A hybrid equilibrium element for folded plate and shell structures

SUMMARY This paper extends hybrid equilibrium formulation concepts, previously used with success for planar problems, to the analysis of folded plates and curved shells. A 2D hybrid equilibrium flat shell quadrilateral element is formulated for linear analysis, where detailed consideration is given to the implication of slope discontinuity when the element is used for non-planar domains. Benchmark plate bending, folded plate and curved shell problems are modelled using equilibrium and conforming elements for comparison. In models of the latter two problems, torsional moments may be released along lines of slope discontinuity, and the effects of this assumption for the folded plate are studied by analysing a third type of model composed of 3D solid brick elements. The comparisons demonstrate an excellent performance from the new hybrid equilibrium analysis method for folded plates and curved shells. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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