compared
with independent hand-calculated results for each load case.

The geometry, properties and loading are as suggested in MacNeal and Harder
1985. The plate is 2 inches wide and is modeled with both a 2-inch and a 10-inch
length. As suggested in MacNeal and Harder 1985, only a quarter of the plate is
modeled. Both a 4x4x1 and a 16x16x1 mesh are considered for the quarter plates.
In addition, a 16x64x1 mesh is considered for the 2-inch-wide by 10-inch-long
plate.

Appropriate symmetry boundary conditions are applied to restrain the inside

edges of the plate against out-of-plane moment. Note that because only a quarter
of the plate is modeled, only a quarter of the specified concentrated load is
applied to the center of the plate.

GEOMETRY, PROPERTIES AND LOADING

Material Properties
E = 17,472,000 lb/in2
ν = 0.3
G = 6,720,000 lb/in2
Sym
Section Properties
2"

Thickness = 0.0001 in
Sym

Loading (in separate cases)

Y
Uniform Load = 0.0001 lb/in2
Center Point Load = 0.0004 lb

X
2" or 10"
Z

EXAMPLE 5-005 - 1
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SUMMARY OF MODELS USED IN EXAMPLE

The following table identifies each of the models used in this example.

Full Plate Model Model Edge

Model Size Size Mesh Support

A 2" x 2" 1" x 1" 4x4x1 Simple

B 2" x 2" 1" x 1" 16 x 16 Simple

C 2" x 10" 1" x 5" 4x4x1 Simple

D 2" x 10" 1" x 5" 16 x 16 x 1 Simple

E 2" x 10" 1" x 5" 16 x 64 x 1 Simple

F 2" x 2" 1" x 1" 4x4x1 Fixed

G 2" x 2" 1" x 1" 16 x 16 Fixed

H 2" x 10" 1" x 5" 4x4x1 Fixed

I 2" x 10" 1" x 5" 16 x 16 x 1 Fixed

J 2" x 10" 1" x 5" 16 x 64 x 1 Fixed

TECHNICAL FEATURES OF SAP2000 TESTED

 Plate bending analysis using solid elements
 Surface pressure load applied to solid objects
 Joint force loading

EXAMPLE 5-005 - 2
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RESULTS COMPARISON
The independent results are hand calculated using Equation 3 on page 5, Table 8
on page 20, Equation 147 and Table 23 on page 143, Table 35 on page 202, and
Table 37 on page 206, all in Timoshenko and Woinowsky-Krieger 1959.
Independent results are also published in MacNeal and Harder 1985.

Uniform Load – 2" x 2" Plate – With Incompatible Bending Modes

Edge Output Percent
Support Model Mesh Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference

A 4x4x1 Uz, in 1.73E-06 -57%

Simple Center of 4.06E-06
B 16x16x1 plate 4.04E-06 0%

F 4x4x1 Uz, in 0.36E-06 -71%

Fixed Center of 1.26E-06
G 16x16x1 plate 1.25E-06 -1%

Concentrated Load – 2" x 2" Plate – With Incompatible Bending Modes

Edge Output Percent
Support Model Mesh Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference

A 4x4x1 Uz, in 4.92E-06 -58%

Simple Center of 11.60E-06
B 16x16x1 plate 11.50E-06 -1%

F 4x4x1 Uz, in 1.61E-06 -71%

Fixed Center of 5.60E-06
G 16x16x1 plate 5.51E-06 -2%

EXAMPLE 5-005 - 3
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Uniform Load – 2" x 10" Plate – With Incompatible Bending Modes

Edge Output Percent
Support Model Mesh Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference

C 4x4x1 Uz, in 3.93E-06 -70%

Simple D 16x16x1 Center of 12.93E-06 12.97E-06 0%
plate
E 16x64x1 12.95E-06 0%
H 4x4x1 Uz, in 0.72E-06 -72%
Fixed I 16x16x1 Center of 2.60E-06 2.60E-06 0%
J 16x64x1 plate 2.59E-06 0%

Concentrated Load – 2" x 10" Plate – With Incompatible Bending Modes

Edge Output Percent
Support Model Mesh Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference

C 4x4x1 Uz, in 2.39E-06 -86%

Simple D 16x16x1 Center of 15.61E-06 16.95E-06 -8%
plate
E 16x64x1 16.82E-06 -1%
H 4x4x1 Uz, in 0.60E-06 -92%
Fixed I 16x16x1 Center of 6.12E-06 7.25E-06 -16%
J 16x64x1 plate 7.11E-06 -2%

EXAMPLE 5-005 - 4
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COMPUTER FILES: Example 5-005a, Example 5-005b, Example 5-005c,

Example 5-005d, Example 5-005e, Example 5-005f,
Example 5-005g, Example 5-005h, Example 5-005i,
Example 5-005j

CONCLUSIONS
The SAP2000 results show an acceptable comparison with the independent
results with sufficient meshing. In general, refining the mesh of the model
improves the comparison.

In general a tighter mesh is required in areas where stresses are changing

significantly (i.e., where there is a high stress gradient). The area around a
concentrated load (or any type of load discontinuity) is one of those types of
areas.

For example, the 2" x 10" plate could be meshed 16 x 28 x 1 as shown in the
following figure and obtain results nearly as good as the 16 x 64 x 1 uniform
mesh. Note that in the 16 x 28 x 1 mesh there is a tighter mesh near the
concentrated load, which occurs at the upper right-hand corner of the model.

EXAMPLE 5-005 - 5
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HAND CALCULATION

EXAMPLE 5-005 - 6
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EXAMPLE 5-005 - 7
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EXAMPLE 5-005 - 8
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EXAMPLE 5-005 - 9