SUMMARYA stiffness matrix for a finite element having the planform of an annular segment is derived using the displacement approach. Numerical problems involved in the derivation are discussed and rapid convergence to exact solutions is demonstrated on three sample problems. It is concluded that the new element will be of great value to engineers concerned with the analysis of slabs of bridge decks curved in plan.
INTRODUCTIONThe derivation of the stiffness matrices for various finite elements by the displacement approach have been described in several papers.,. Due to the irregularity of boundary conditions in practical problems a local co-ordinate system is normally used for each element and equations in these local systems are transformed to derive the total energy in terms of general Cartesian co-ordinates. The difficulty of representing a curved boundary exactly as required in the analysis of circular plates still remained. Timoshenko formulated his solution for the bending of circular plates in polar co-ordinates, the moments in the radial and tangential direction being considered. In this paper the finite element procedure is extended for the annular plate segment in bending the deflection of the plate being specified in polar co-ordinates.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.