Testing The Asymptomatic Behavior

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING
Int. J. Numer. Meth. Engng 2002; 54:421452 (DOI: 10.1002/nme.436)

Testing the asymptotic behaviour of shell elementsPart I:
the classical benchmark tests
D. Briassoulis
;
Department of Agricultural Engineering; Agricultural University of Athens; Iera Odos 75; Athens 11855; Greece
SUMMARY
The asymptotic behaviour is considered to be one of the most demanding levels of benchmark testing
for shell elements. In the present paper, the asymptotic behaviour of classical benchmark problems
is analytically and numerically investigated. The aim is to examine the possibility of using the clas-
sical benchmark tests for testing the asymptotic behaviour of shell elements. Appropriate analytical
approaches are introduced to investigate the asymptotic behaviour of the classical benchmark problems.
The reformulated four-node shell element (RFNS) is employed in the numerical analyses. It is shown
that the classical benchmark tests, in addition to testing the reliability and robustness of shell elements,
also represent strong challenging tests for the asymptotic behaviour of shell elements. In the course of
the numerical investigation of the asymptotic behaviour of the classical benchmark problems, the reli-
ability and eciency of the RFNS element already established by means of the classical conguration
of the benchmark tests is re-conrmed in all cases of the corresponding asymptotic test congurations.
Copyright ? 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
KEY WORDS: nite shell elements; asymptotic behaviour; benchmark tests
1. INTRODUCTION
The performance of a large variety of shell nite elements and the development of new
elements represent an open research eld, a rather attractive one, for many years now. Shear
and membrane locking problems, as well as zero energy modes phenomena have been the
most common problems for the classical C
0
shell elements. Despite the eorts made so far to
eliminate these problems and the remarkably successful, in a few cases, schemes proposed,
the discussion on the performance, robustness and reliability of the corresponding elements
still goes on [1; 2].
The present paper has been motivated by the work of Chapelle and Bathe [3], where some
fundamental considerations regarding the reliability of the nite element analysis of shell
structures are presented. The rst attempt in this course was made through the introduction of
an analytical test for the evaluation of plate bending elements. However, the corresponding
Correspondence to: D. Briassoulis, Agricultural Engineering Department, Agricultural University of Athens,

Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
E-mail: briassou@aua.gr
Received 19 April 2000
Copyright
?
2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Revised 7 September 2001
422 D. BRIASSOULIS
infsup condition for ReissnerMindlin plate elements [4] was found to be very dicult to
evaluate analytically [3]. Therefore, a numerical test methodology was developed to evaluate
the infsup condition numerically. The infsup test was furthermore elaborated in recent
works with special emphasis placed on shell elements [5; 6].
Plate elements which pass the infsup test are considered [5] to provide optimal discretiza-
tions, that is the convergence rate is the maximum possible for the interpolations used and it
is independent of the plate thickness used. ReissnerMindlin theory-based elements are very
eective when they satisfy two crucial mathematical conditions: the ellipticity and the relevant
infsup conditions (this has already been shown with MITC elements) [5]. Concerning shell
elements, the ellipticity condition is satised if the formulation of the element ensures that
it contains the six physical rigid body modes and no spurious zero energy modes indepen-
dently of the application or discretization [5]. This is an easy test to perform. Satisfaction
of the infsup condition, on the other hand, means that the convergence properties of the
nite element spaces ensure that the optimal rate of convergence is obtained for suciently
smooth solutions. However, an analytical approach to identify whether the infsup condition
is satised is very dicult to develop (or many limitations have to be introduced) [5], be-
cause the geometry and the boundary conditions are crucial ingredients in such an approach
and the meshes used should also be considered. Thus, numerical tests may be used instead.
Such a numerical infsup test methodology suitable for general shell elements, which is also
considered to be a very useful tool in the search for improved shell elements is presented in
Reference [5].
Nevertheless, one should bear in mind also the limitations of the infsup test results. Thus,
a shell element which satises the infsup condition is not guaranteed to perform well in
membrane-dominated problems [5]. Moreover, the evaluation of the discrete infsup condition
is geometry- and mesh-dependent: an element which is shown to pass the test under a specic
conguration may not pass the test for a dierent conguration in terms of dierent geometry
and=or mesh sequences [5]. Hence, since the evaluation of the discrete infsup condition
is problem-dependant, an appropriate problem should be selected for this purpose. Such a
good problem is considered to be the hyperbolic paraboloid shell [7] (this problem will be
considered in a future work).
Numerical evaluation is evidently the best available tool for testing the asymptotic behaviour
of shells. The basic idea proposed in Reference [3] is that any test for shell elements becomes
more drastic if the thickness is allowed to go to very small (e.g. a set of drastic tests is
obtained by allowing the thickness of the classical benchmark test congurations to decrease;
t 0). To this end, some of the classical benchmark tests for shell elements were analysed
[3] in view of their asymptotic behaviour. In the same work, a new set of limit tests, cleaner
with respect to identifying the asymptotic behaviour of shell elements, was proposed [3].
The present work is divided into two parts, dealing with the asymptotic behaviour of the
classical benchmark problems (Part I) and the newly introduced limit tests (Part II), respec-
tively. In the present paper (Part I), the behaviour of classical benchmark problems with
respect to their asymptotic behaviour and thus, their performance in testing the asymptotic
behaviour of shell elements is both, analytically and numerically investigated. Appropriate
analytical approaches are developed to investigate the asymptotic behaviour of the classical
benchmark tests. In some cases, simple physical models are introduced that oer a simple
means of explaining the asymptotic behaviour of the problem under investigation. In ad-
dition to the analytical solutions, extensive numerical analyses are employed to study the
Copyright ? 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Numer. Meth. Engng 2002; 54:421452
TESTING THE ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOUR OF SHELL ELEMENTSPART I 423
asymptotic behaviour of these classical problems. The performance of the nite element mod-
els is monitored against the physical convergence characteristics of the solutions obtained as
well as against the analytical solutions developed in the present work. The degree to which
each limit test investigated represents a challenging test, with the development of strong
boundary eects over very narrow boundary layers, as the shell thickness is reduced, possi-
bly also associated with the development of competing deformation modes in those zones, is
pointed out in the two papers along with the specic diculties experienced.
The main purpose in the present work is to oer insight into the mechanisms developed
by the shells of the corresponding benchmark problems as the shell thickness is reduced.
It is expected that the investigation of these mechanisms would allow for an evaluation of
the critical parameters in employing the particular classical problems also as benchmark tests
for testing the asymptotic behaviour of shell elements. In that way, physical convergence
characteristics may be described in terms of the behaviour of a shell element in modelling
extremely thin local boundary layers (e.g. emphasis is placed on the relationship between
convergence characteristics and behaviour within the boundary zones in connection with the
meshing schemes used; of course, physical convergence characteristics may be considered in
addition to the classical appropriate convergence characteristics as described elsewhere in the
literature [6]).
The reformulated four-node shell (RFNS) element is employed in the present work for
the numerical investigation of the asymptotic behaviour of the classical benchmark problems.
The RFNS element, a promising reliable and robust shell element, was introduced recently,
applicable to both at and warped shell element congurations [8]. This shell element does
not experience any locking phenomena or zero energy modes, performing equally well in at
as well as in warped shell element congurations. The basic element formulation is based
on physical considerations and does not include heuristic numerical procedures aimed at
avoiding locking or possible development of mechanisms. The performance of this element
has been found to be favourably comparable to that of the few well-established shell elements.
The analysis of the RFNS element performance in this work has a parallel, supportive
comparative character, next to the analytical investigation of the asymptotic behaviour of
the limit tests. Along this line, the asymptotic behaviour of the RFNS element is compared
against the corresponding analytical solutions in a way that: (a) the asymptotic behaviour of
the element is investigated with respect to both, the classical (Part I) and the newly proposed
limit tests (Part II); (b) the converged solutions obtained numerically verify, indirectly, the
corresponding analytical solutions and allow for the investigation of the physical behaviour
and modelling diculties of each limit test through their convergence characteristics.
2. THE RFNS ELEMENT UNDER THE CLASSICAL BENCHMARK TESTS
The formulation of the reformulated C
0
shell element is presented in detail in Reference [8].
The performance of the RFNS element as it has been veried against a wide range of the
most well-known severe benchmark tests for shell elements [8] may be described briey as
follows:
The RFNS element was shown to pass successfully the thin plate bending patch test, as
well as the plane stress patch test [8]. The classical benchmark tests examined include the two
424 D. BRIASSOULIS
cases of the pinched cylindrical shell with free ends, representing a relatively thick and thin
shell. Also, the pinched cylinder supported by rigid diaphragms at the two ends, a problem
representing a severe benchmark test for shell elements was employed. Another classical test
is the ScordelisLo roof problem. This problem is known as representing a critical test for
the ability of a shell element to represent complex states of membrane strain. The pinched
hemispherical shell, designed with a 18
hole at the top allowing an easier modelling with

at shell elements, represents a problem which tests the ability of a shell element to represent
inextensional bending modes. The main question in this test concerns the ability of the shell
element to model rigid body modes (rotations) without developing spurious strain energy.
In a second modelling version, the full hemisphere is modelled by a mesh which requires
the use of highly distorted, warped, elements. In this form, the problem is used to test the
behaviour of shell elements with respect to warping, in addition to testing their behaviour in
modelling inextensional bending modes. The twisted beam subject to in-plane and out-of-plane
tip concentrated loads, represents one of the most severe benchmark tests for testing the eect
of warping on the behaviour of shell elements. Two cases were employed along with this
problem, one corresponding to a thick twisted shellbeam and another one corresponding to
a thin twisted shellbeam.
The results obtained in all problems mentioned above indicated a fast convergence for the
RFNS element models to the corresponding theoretical values [8] (note that these problems
were tested in their classical conguration and not in the form of limit asymptotic problems).
3. ANALYSIS OF THE ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOUR OF THE CLASSICAL
BENCHMARK PROBLEMS
The asymptotic behaviour of the problems under investigation is traced numerically following
physical convergence characteristics of the nite element solution as the shell thickness is
reduced. In addition, analytical asymptotic solutions are derived for the problems investigated
in order to allow monitoring and comparisons of the numerical analysis results.
3.1. The pinched cylinder with free ends
A circular cylindrical shell with free ends, pinched at the middle by two opposite forces P act-
ing along a diameter represents, in its asymptotic behaviour, a clear case where inextensional
deformation prevails [9].
The analysis of the shell, assuming that the three strain components in the middle surface
vanish, yields an analytical series solution for the deformations. The radial deformation is
given by [9]
w=
2Pr
3
DL
n=2;4;6;:::
1
(n
2
1)
2
cos n (1)
where D is the exural rigidity of the shell, r is the radius and L is the shell length.
The nite element model employed in the numerical analysis is shown in Figure 1. Two
uniform meshes were used in this case, a 15 15 and a more rened 17 30 mesh, modelling
a symmetric quadrant of half the cylinder (note: the scheme 17 30 stands for a number of
17 nodes in the meridional direction times and a number of 30 nodes in the circumferential

X
Free edge
Line of symmetry
L
Line of symmetry
r
t
P=1
P=1
Z, w
z

Y
w
u
v
Figure 1. Finite element model of one-eighth of the classical benchmark test of the pinched cylindrical
shell with free ends (E =10:5 10
6
, =0:3125, r =4:953, L=10:35, t =0:094).
direction; the use of a 25 35 mesh, rened along the free boundary, simply conrmed the
results obtained by the 17 30 mesh in terms of displacements). The deformed shell obtained
by the nite element analysis for the classical problem (t =0:094) [10], reveals a ring-type
load-carrying mechanism (Figure 2; just the same picture was obtained for the limit thin
shell case with t =0:000094). That is, the load is mainly carried by means of the ring-type
bending resistance of the shellarch structure. This may be readily conrmed by calculating
the deformation of a ring pinched by two opposite forces. The maximum ring deection under
the load may be obtained analytically (herein calculated by using energy methods) as follows:
w=
Pkr
8AG
+
Pr
8AE
+
Pr
3
2EI
4

2
(2)
where A is the cross-sectional area of a ring of width equal to the shell length L, G is the
shear rigidity, I is the moment of inertia of the cross-section of the ring-shell (including the
Poisson ratio eect) and k is the shear correction factor. The results obtained by the two
equations are almost identical (for t =0:000094, the ring solution diers from the converged
series solution by 0.096 per cent). In the limit of t being very small, the asymptote may be
simply approximated by the last term of the analytical solution of Equation (2).
The analytical [9] and the nite element solutions for the radial deection along the
crown line (=0
), as depicted in Figure 2 for a very thin shell (thickness t =0:000094;

t=r =1:90 10
6
), coincide. Note that in this very thin shell case there is no apparent bound-
ary layer development in the displacements eld along the free ends and it is because of
426 D. BRIASSOULIS
-2.50E+02
-2.00E+02
-1.50E+02
-1.00E+02
-5.00E+01
0.00E+00
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
x/r
0.094/17x30
0.000094/17x30
0.000094/15x15
0.094/15x15
-2.02E+02
-2.00E+02
-1.98E+02
-1.96E+02
-1.94E+02
-1.92E+02
-1.90E+02
-1.88E+02
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50
y/L
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
3
)
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
3
)
0.000094/15x15
0.094/15x15
anal
0.094/17x30
0.000094/17x30
ring
(a)
(b)
Figure 2. Circumferential distribution: (a) of vertical displacements w
z
at the middle (y =L=2) and
meridional distribution; and (b) along the crown line (=0
) of the pinched cylindrical shell with free

ends (normalized with respect to r=Et
3
).
this behaviour that the problem represents a rather simple test for testing the asymptotic be-
haviour of shells. In the case of the relatively thicker shell (t =0:094; i.e. the classical bench-
mark test), the radial deection varies slightly along the crown line, but it still remains very
close to the asymptotic one. The maximum displacement in this case, obtained by the RFNS
element using the 17 30 mesh is 0.1136, in agreement with the exact solution of 0.1139
[8]. The slight variation of the displacements in the thick shell case may be attributed to the
increased contribution of the membrane strain energy component to the total strain energy as
the shell thickness increases. This is due to: (a) The fact that a relatively small portion of the
concentrated load is taken-up by membrane-exural action [11] in the meridional direction
of the relatively thick shell, while most of the load is still carried by ring-bending action.
(b) The need that the boundary conditions (membrane stress resultants due to (a) along with
the associated bending moments and eective transverse shear stress resultants distribution)
are satised at the free ends. The corresponding weak membrane-exural action is extended
-1.00E-01
-8.00E-02
-6.00E-02
-4.00E-02
-2.00E-02
0.00E+00
2.00E-02
0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04
y/L
y
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)0.000094/25x35
0.00094/25x35r
0.000094/25x35r
0.0094/25x35
-2.00E+02
0.00E+00
2.00E+02
4.00E+02
6.00E+02
8.00E+02
1.00E+03
0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04
y/L

/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
0.000094/25x35
0.000094 an
0.00094 an
0.00094/25x35r
0.0094 an
0.0094/25x35
(a)
(b)
Figure 3. Meridional distribution of rotations : (a) and transverse shear strain
yz
; (b) along the
crown line of the pinched cylindrical shell with free ends (mesh 25 35; normalized with respect to r=Et
2
).
over the whole length of the relatively thick cylinder. However, this action is limited over
a small portion of the shell in the circumferential direction, representing a relatively narrow
zone in the vicinity of the load (refer to (a) above; Figure 2(a)). Note that the use of a rened
25 35 mesh revealed the presence of a weak non-uniform displacement pattern, analogous
to that of the thick shell, also in the displacement eld of the thin shell cases. This coupled
boundary layermembrane load-carrying mechanism eect is detectable only at a very local
scale. As the shell thickness is reduced, the boundary layer eect becomes much weaker and it
is limited to a very narrow boundary zone, until at t=r =1:90 10
6
it eventually disappears.
In the thin shell cases, signicant boundary layer eects may be detected in the rotations
and the shear strain elds. The investigation of the rotations eld with the rened 25 35
(Figure 3(a)) mesh reveals a highly localized boundary layer developing along the free bound-
ary in the case of the very thin shell with t=r =1:90 10
6
(the rotations vector is tangent
to the cylinder, perpendicular to the meridional line). The local disturbance of the rotations
eld stems from the requirement that the meridional bending moments M
y
=M
due to the
Poisson ratio eect on the ring-type bending moments M
are zero along the free boundary.

428 D. BRIASSOULIS
This may be investigated analytically by calculating the bending moments M
y
(based on the
ring analysis, or on Equation (1)), and then by applying opposite bending moments along
the free boundary (note that the analytical calculation of the bending moments was conrmed
with the nite element results). These end moments are responsible, in turn, for the devel-
opment of local disturbances in the rotations and transverse shear strain elds (Figure 3;
boundary zone). In the case of thin shells, the local disturbances are absorbed by the beam
on elastic foundation action of the cylinder very quickly and they fade away within a very
short distance from the boundary [11]. The local disturbances represent a

t=r scale eect, as
shown by the analytical solution of the rotations in Figure 3(a) (the analytical solution was
obtained by employing the beam on elastic foundation theory; note: length scale is the eec-
tive length, measured from the boundary, over which the disturbances retain a signicant
presence; this length in the present case is in the order of

t=r). In addition to the

t=r
scale eect, this particular boundary layer also contains a length scale eect proportional to
t=r. Such eects require extremely rened meshes along the boundary to capture. Especially
for the very thin shell cases much more rened meshes should be used in the circumferential
direction. A similar, however quite stable, behaviour within an extremely thin boundary layer
was observed with the nite element solution of the transverse shear strain elds
yz
. As a
result of the inadequacy of the mesh schemes used to capture accurately the extremely thin
boundary layer of the rotations eld in the very thin shell cases, the transverse shear strain
distribution fails to converge to a zero value at the free boundary (cases of t=r =1:90 10
6
and 1:90 10
5
; Figure 3(b)). Apart from the accuracy of the simulation of the boundary
layer eects, in energy terms, in the case of thin circular cylindrical shells with free ends, the
boundary layer eects represent a pure beam bending localized action [11]. Thus, they just
add up to the prevailing ring-type bending action so that a pure bending mode of deformation
dominates the shell behaviour. Thus, if convergence is measured in terms of some type of
energy characteristics, one may be misled as to whether the boundary conditions are modelled
appropriately.
The asymptotic characteristics of the problem may be described in terms of the relative
energy shares for bending, shear and membrane energy as shown in Figure 4. The nite ele-
ment results for the energy components (using the 17 30 mesh) conrm that the transverse
shear strain energy is very low even for the t =0:094 case and dissipates rapidly and asymp-
totically to zero. This conrms that no shear locking develops with the RFNS element in this
case. The bending strain energy dominates the total strain energy by 98.35 per cent in the case
of the relatively thick shell and this domination becomes absolute very quickly as the shell
becomes thinner. The membrane energy has a small contribution of 1.23 per cent in the thick
shell and fades away asymptotically as t decreases. As a result, the pure bending-dominated
behaviour is numerically and analytically conrmed and well modelled by the RFNS element.
Thus, the problem of the pinched cylinder with free ends, apart from being a classical
benchmark problem for shell elements may also be considered as a simple test for testing the
asymptotic behaviour of shell elements under bending domination. It may not be considered
to be a drastic test though, except for the boundary layer eects.
3.2. The pinched cylinder with diaphragm-supported ends
The pinched cylinder supported by rigid diaphragms at the two ends (Figure 5), represents
one of the most severe classical benchmark tests for shells. The nite element analysis of
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1E-06 1E-05 0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1
t/r
E
n
e
r
g
y

(
%
)
Bending
Membrane
Shear
Figure 4. Asymptotic behaviour of the pinched cylindrical shell with free ends in terms of the bending,
shear and membrane energy shares (mesh 17 30).
X
Diaphragm
Line of symmetry
L
Line of symmetry
r
t
P=1
P=1
Z, w
z

Y
w
u
v

Figure 5. Finite element model of one-eighth of the pinched cylindrical shell with end diaphragms
(E =3:0 10
7
, =0:3, r =100, L=200, t =1:0).
the classical problem reveals a deformed shell which implies the activation of a complex
shell-mode load-carrying mechanism [8; 10] (in contrast to the arch-mode mechanism of the
previous problem).
430 D. BRIASSOULIS
In order to be able to investigate the asymptotic behaviour of this problem, an analytical
solution was obtained based on the exact relations of Flugges bending theory of a circular
shell [12]. In particular, the normal load component p
r
(i.e. the load in the radial direction)
is expressed in the following double Fourier series form (tangential p
and meridional p
y
load components are zero):
p
r
=

m=0
n=1
p
rmn
cos(m) sin
y
r
(3)
where =nr=L. The normal load harmonic term p
rmn
is calculated so that the series yields
two anti-diametrical concentrated loads at =0; y =L=2 and =; y =L=2 (i.e. Equation
(3) represents a singular periodic function).
The deformations (and in an analogous way the rest of the symmetric and antisymmetric
strain and stress components) are also given in terms of double Fourier series of the following
form:
u=

m=0
n=0
u
mn
sin(m) sin
y
r
v=

m=1
n=1
v
mn
cos(m) cos
y
r
w=

m=0
n=1
w
mn
cos(m) sin
y
r
(4)
where each set of the superimposed harmonic terms u
mn
, v
mn
and w
mn
is calculated for the
corresponding term of the series of Equation (3) describing the load, as a solution to a set of
three linear equations. These equations are derived from the corresponding three dierential
equations for u; v and w (i.e. the displacements at the shell middle surface) of Flugges
bending theory of a circular shell by substituting the corresponding expressions of Equation
(4) [12].
The convergence characteristics of the derived analytical solution are shown in Figure 6 for
the classical problem (t =1) and for the limit case of t =0:0001. It is shown that convergence
for the series describing the deformations of Equation (4) is achieved for a total number
of terms equal to m=n =600 and 4000, respectively. The maximum displacements under
the point load (i.e. the most critical quantity for achieving convergence) for the classical
problem (t =1) and for the limit case of t =0:0001 are found to be 0:54810
5
and 5440:0,
respectively (reported in the literature value [8] for t =1 is 0:5475 10
5
; converged value
for t =0:0001 at n =m=6000 is 5446.0).
By comparing the numerical against the analytical solution, the vertical component of the
displacements w
z
(Figure 5) is used to describe the corresponding deformation elds. The
displacement distributions obtained by the RFNS element for the classical case of t =1, as
shown in Figure 7, coincide with the analytical results, re-conrming the excellent behaviour
of the element.
The investigation of the asymptotic behaviour of the RFNS element, when reducing the
shell thickness did not reveal any special problems, other than the need to use much better
rened meshes in the vicinity of the load. The nite element analysis in the limit case of
t =0:0001 (t=r =10
6
) resulted in a deformed shell structure which, in general terms of the
load-carrying mechanisms, appears to be similar to the corresponding deformed shell of the
-6000
-5500
-5000
-4500
-4000
-3500
-3000
-2500
-2000
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
n
w

m
a
x
t=0.0001
-5.484E-06
-5.480E-06
-5.476E-06
-5.472E-06
-5.468E-06
-5.464E-06
-5.460E-06
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
n
w

m
a
x
t=1
(a)
(b)
Figure 6. Convergence of Fourier series solution for the deformations of pinched
cylindrical shell with end diaphragms (w
max
is the max displacement under load;
n is the number of harmonics in each direction).
classical problem (t =1). The main dierence observed may be described by the fact that
the ring bending mode exhibits a pronounced attenuation in the circumferential direction,
away from the load. This may be attributed to the increased equivalent elastic foundation
action of the shell against the ring-bending mode of deformation (the elastic foundation
action is due to the membrane type of resistance of the meridional bres supported by the
diaphragm at the ends). This behaviour is analogous (in general, reversed, terms of course) to
the phenomenon of the rapid attenuation of the edge eects of the meridional beam-bending
mode of deformation of cylindrical shells due to the relatively increased equivalent elastic
foundation eect of the ring-shell, when the shell thickness is reduced [13].
The vertical displacements w
z
obtained in the limit case of t =0:0001 (t=r =10
6
), as it
is shown in Figure 8, are quite similar to the corresponding analytical results. Improving
the mesh renement in the zone near the concentrated load yields results even closer to
432 D. BRIASSOULIS
-2.0E+00
-1.5E+00
-1.0E+00
-5.0E-01
0.0E+00
5.0E-01
1.0E+00
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
x/r
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
1-anal-600
1-17x30
-1.8E+00
-1.6E+00
-1.4E+00
-1.2E+00
-1.0E+00
-8.0E-01
-6.0E-01
-4.0E-01
-2.0E-01
0.0E+00
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
y/L
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
anal-1-600
1-17x30
(a)
(b)
z
meridional distribution; and (b) along the crown line (=0
) of vertical displacements w
z
of the
pinched cylindrical shell with end diaphragms (t =1) obtained by the RFNS element (mesh 17 30) and
analytically (Fourier series solution; n =m=600), (normalized with respect to r=Et
2
).
the analytical solution. Even in the case of very thin shells, t =0:00001 (t=r =10
7
), the
RFNS element exhibits a stable behaviour simulating the general shell behaviour very well
as described by the analytical solution (Figure 9). The most demanding criterion, that is
calculating the maximum displacement under the load, was used to monitor the asymptotic
behaviour of the nite element solution. The same criterion was used to evaluate the eect
of mesh renement on the convergence characteristics of the solution. Attention should be
paid to the fact that, in very thin shell applications, the convergence characteristics with
respect to the highly localized region where the displacement obtains its maximum value
(i.e. the meridional narrow zone under the load; Figure 9(b) and 9(c)) do not necessarily
represent the overall convergence behaviour of the nite element model (refer to Figure 9(a)
and (b)). In terms of the asymptotic behaviour of the nite element under investigation the
-2.0E+01
-1.5E+01
-1.0E+01
-5.0E+00
0.0E+00
5.0E+00
1.0E+01
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
x/r
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
1-anal-600
0.0001-17x30
0.0001-17x30r
0.0001-anal-4000
0.0001-24x23
0.0001-35x25
-2.0E+01
-1.5E+01
-1.0E+01
-5.0E+00
0.0E+00
5.0E+00
1.0E+01
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20
x/r
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
0.0001-17x30
0.0001-17x30r
0.0001-anal-4000
0.0001-24x23
0.0001-35x25
-1.8E+01
-1.6E+01
-1.4E+01
-1.2E+01
-1.0E+01
-8.0E+00
-6.0E+00
-4.0E+00
-2.0E+00
0.0E+00
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
y/L
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
anal-1-600
0.0001-17x30
0.0001-17x30r
0.0001-24x23
0.0001-35x25
anal-0.0001-400
(a)
(b)
(c)
Figure 8. Circumferential distribution: (a, b) of vertical displacements w
z
at the middle (y =L=2)
and meridional distribution; and (c) along the crown line (=0
) of the pinched cylindrical shell

with end diaphragms (t =1; 0:0001) obtained by the RFNS element (17 30r: more rened near the
load than 17 30) and analytically (Fourier series solution; n =m=600 for t =1 and n =m=4000
for t =0:0001), (normalized with respect to r=Et
2
).
434 D. BRIASSOULIS
-3.5E+01
-3.0E+01
-2.5E+01
-2.0E+01
-1.5E+01
-1.0E+01
-5.0E+00
0.0E+00
5.0E+00
1.0E+01
1.5E+01
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
x/r
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
0.00001-anal-4000
0.00001-17x30r
0.00001-24x23
0.00001-35x25
-3.5E+01
-3.0E+01
-2.5E+01
-2.0E+01
-1.5E+01
-1.0E+01
-5.0E+00
0.0E+00
5.0E+00
1.0E+01
1.5E+01
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20
x/r
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
0.00001-anal-4000
0.00001-17x30r
0.00001-24x23
0.00001-35x25
-3.5E+01
-3.0E+01
-2.5E+01
-2.0E+01
-1.5E+01
-1.0E+01
-5.0E+00
0.0E+00
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
y/L
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
anal-0.0001-4000
0.00001-17x30r
0.00001-24x23
0.00001-35x25
anal-0.00001-4000
(a)
(b)
(c)
z
meridional distribution; and (c) along the crown line (=0
) of the pinched cylindrical shell with

end diaphragms (t =0:00001) obtained by the RFNS element and analytically (Fourier series solution;
n =m=4000), (normalized with respect to r=Et
2
).
-3.5E+01
-3.0E+01
-2.5E+01
-2.0E+01
-1.5E+01
-1.0E+01
-5.0E+00
0.0E+00
1.E-07 1.E-06 1.E-05 1.E-04 1.E-03 1.E-02
t/r
w
z
-
m
a
x
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
15x15
24x23
analytical
35x25
Figure 10. Asymptotic behaviour of the numerical solution of the pinched cylindrical shell with end
diaphragms in terms of the maximum vertical displacements w
z
and mesh renement.
convergence characteristics concerning modelling of a highly localized region (or a boundary
zone) should be distinguished from the overall convergence behaviour of the model. This
is because the local convergence characteristics may simply describe the compliance of the
mesh conguration used with the particular demanding meshing requirements imposed by the
extremely thin loadboundary zone in very thin shells (t=r =10
7
). The results shown in
Figure 10 leave no doubt about the performance of the RFNS element and the stability of
the solution as the convergence of the maximum displacement under the concentrated load
follows steadily the local mesh renement within the narrow zone near the load. Away from
this zone, convergence has already been achieved with much coarser meshes.
Another important measure of the asymptotic performance of the element is the rotations
eld. The numerical results obtained in the two very thin shell cases of t =0:0001 (t=r =10
6
)
and t =0:00001 (t=r =10
7
) by the RFNS element are presented in Figure 11, respectively. It
is apparent that the highly demanding dramatic change of the rotations eld in the vicinity of
the load is simulated in a rather stable way. The distributions of the rotations near the load are
found to be in excellent agreement with the corresponding analytical solutions. Note that the
analytical solutions for the rotations eld were obtained by using a higher number of harmonics
(m=n =6000). This is due to the fact that the convergence requirements for the rotations
are more demanding than the corresponding requirements for the displacements (still a higher
number of harmonics would be required to achieve complete convergence for the rotations).
Thus, it is shown that this problem represents a mixed-deformation mode problem. Both
the membrane and the bending load-carrying mechanisms remain active even for extremely
thin shells (at least very thin, as practically, i.e. in engineering applications terms, is needed
to test safely the asymptotic behaviour of shell elements). The fact that both load-carrying
mechanisms remain active when the shell thickness is reduced was investigated analytically
as follows. A dimensionless quantity k dening the ratio of the exural rigidity K to the
extensional rigidity D:
k =
K
Dr
2
=
t
2
12r
2
(5)
436 D. BRIASSOULIS
-6.0E+00
-5.0E+00
-4.0E+00
-3.0E+00
-2.0E+00
-1.0E+00
0.0E+00
1.0E+00
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
y/L
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
0.0001-35x25
anal-0.0001-6000
-1.4E+01
-1.2E+01
-1.0E+01
-8.0E+00
-6.0E+00
-4.0E+00
-2.0E+00
0.0E+00
2.0E+00
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
y/L
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
0.00001-35x25
anal-0.00001-6000
(a)
(b)
Figure 11. Meridional distribution of rotations along the crown line of the pinched cylindrical shell
with end diaphragms (=0
; t =0:0001 and 0.00001) obtained by the RFNS element (mesh 35 25)

and analytically (Fourier series solution; n =m=4000 and 6000), (normalized with respect to r=Et
2
).
was set equal to zero (k =0) and to an articially high value (k 10
7
), in turn. The results
obtained from the corresponding analytical solutions for the case of t =0:0001, shown in
Figure 12 (normalized appropriately for illustrative purposes), suggest that
for k =0, the bending stiness is articially removed and the membrane load-carrying
mechanism dominates the shell behaviour. It is clear in Figure 13 that this mechanism
does not involve any ring action in the circumferential direction. Instead, the load is
carried along the meridional direction through the membrane action of the bres
passing under the load in combination with the highly localized elastic out-of-plane
deformation of the diaphragm (like a cable supported by springs; the spring-like
resistance to the localized out-of-plane deformation of the rigid diaphragm is not
provided by the diaphragm itself, since no physical diaphragm exists). The elastic
end-resistance is provided indirectly by the membrane action of the meridional bres
-12.0
-10.0
-8.0
-6.0
-4.0
-2.0
0.0
2.0
4.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
x/r
n
o
r
m
a
l
i
s
e
d

w
z
m-asymptote
b-asymptote
Figure 12. Circumferential distribution of vertical displacements w
z
at the middle of the pinched cylin-
drical shell with end diaphragms (y =L=2; t =0:0001) obtained analytically for the cases of k =0 (mem-
brane-asymptote) and k 10
7
(bending-asymptote; Fourier series solution; n =m=1600), (normalized
with respect to 10
7
r=Et
2
and 10
10
r=Et
2
for the membrane and bending asymptotes, respectively).
Figure 13. Deformed pinched cylindrical shell with end diaphragms (t =0:0001; scaling factor
for displacements: 3 10
9
) obtained analytically for the cases of k =0 (membrane-asymptote;
Fourier series solution; n =m=1600).
adjacent to those carrying the load, in combination with the coupling of the end
deformation of the bres to simulate a diaphragmatic action (Figure 13).
for k 10
7
, the ring bending action dominates the shell behaviour. Here, a rather soft
equivalent elastic foundation action is oered by the corresponding weak membrane
438 D. BRIASSOULIS
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1.E-07 1.E-06 1.E-05 1.E-04 1.E-03 1.E-02
t/r
e
n
e
r
g
y

(
%
)
Bend-17x30
Membr-17x30
Bend-17x30r
Membr-17x30r
Membr-35x25
Bend-35x25
Bend-Anal
Memb-Anal
Shear-Anal
Shear-35x25
Bend-15x15
Membr-15x15
Figure 14. Convergence characteristics of membrane, shear and bending strain energy shares of the
pinched cylindrical shell with end diaphragms as the shell thickness is reduced.
resistance of the meridional bres, as compared to the articially increased bending
stiness. This is obvious by the absence of a pronounced attenuation of the dominant
ring-type bending deformation.
It is apparent from comparing this illustrative example (of a very thin pinched cylinder
supported by rigid diaphragms; t=r =10
6
) against the corresponding exact analytical and
numerical results, that a mixed deformation mode dominates the limit problem as the shell
thickness is reduced. That is, the asymptotic behaviour of the shell is the result of the com-
bination of two main modes, each activated along one of the two principal directions of
the cylinder: the membrane-exural mode is dominant along the meridional direction and the
ring-bending mode of deformation is dominant in the circumferential direction. This behaviour
may be further examined in terms of the strain energy components.
The asymptotic characteristics of this problem in terms of the relative energy shares for
bending, shear and membrane strain energy are shown in Figure 14 (the shear strain energy
is negligible and it is not shown here for the clarity of the gure). Figure 14 suggests a
non-uniform convergence rate to a mixed situation where both, membrane and bending strain
energies have a signicant contribution. By using a coarse mesh (15 15), a trend appears
towards a membrane domination. However, mesh renement (already shown to give results
for the displacements steadily converging to those of the analytical solution, Figure 10) re-
sults in a relatively increased contribution of the bending strain energy share and in a more
uniform convergence rate. The slight tendency towards an increase in the membrane en-
ergy share, which is still shown to be present with intermediate mesh congurations (e.g.
17 30 mesh), becomes systematically much weaker with better-rened meshes, until the
membrane and bending shares are stabilized, converging to the corresponding values calcu-
lated analytically. Note that a still better renement (than the one used herein) is needed
for achieving a complete convergence in the very thin limit shell cases of t=r =10
6
and
10
7
(refer to Figure 10). Nevertheless, the membrane and bending energy shares obtained
with the 35 25 mesh are quite similar to the corresponding values obtained analytically,
Z, w
z

Y
X
Line of symmetry
L
t
r
Free edge
Diaphragm
40
w
v
u
-
Figure 15. Finite element model of one quadrant of the ScordelisLo cylindrical roof problem.
(E =3:0 10
6
, =0:0, r =300, L=600, t =3:0, q =0:625 unit force=unit area).
of 62.46 and 37.54 per cent, respectively. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 14, the shear
strain energy (1.97 per cent numerically, 2.08 per cent analytically) dissipates rapidly with
the decrease of the shell thickness, re-conrming the locking free behaviour of the RFNS
element.
Thus, it has been shown numerically and analytically that the asymptotic behaviour of the
problem of the pinched cylinder supported by rigid diaphragms is described by a rather stable
contribution of both membrane and bending strain energies. As far as benchmark testing of
the asymptotic behaviour of shell elements is concerned, the problem should be considered
as a challenging well-dened mixed mode problem. This asymptotic behaviour test may also
be considered as a strong test for error estimators and mesh renement techniques.
3.3. The ScordelisLo roof problem
Another strong benchmark test for shells is the classical ScordelisLo roof problem. The
nite element model used is shown in Figure 15. The deformation of the shell in the case
of the classical problem (t =3), obtained by the nite element analysis [8; 10] exhibits a
mixed membranebending mode of deformation [14]. The bending load-carrying mechanism
is activated in transferring the load away from the free edges. The membrane load-carrying
mechanism is mainly responsible for transferring the load to the end diaphragms (details on
the behaviour of the RFNS element in this case may be found in Reference [8]). There is no
clear boundary zone apparent in the solution of the classical thick shell case.
The analytical solution of the classical problem is usually given in the literature based on the
shallow shell theory [15]. However, in order to be able to investigate the asymptotic behaviour
of the shell as t is reduced and compare this behaviour against the corresponding behaviour
of the RFNS element, an analytical solution was derived in the present work based on the
exact Flugges shell theory [12]. To this end, the uniform shell dead load p
d
is expressed in
440 D. BRIASSOULIS
terms of a Fourier series, as follows:
p=
4
p
d
n=1;3;5;:::
1
n
sin
ny
L
(6)
Accordingly, the membrane theory was used rst to derive the basic membrane solution for the
displacements u
m
; v
m
, w
m
of the shell in the form of Fourier series expressions in y (where
the index m stands for membrane). This solution results, of course, in the development of
non-zero membrane hoop and shear stress resultants, N
m
and N
m
y
, respectively, along the free
edges of the shell, which are also expressed in the form of Fourier series. Subsequently, the
exact Flugges bending shell theory was employed to eliminate the non-zero membrane edge
stress resultants and also, to satisfy free end conditions in terms of bending stress resultants.
The general bending theory was applied to the particular case of a symmetric stress system
[12] (i.e. a shell having boundaries at =
0
=40
and a stress system symmetric with

respect to =0
). The solution was obtained by imposing along the free edge boundaries
the following line loads:
N
b
=N
m
=
4
p
d
r cos
0
n=1;3;5;:::
1
n
sin
ny
L
N
b
y
=N
m
y
=
8
p
d
sin
0
n=1;3;5;:::
L
n
2
cos
ny
L
M
=0
S
=Q
+
@M
y
@y
=0
(7)
where b stands for bending. The solution of the three dierential equations describing the
mid-surface bending deformation of the shell (with no simplications introduced) is obtained
by expressing the nth harmonics u
b
n
; v
b
n
, w
b
n
of the displacements in the following exponential
form [12]:
u
b
n
=Ae
m
v
b
n
=Be
m
w
b
n
=Ce
m
(8)
and arriving at three equivalent linear equations for the constants A; B and C. The number
m corresponds to the eight complex roots m
i
of the characteristic equation of the system
(condition of zero determinant for the nine coecient matrix of the three linear equations;
the complex roots were calculated by using appropriate IMSL routines). The exact bending
solution obtained by satisfying the boundary conditions of Equation (7) was superimposed on
the membrane solution in order to get the nal analytical solution to the general ScordelisLo
roof problem (i.e. a solution to the roof problem with the thickness t being a variable).
In studying the asymptotic behaviour of the shell problem analytically, the convergence of
the Fourier series solution was investigated rst. The convergence of the analytical solution
that was found to be excellent with a total number of n =100 was adequate enough even for
very thin shells with t =0:00003 (t=r =10
7
).
-4.00E+06
-3.50E+06
-3.00E+06
-2.50E+06
-2.00E+06
-1.50E+06
-1.00E+06
-5.00E+05
0.00E+00
5.00E+05
1.00E+06
0 10 20 30 40
theta
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
3
0.3
0.03
0.003
0.0003
0.00003
Figure 16. Asymptotic behaviour of the circumferential distribution of the vertical displacements w
z
at the middle of the roof shell (y =L=2) obtained analytically.
The rst observation made with the analytical solution was that, as the shell thickness
is reduced, a strong boundary zone develops along the free edge (Figure 16). The solution
obtained exhibits a stable behaviour with no singularities or any problem of this kind near the
free edge as the shell thickness is reduced from t =3 down to t =0:00003 (t=r =10
7
). The
boundary zone eects that were developed are clear, they become stronger and develop over a
narrower zone along the free boundary as the shell thickness is reduced. The deformations eld
is expressed by means of the vertical component of the displacements for comparison purposes
against the numerical solution. The vertical component of the displacements is denoted by w
z
hereafter (Figure 15).
The numerical analysis of the asymptotic behaviour of the ScordelisLo roof problem by
using the RFNS element revealed no problem of numerical instabilities=oscillations due to
singularities along the free edge. The only diculty encountered, an expected one, was the
need to use very well-rened meshes along the boundary zone as the shell becomes thinner. In
the limit case of t =0:0003 (t=r =10
6
), the nite element analysis results describe a deformed
shell with a stable highly localized and very much pronounced edge zone deformation [10].
The bending load-carrying mechanism is apparently limited to a very strong action developed
along the free edge zone. This strong action is attenuated dramatically away from the free
boundary. Thus, even though very much restricted in terms of the inuenced shell area, the
bending load-carrying mechanism has a strong presence with a signicant contribution to the
overall shell behaviour in this limit thin shell case. Away from the free edge zone, it is
the membrane load-carrying mechanism that takes care of transferring the load to the end
diaphragms.
The numerical solution is shown to be in very close agreement to the analytical solution
in terms of the overall behaviour of the shell. The results obtained for the classical case of
t=r =10
2
by the RFNS element are shown in Figure 17 along with the analytical solution.
The excellent agreement obtained here was expected [8]. As the shell thickness is reduced,
the simulation of the shell behaviour becomes more and more demanding though. Thus, in
the limit case of t =0:0003 (t=r =10
6
), the exact simulation of the strong boundary zone
442 D. BRIASSOULIS
10 15 20 25 30 35 40
theta
3-17x30
anal-3
3-24x23
-4.0E+06
-3.5E+06
-3.0E+06
-2.5E+06
-2.0E+06
-1.5E+06
-1.0E+06
-5.0E+05
0.0E+00
5.0E+05
1.0E+06
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
0
y/L
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
-4.0E+00
-3.5E+00
-3.0E+00
-2.5E+00
-2.0E+00
-1.5E+00
-1.0E+00
-5.0E+01
0.0E+00
5.0E- 01
1.0E+00
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
crown-3-17x30
edge-3-17x30
anal-crown-3
anal-edge-3
anal-crown-0.0003
anal-edge-0.0003
5
(a)
(b)
z
meridional distribution; and (b) along the crown line and the free edge (=0
, 40
) of the roof shell

(t =3) obtained by the RFNS element and analytically (normalized with respect to r=Et
2
).
eects depends very much on the nite element mesh renement (Figure 18). However, this
need for improvement with mesh renement strictly concerns an extremely thin outer zone of
the boundary layer eects as the rest of the boundary layer eects and the overall behaviour
of the shell are simulated satisfactorily even without resorting to very well-rened meshes.
Moreover, it is clear that no singularities-related problems are present with the nite element
solution (at least by using the RFNS element) as it is the case also with the exact analytical
solution. Even in the case of t =0:00003 (t=r =10
7
), the nite element solution follows
the analytically predicted development of the really strong boundary zone eects very closely
(Figure 19). One should notice that, even in this case, apart from the extremely thin boundary
layer, modelling of the overall behaviour of the shell is excellent. Adequate modelling of the
boundary layer eects in this extreme very thin shell case depends heavily on local mesh
renement especially along the free edge. The fact that the mesh renement, especially along
the boundary, improves the simulation of the extreme outer zone of the boundary layer eects
-4.0E+06
-3.5E+06
-3.0E+06
-2.5E+06
-2.0E+06
-1.5E+06
-1.0E+06
-5.0E+05
0.0E+00
5.0E+05
35 40
Theta
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
0.0003-17x30
0.0003 anal
0.0003-17x30r
0.0003-24x23
0.0003-30x19
0.0003-39x22
0.0003-35x25
-4.0E+06
-3.5E+06
-3.0E+06
-2.5E+06
-2.0E+06
-1.5E+06
-1.0E+06
-5.0E+05
0.0E+00
5.0E+05
1.0E+06
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Theta
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
0.0003-17x30
3 anal
0.0003 anal
0.0003-17x30r
0.0003-24x23
0.0003-30x19
0.0003-39x22
0.0003-35x25
-4.0E+06
-3.5E+06
-3.0E+06
-2.5E+06
-2.0E+06
-1.5E+06
-1.0E+06
-5.0E+05
0.0E+00
5.0E+05
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
y/L
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
crown-0.0003-17x30
edge-0.0003-17x30
anal-crown-0.0003
anal-edge-0.0003
crown-0.0003-17x30r
edge-0.0003-17x30r
edge-0.0003- 30x19
crown-0.0003- 30x19
crown-0.0003- 39x22
edge-0.0003-39x22
crown-0.0003-35x25
edge-0.0003-35x25
(a)
(b)
(c)
z
meridional distribution; and (c) along the crown line and the free edge (=0
, 40
) of the roof shell

(t =0:0003) obtained by the RFNS element and analytically (normalized with respect to r=Et
2
).
444 D. BRIASSOULIS
-4.0E+06
-3.5E+06
-3.0E+06
-2.5E+06
-2.0E+06
-1.5E+06
-1.0E+06
-5.0E+05
0.0E+00
5.0E+05
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Theta
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
0.00003-17x30
0.00003-17x30r
0.00003 anal
0.00003-24x23
0.00003-30x19
0.00003-35x25
0.00003-39x22
-4.0E+06
-3.5E+06
-3.0E+06
-2.5E+06
-2.0E+06
-1.5E+06
-1.0E+06
-5.0E+05
0.0E+00
5.0E+05
35 40
Theta
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
0.00003-17x30
0.00003-17x30r
0.00003 anal
0.00003-24x23
0.00003-30x19
0.00003-35x25
0.00003-39x22
-4.0E+06
-3.5E+06
-3.0E+06
-2.5E+06
-2.0E+06
-1.5E+06
-1.0E+06
-5.0E+05
0.0E+00
5.0E+05
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
y/L
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
crown-0.00003 -17x30
edge-0.00003 -17x30
edge-0.00003 -17x30r
crown-0.00003 -17x30r
anal-crown-0.00003
anal-edge-0.00003
edge-0.00003 -30x19
crown-0.00003 -30x19
edge-0.00003 -35x25
crown-0.00003 -35x25
crown-0.00003 -39x22
22 edge-0.00003 -39x
(a)
(b)
(c)
z
meridional distribution; and (c) along the crown line and the free edge (=0
, 40
) of the roof shell

(t =0:00003) obtained by the RFNS element and analytically (normalized with respect to r=Et
2
).
-4.0E+06
-3.5E+06
-3.0E+06
-2.5E+06
-2.0E+06
-1.5E+06
-1.0E+06
-5.0E+05
0.0E+00
5.0E+05
1.0E+06
1.E-07 1.E-06 1.E-05 1.E-04 1.E-03 1.E-02 1.E-01
t/r
w
z
m
a
x
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
wc-17x30
wb-17x30
wc-24x23
wb-24x23
wc-anal
wb-anal
wc-30x19
wb-30x19
wc-35x25
wb-35x25
wc-39x22
wb-39x22
Figure 20. Asymptotic behaviour of the numerical solution of the ScordelisLo cylindrical roof-shell
in terms of the maximum vertical displacements w
z
and mesh renement (normalized with respect to r=Et
2
).
in a rather stable and converging way is shown graphically in Figure 20. It is shown therefore,
both analytically and numerically, that the asymptotic behaviour of the classical ScordelisLo
roof problem is stable and it represents, along with the pinched cylinder with end diaphragms,
a pair of very good tests for testing the asymptotic behaviour of shell elements.
The rotations eld developing along the centre line in the thin shell cases, also exhibits
a dramatic disturbance within the boundary zone as shown in Figure 21 (the rotations vector
is directed along the meridional line). The stable behaviour of the nite element solution
and the excellent convergence characteristics obtained with the RFNS element are conrmed
analytically (by using a higher number of harmonics, n =200, for the calculation of rotations).
It should be noticed that, as in the case of the displacements eld, no singularities-related
problems of any kind are detected in the rotations eld calculated by either the numerical or
the analytical approach.
The analysis of the asymptotic behaviour of the ScordelisLo roof problem in terms of
the relative energy shares for bending, shear and membrane energy is depicted graphically in
Figure 22. Coarse meshes appear to yield a non-uniform convergence towards a membrane-
dominated limit problem. However, local mesh renement results in a more stable and uniform
trend with the bending and membrane relative energy contributions, that converge and sta-
bilize to the corresponding rates of 37.3 and 62.7 per cent, respectively, which rates were
calculated analytically. This behaviour is probably due to the fact that with local mesh rene-
ment a better simulation of the bending-dominated extreme boundary zone eects is obtained
(Figure 20). The transverse shear strain energy is very small in the case of the classical
problem (0.022 per cent numerically, 0.0083 per cent analytically) and it fades away rapidly
with the decrease of the shell thickness, suggesting that the nite element solution is free of
any locking mechanisms.
As a nal analytical investigation of the asymptotic behaviour of this problem, the bending
stiness of the shell of the classical roof problem was allowed to be articially and signi-
cantly weakened by setting the k factor of Equation (5) equal to k 10
6
. Note that in
this way, only the relative contribution of the bending stiness is weakened. The membrane
action (membrane deformations and stress resultants) remains the same as that calculated for
446 D. BRIASSOULIS
-1.0E+05
-5.0E+04
0.0E+00
5.0E+04
1.0E+05
1.5E+05
2.0E+05
2.5E+05
3.0E+05
3.5E+05
4.0E+05
0 10 20 30 40
theta
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
0.0003-39x22
0.0003-analytical
-2.0E+05
-1.0E+05
0.0E+00
1.0E+05
2.0E+05
3.0E+05
4.0E+05
5.0E+05
6.0E+05
7.0E+05
0 10 20 30 40
theta
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
0.00003-39x22
0.00003-analytical
(a)
(b)
Figure 21. Circumferential distribution of rotations along the centre line of the ScordelisLo
cylindrical roof-shell (y =L=2) obtained by the RFNS element: (a) t =0:0003; and (b) t =0:00003
(Fourier series solution; n =200), (normalized with respect to r=Et
2
).
the corresponding classical conguration. The analysis of this articially modied, in terms
of bending stiness, conguration resulted in strong singularities in the asymptotic analytical
solution. In particular, the solution obtained for the classical thick shell case of t =3 was
dominated by a very strong bending boundary zone eect (Figure 23). This is due to the
fact that the bending load-carrying mechanism developed by the articially weakened bending
stiness was made up at the expense of the development of a very much exaggerated bending
mode (note that no solution exists for k =0). As the shell thickness was reduced to t =0:0003,
strong singularities developed, not allowing for any analytical solution to be obtained. This
suggests that an articially made membrane-dominated ScordelisLo roof problem would
infact be an ill-posed problem (see also Reference [3]). However, the numerical and the
analytical results imply that the stable asymptotic shell behaviour of the ScordelisLo roof
problem strongly depends on the simultaneous activation of both, the bending and the mem-
brane load-carrying mechanisms, no matter how thin the shell is. It is this combined action that
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1.E-07 1.E-06 1.E-05 1.E-04 1.E-03 1.E-02
t/r
E
n
e
r
g
y

(
%
)
Bend-14x14
Membr-14x14
Bend-39x22
Membr-39x22
Bend-35x25
Membr-35x25
Bend-Anal
Membr-Anal
Shear-Anal
Shear-35x25
ScordelisLo cylindrical roof-shell as the shell thickness is reduced.
-4.0E+09
-3.5E+09
-3.0E+09
-2.5E+09
-2.0E+09
-1.5E+09
-1.0E+09
-5.0E+08
0.0E+00
5.0E+08
1.0E+09
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Theta
w
z
/
(
r
/
E
t
2
)
3
0.03
Figure 23. The eect of the articially weakened bending stiness on the behaviour of the ScordelisLo
roof, in terms of the circumferential distribution of vertical displacements w
z
at the middle of the
shell (y =L=2) (normalized with respect to r=Et
2
).
oers stability to the shell even in extremely thin shell applications. Thus, it is shown that the
ScordelisLo problem, as far as its asymptotic behaviour is concerned represents another mixed
mode (in energy terms) challenging problem for testing the asymptotic behaviour of shell el-
ements. Adaptive mesh renement techniques may also be evaluated under this strong test.
3.4. The pinched hemispherical shell
The pinched hemispherical shell represents a non-inhibited pure bending problem widely used
to test the ability of a shell element to represent inextensional bending modes. The analytical
approach of Reference [3] conrms that this classical benchmark test problem represents a
well-posed non-inhibited pure bending problem.
448 D. BRIASSOULIS
Y
Z
X
Line of symmetry
Free edge
Line of symmetry
Free edge
r
P=-1
P=1
18
Figure 24. Finite element model of one quadrant of the pinched hemispherical shell with a hole
(E =6:825 10
7
, =0:3, r =10:0, t =0:04).
The nite element model used in the present analysis, with a 15 15 mesh, is shown in
Figure 24. The use of a more rened 25 25 mesh conrmed the results obtained by the
15 15 mesh. The deformed shell obtained for the classical case of t =0:04 describes a clear
bending mode of deformation. The behaviour of the RFNS element in modelling this classical
benchmark problem is excellent, as shown in detail in Reference [8].
The asymptotic behaviour of the problem is very stable and easily traceable by the nite
element analysis. In particular, as the shell thickness is reduced down to 0.00004 (t=r =410
7
)
the deformation pattern remains almost unchanged and conrms the stable asymptotic
behaviour of the bending load-carrying mechanism dominating this case. The asymptotic be-
haviour of the problem is depicted graphically in Figure 25. Shown in this gure is the
variation of the maximum displacement calculated by the RFNS nite element model under
one of the horizontal concentrated loads as a function of the non-dimensional thickness. It
is apparent that the maximum displacement stays very close to the corresponding analytical
solution of the classical problem [8] (t =0:094; w
max
=0:093). As the thickness is reduced, the
maximum displacement is stabilized to a normalized (with respect to r=Et
3
) value of approx-
imately 40. In the limit shell case of t=r =4 10
7
, a slight deviation from the converged
value is observed (probably due to some minor machine-related numerical problems in this
particularly very thin shell application).
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1.E-07 1.E-05 1.E-03 1.E-01
t/r
w
-
m
a
x
/
(
r
/
E
t
3
)
15x15
analytical, t=0.04
Figure 25. Asymptotic behaviour of the numerical solution of the pinched hemispherical shell in terms
of the maximum displacements w (normalized with respect to r=Et
3
).
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1.E-07 1.E-06 1.E-05 1.E-04 1.E-03 1.E-02
t/r
E
n
e
r
g
y

(
%
)
Membrane-15x15
Bending-15x15
Membrane-25x25
Bending-25x25
Shear-25x25
pinched hemispherical shell as the shell thickness is reduced.
In energy terms, the convergence characteristics shown in Figure 26 also suggest a stable
asymptotic behaviour with the bending energy, completely dominant even for a relatively
thick hemispherical shell (99.3 per cent). The shear strain energy share is insignicant and
dissipates rapidly with the decrease of the shell thickness. The slight deviation in the maximum
displacement in the very thin shell case of t=r =4 10
7
is also reected in the energy
components.
4. CONCLUSIONS
The asymptotic behaviour is considered to be one of the most demanding levels of bench-
mark testing for shell elements. Following some recent discussions on the investigation of
450 D. BRIASSOULIS
the reliability of shell elements, it was considered interesting to investigate analytically and
numerically the asymptotic behaviour of selected classical benchmark problems. Accordingly,
in the present paper, the asymptotic behaviour of classical benchmark tests is analytically and
numerically investigated. The aim is to oer an insight into the mechanisms developed by
the shells of the corresponding benchmark problems as the shell thickness is reduced. It is
expected that an understanding of these mechanisms would allow for a better evaluation of
the critical parameters pertaining to the use of the particular classical benchmark tests for
testing the asymptotic behaviour of shell elements.
The reformulated four-node shell element (RFNS) is employed in the numerical analyses.
The asymptotic behaviour of the problems under investigation is traced numerically following
physical convergence characteristics of the nite element solution as the shell thickness is re-
duced. Appropriate analytical approaches are developed to investigate the asymptotic behaviour
of the classical benchmark tests. In addition, the analytical asymptotic solutions derived are
used for monitoring and comparing the numerical analysis results.
Some of the benchmark limit tests considered lead asymptotically to the development of
very strong boundary zone eects. Such boundary eects, which vary very much depending on
the shell thickness, are not easily modelled if the mesh of the nite element models used is not
well designed (e.g. as suggested by the corresponding analytical solutions) and of course, if
the element is not capable of capturing adequately such dramatic changes within a narrow zone
and of modelling the particular deformation modes developing without experiencing problems
(e.g. locking problems). In the case of strong boundary eects and competing deformation
modes, one may talk about a challenging limit test. If a shell element model exhibits good
convergence characteristics to the corresponding analytical solution, then the element (along
with the model=meshing used) is considered to be adequate with respect to modelling the
specic problem (e.g. a membrane-dominating problem, or a bending-dominated problem, or
a mixed-dominated problem). If the element exhibits a stable converging asymptotic behaviour
for all kinds of deformation modes and boundary layers (in the limit of t 0), then the shell
element is considered to be adequate in terms of its asymptotic behaviour in general. This
is shown to be the case with the RFNS element. In fact, the reliability and eciency of the
RFNS element already established by means of the classical benchmark tests is re-conrmed
in all cases of the asymptotic tests examined.
Concerning the asymptotic behaviour of the classical benchmark tests, it is shown that
The problem of the pinched cylinder with free ends, apart from being a classical benchmark
problem for shell elements may also be considered as a simple test for testing the asymptotic
behaviour of shell elements under bending domination. It may not be considered to be a drastic
test though, except for the boundary layer eects. In particular, a well-rened mesh should be
used to reveal the presence of a weak non-uniform displacement pattern in the displacement
eld of thin shell cases, detectable only at a very local scale. As the shell thickness is reduced,
this boundary layer eect becomes much weaker and it is limited to a very narrow boundary
zone, until it eventually disappears. However, in the thin shell cases, signicant boundary
layer eects may be detected in the rotations and the shear strain elds. Well-rened meshes
are needed, especially in the circumferential direction, to reveal the highly localized boundary
layer developing along the free boundary in the case of very thin shells. As the boundary layer
eects represent a pure beam bending localized action, they just add up to the prevailing
ring-type bending action so that a pure bending mode of deformation dominates the shell
behaviour. If convergence is measured only in terms of energy characteristics, one may not
be able to conclude as to whether the boundary conditions are modelled appropriately.
The asymptotic behaviour of the problem of the pinched cylinder supported by rigid dia-
phragms is described by a rather stable contribution of both membrane and bending strain
energies. Thus, as far as benchmark testing of the asymptotic behaviour of shell elements
is concerned, the problem should be considered as a well-dened mixed mode problem. In
particular, in this benchmark problem, the asymptotic behaviour of the shell stems from the
combination of two main modes: the membrane-exural mode dominant along the meridional
direction and the ring-bending mode of deformation dominant in the circumferential direction.
This asymptotic behaviour test may also be considered as a strong test for evaluating error
estimators and mesh renement techniques. The basic characteristics of the asymptotic be-
haviour in this case may be summarized as follows: The convergence characteristics with
respect to the highly localized region under the load in very thin shell cases do not nec-
essarily represent the overall convergence behaviour of the nite element model. The local
convergence characteristics may simply describe the compliance of the mesh conguration
used with the particular demanding meshing requirements imposed by the extremely thin
meridional zone under the load. Away from this zone, convergence may have been achieved
with much coarser meshes.
The ScordelisLo problem, as far as its asymptotic behaviour is concerned, also represents
a mixed mode challenging problem (in energy terms) for testing the asymptotic behaviour
of shell elements. In particular, the asymptotic behaviour of the ScordelisLo roof problem
strongly depends on the simultaneous activation of both, the bending and the membrane load-
carrying mechanisms, each contributing in a stable way in terms of energy shares, no matter
how thin the shell is. Adaptive mesh renement techniques may also be evaluated under
this strong test. The basic characteristics of the asymptotic behaviour in this case may be
summarized as follows: The exact simulation of the strong boundary zone eects developed
in very thin shell applications does depend very much on the nite element mesh renement.
However, this need for improvement with mesh renement strictly concerns an extremely
thin outer zone of the boundary layer eects as the rest of the boundary layer eects and the
overall behaviour of the shell are simulated satisfactorily even without resorting to very well-
rened meshes. With mesh renement a better simulation of the bending-dominated extreme
boundary zone eects is obtained so that the bending and membrane strain energy shares
nally converge to the corresponding stable contributions predicted analytically.
The pinched hemispherical shell represents a clear non-inhibited pure bending problem. In
energy terms, the convergence characteristics suggest a stable asymptotic behaviour with the
bending energy that was completely dominant even for a relatively thick hemispherical shells.
In conclusion, it is shown that the classical benchmark tests also represent a set of strong
challenging and reliable tests for investigating the asymptotic behaviour of shell elements.
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4. Chapelle D, Bathe KJ. The infsup test. Computers and Structures 1993; 47(4=5):537545.
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8. Briassoulis D. The four-node C
shell element reformulated. International Journal for Numerical Methods in

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Testing The Asymptomatic Behavior

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING

Int. J. Numer. Meth. Engng 2002; 54:421452 (DOI: 10.1002/nme.436)

Correspondence to: D. Briassoulis, Agricultural Engineering Department, Agricultural University of Athens,

hole at the top allowing an easier modelling with

), as depicted in Figure 2 for a very thin shell (thickness t =0:000094;

) of the pinched cylindrical shell with free

are zero along the free boundary.

) of the pinched cylindrical shell

) of the pinched cylindrical shell with

; t =0:0001 and 0.00001) obtained by the RFNS element (mesh 35 25)

and a stress system symmetric with

) of the roof shell

) of the roof shell

) of the roof shell

shell element reformulated. International Journal for Numerical Methods in

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