2.

094 Finite Element Analysis of Solids and Fluids

Fall 08

Lecture 21 - Plates and shells

Prof. K.J. Bathe

MIT OpenCourseWare

Timoshenko beam theory, and Reissner-Mindlin plate theory

For plates, and shells, w, x , and y as independent variables.

w = displacement of mid-surface, w(x, y)

A = area of mid-surface
p = load per unit area on mid-surface
w = w(x, y)

(21.1)

w(x, y, z) = w(x, y)

(21.2)

The material particles at any z move in the z-direction as the mid-surface.

u(x, y, z) = x z = x (x, y)z

v(x, y, z) = y z = y (x, y)z

(21.3)
(21.4)

x
u
= z
x
x
y
v
= z
=
y
y

u v
x
y
=
+
= z
+
y
x
y
x

xx =

(21.5)

yy

(21.6)

xy

x
x

xx

yy = z

xy

y
y
x
y

(21.7)

y
x

(21.8)

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21. Plates and shells

w u
w
x
+
=
x
z
x
w v
w
y
=
+
=
y
z
y

xz =
yz

1
xx
E
yy =

1 2
xy
0

1
0

(21.9)
(21.10)

0
0
1
2

xx
yy = C
xy

(21.11)

(plane stress)

xz
yz

E
=
2(1 + )

xz
yz

= G

(21.12)

Principle of virtual work for the plate:

+ 2t

xx

yy

xy

2t

+ 2t

k
A

2t

1
E

1 2
0
xz

yz

xx
yy dzdA+
1
xy
2

1 0
xz
G
dzdA =
wpdA
0 1
yz
A

1
0

0
0

(21.13)

Consider a at element:

Kb

w1
x1
y1
.
..

, also Kpl.

where Kb is 12x12 and Kpl.

str.

u1

v
str. 1
...

(21.14)

is 8x8.

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MIT 2.094

21. Plates and shells

For a at element:

Kb
0

0
Kpl. str.

w1
x1
y1
..
.

4
y =
u1

v1

..
.
v4

(21.15)

u=

hi u i

(21.16)

v=

hi vi

(21.17)

w=

hi wi

x =
hi yi

y =
hi xi

(21.18)
(21.19)
(21.20)

From (21.13)

1
3
Et

T
12 (1 2 )
A
0

1
0

0
0
1
2

dA +

T Gt k

1
0

0
1

dA

(21.21)

where k is the shear correction factor.

Next, evaluate

w w x
x , y , x ,

. . . etc. This element, as it is, locks!

This displacement-based element locks in shear. We need to change the transverse shear interpola
tions.

yz =

1
1
A
C
(1 r)yz
+ (1 + r)yz
2
2

(21.22)

where
A
yz
=

w
y
y
evaluated at A

(21.23)

from the w, y displacement interpolations.

1
1
B
D
(1 s)xz
+ (1 + s)xz
(21.24)
2
2
with this mixed interpolation, the element works. Called MITC interpolation (for mixed interpolatedtensional components)
xz =

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21. Plates and shells

Aside: Why not just neglect transverse shears, as in Kirchho plate theory?
x = 0 x = w
x
2

Therefore we have xw2 , in strains, so we need continuity also for

w

x

If we do, xz =

w
x

w=

1
1
r(1 + r)w1 r(1 r)w2 + 1 r2 w3
2
2

w2 and w3 never aect w1 ( w|r=1 = w1 ).

But,

w
1
1
= (1 + 2r)w1 (1 2r)w2 2rw3
r 2
2

w2 and w3 aect w
r 1 . This results in diculties to develop a good
element based on Kirchho theory.

With Reissner-Mindlin theory, we independently interpolate rotations such that this problem does
not arise.
For at structures, we can superimpose the plate bending and plane stress element stiness. For
shells, curved structures, we need to develop/use curved elements, see references.

References
[1] E. Dvorkin and K.J. Bathe. A Continuum Mechanics Based Four-Node Shell Element for General
Nonlinear Analysis. Engineering Computations, 1:7788, 1984.
[2] K.J. Bathe and E. Dvorkin. A Four-Node Plate Bending Element Based on Mindlin/Reissner Plate
Theory and a Mixed Interpolation. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering,
21:367383, 1985.
[3] K.J. Bathe, A. Iosilevich and D. Chapelle. An Evaluation of the MITC Shell Elements. Computers
& Structures, 75:130, 2000.
[4] D. Chapelle and K.J. Bathe. The Finite Element Analysis of Shells Fundamentals. Springer,
2003.

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2.094 Finite Element Analysis of Solids and Fluids II

Spring 2011

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