ME 565 Advanced Finite Element Analysis Assignment 1 Solution

2003 Pallavi Akula and Hormoz Zareh 1 Portland State University

Plate element benchmark comparison


Problem Statement:

A cantilever beam of z-cross section with an end couple force of 0.6 MN is
applied as shown in the figure.1 is a benchmark to test plate element type. The
benchmark value by NAFEMS
1
standard bench test reports the compressive axial stress at
the plate mid-surface to be -108 MPa at point P shown in the figure.





Figure.1
Ref:
1
National Agency for Finite Element Methods and Standards, Rev. 3, 1990 http://www.nafems.org


Objective:
The standard reported value is used to perform a convergence study of all the plate
elements available, namely linear and parabolic order triangle and quadrilateral elements.

Relevant data:
Material properties: E = 210 GPa, = 0.3.
Physical Properties: Mindlin plate element with thickness of 0.1m.

ME 565 Advanced Finite Element Analysis Assignment 1 Solution
2003 Pallavi Akula and Hormoz Zareh 2 Portland State University
Loading:
A torque load of 1.2 MN-m is equivalent to a couple force of 0.6 MN applied at each
edge as a shear load is shown as the figure 2.

Constraints:
One end of the beam is clamped so as to simulate a cantilever beam
condition.


Figure 2



Check Points and Tips in this problem:

Check that you apply a shear force of 0.6 MPa in opposite directions at
two edges of the Z cross-section.
Check that you have changed the thickness from the default value.
Always start with a course mesh, if possible.
Investigate whether the drilling degree of freedom has an effect
Check that you are looking for axial (Z) stress results.
Check that you are reading results at mid-layer of the plate element.
Check that there are two stress values reported at point P, while you query
the two adjacent elements related to the node at P. Average those two
values manually before keying into convergence plot.







ME 565 Advanced Finite Element Analysis Assignment 1 Solution
2003 Pallavi Akula and Hormoz Zareh 3 Portland State University


Convergence Study



Linear Quadrilateral Element

No. of
Elements
Compressive Axial
Stress at P, MPa
51 113
80 111.5
280 111
312 111
660 110.5

Convergence study for linear quad elements
110.5
111
111.5
112
112.5
113
113.5
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
No of elements
A
x
i
a
l

s
t
r
e
s
s

a
t

P

(
c
o
m
p
)

M
P
a
Linear Quad



The linear quadrilateral elements have converged at a mesh density of 280 elements.





ME 565 Advanced Finite Element Analysis Assignment 1 Solution
2003 Pallavi Akula and Hormoz Zareh 4 Portland State University



Parabolic Quadrilateral Element



No. of Elements
Compressive
Axial Stress
at P, MPa
9 106.96
12 108.74
15 108.34
18 109.3
21 109.45
24 109.61
32 109.54

Convergence for Parabolic Quad
9
12
15
18
21
24
32
106.5
107
107.5
108
108.5
109
109.5
110
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
No of elements
C
o
m
p

A
x
i
a
l

S
t
r
e
s
s

a
t

P
,

M
P
a
Parabolic Quad



The parabolic quadrilateral elements reach convergence at a very less mesh density of 24
elements.




ME 565 Advanced Finite Element Analysis Assignment 1 Solution
2003 Pallavi Akula and Hormoz Zareh 5 Portland State University



Linear Triangle Element



No. of
Elements
Compressive Axial
Stress at P, MPa
30 39.4
182 78.26
320 79.83
596 95.61
1062 99.05
1346 100


Convergence Study for linear Triangle
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0 500 1000 1500
No of Elements
C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
v
e
a
x
i
a
l

s
t
r
e
s
s

a
t

P
,

M
P
a
Linear Triangle



Linear triangle element has converged with a higher mesh density of 1062 elements.






ME 565 Advanced Finite Element Analysis Assignment 1 Solution
2003 Pallavi Akula and Hormoz Zareh 6 Portland State University

Parabolic Triangle Element




No. of
Elements
Compressive Axial
Stress at P, MPa
54 118
82 117.7
182 112.6
320 111.09
596 111.05
1346 110.9

Convergence study for Parabolic Triangle
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
No of Elements
C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
v
e

a
x
i
a
l

s
t
r
e
s
s

a
t

P
,

M
P
a
Parabolic Triangle



The convergence of parabolic triangle elements has improved compared to linear triangle
elements. They converge at mesh distribution of 320 elements.






ME 565 Advanced Finite Element Analysis Assignment 1 Solution
2003 Pallavi Akula and Hormoz Zareh 7 Portland State University


Comparison
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
No of elements
A
x
i
a
l

S
t
r
e
s
s

a
t

P

(
c
o
m
p
)
,
M
P
a
Linear Triangle Parabolic Triangle Linear Quad Parabolic Quad




Conclusion:

Use of parabolic quadrilateral elements save lot of computation time and will give
accurate results compared to other elements.
108 MPa
Theoretical Value