HAMADI
Oussama TEMAMI
Toufik MAALEM
Ashraf AYOUB
Abstract
Numerical analysis becomes an efficient practical tool for the analysis of engineering structures whatever the geometrical shape and applied loads. In this paper, a rectangular flat shell element denoted ‘ACM_R4SBE5’ is presented. This element is constructed by superposition of a rectangular strain-based membrane element ‘R4SBE5’ and the well-known plate bending element ‘ACM’. This element can be used for the analysis of thin shell structures even with a complicated geometrical shape. Validation of the present element is performed by a clamped cylindrical shell model and an experimental test on semi cylindrical shell model. In addition, a comparison of the deflections obtained with other types of shell elements is presented and discussed. According to the results obtained, the formulated flat shell element proved to have a fast rate of convergence and to provide satisfactory results.
Keywords
Flat shell element,
Thin shell structures,
Strain based approach,
Cylindrical shell model,
Experimental test,
Geometrical shape.
