FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF THIN SHELL STRUCTURES USING SEMILOOF SHELL ELEMENT

Abstract

The present thesis.: is an effort to elucidate the potential strength of Semiloof Shell Elements (SLSE)for the analysis of complex thin shell structures which are very frequently encountered in the engineering field of activity. This work highlights the .versatility of Seini l oof Shell Element when used in the static and dynamic analysis of plates and shells having arbitrary geometrical shapes, complicated constraint conditions and complex loading patterns. Deformational analysis has been performed with a view to identify the domains of excessive, deformations. Free vibrational analysis has been carried out to find out the natural time periods in all the significant modes of vibrations. A computer program for Semiloof shell element written by Irons has been used for this study. This work is an endeavour to test the. effectiveness of Semiloof Shell Element. Semiloof shell elements have offered satisfactory results in the analysis of thin shell structures which has further enhanced its utility. The SLSE has proved its competency among its rival elements and efficiency by its application in wide variety of problems. In essence, this treatise intends to explore the efficiency of SLSE for the finite element solutions of thin plate and sr1 l structures. It has been established that any discrepancy crept in results is solely due to the adoption of numerical approximation technique and not at all due to the inefficiency or inadequacy of SLSEs. Finite Element solutions have also been verfied through comparasions with classical analytical' solutions.