Assignment #41

Solve the problem below by using membrane finite elements for E=200GPA, =0.3, L=3m, c=1m, t=1m
and q=1MN/m. Divide the applied load equally at the top nodes. Boundary conditions are such that it
allows rotation at the ends but prevents vertical deflection. Use two different meshes (1m x 1m and 0.5m
x 0.5m) and 5 different membrane elements. For each case, find the vertical deflection at the centre-line at
the mid-span and fill in the table below. By using the rectangle element with drilling D.O.F determine the
stress s x at the bottom point at the mid-span. Compare the results with the elasticity solution given
below. The mesh, node and element numbering are also given below.

CST Triangle Drilling Bilinear Rectangle Rectangle Drilling Quadratic Rectangle Elasticity

Node Element v Node Element v Node Element v Node Element v Node Element v v
21 24 0.094 21 24 0.141 21 12 0.136 21 12 0.150 53 12 0.152 1 1.000 0.159
65 96 0.133 65 96 0.153 65 48 0.152 65 48 0.156 177 48 0.158 200 200.000 0.159

0.18
0.16
Vertical deflection at the mid-span

0.14 CST
Triangle Drilling
0.12 Bilinear Rectangle
0.10 Rectangle Drilling
(mm)

Quadratic Rectangle
0.08 Elasticity
0.06
0.04
0.02
0.00
0 50 100 150 200
Number of nodes

1
Finite Element Analysis Dr Emre Erkmen

Assignment #4 1