27/3/2019 Plate Buckling Analysis of Steel Shell Structures Using MNA/LBA Concept | Dlubal Software

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Plate Buckling Analysis of Steel Shell Structures Using MNA/LBA Concept

Plate Buckling Analysis of Steel Shell Structures

Using MNA/LBA Concept
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Figure 01 - Model of the Steel Shell

Structure

Figure 02 - Material Nonlinear

Calculation

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27/3/2019 Plate Buckling Analysis of Steel Shell Structures Using MNA/LBA Concept | Dlubal Software

Figure 03 - Linear Bifurcation Analysis

(1st Eigenvalue)

Technical Article

001510 14 March 2018

Technical Article Design RFEM RF-MAT NL RF-STABILITY Steel Structures Nonlinear Analysis

Stability Analysis Eurocode 3

Shell buckling is considered to be the most recent and least explored stability issue of structural engineering. This is less
due to a lack of research activities, but rather due to the complexity of the theory. With the introduction and further
development of the finite element method in structural engineering practice, some engineers no longer have to deal with
the complicated theory of shell buckling. Evidence of the problems and errors to which this gives rise is very well
summarized in [1].

In this article, it is also highly recommended not to simply create a single FE model for each steel shell, set up loads and
then press "Calculate". In most cases, this procedure leads to additional work as numerous analytical methods for the
verification are available for simple cases that are common in design practice. These analytical methods, the so-called
hand calculation formulas, also have the great advantage of a space-saving and simple documentation. For some
containers, it is possible to perform the plate buckling analysis on an A4 page. Such space-saving documentation is not
possible with an FE analysis.

However, there are also numerous cases where the use of a finite element analysis makes sense and should be
preferred over a manual calculation. The following points are just a few examples of cases where it makes sense to use
an FE calculation:

local load introductions in the shell wall

discrete supports (i.e. individual supports) of the shell
use of nonlinear design methods

In the following, buckling design of a steel shell is performed by using RFEM according to the MNA/LBA concept. Thus, a
nonlinear material behaviour of the steel is applied.

Figure 01 - Model of the Steel Shell Structure

Plate Buckling Analysis According to EN 1993-1-6

In EN 1993-1-6, three options are presented for performing a plate buckling analysis for steel shells. In this section, they
are to be briefly listed and evaluated with regard to the requirements of computing technology as well as with regard to
the requirements placed on the designing engineer.

Stress-Based Plate Buckling Analysis

The stress-based plate buckling analysis is considered to be the standard analysis method which almost every engineer
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computing requirements are either very low or non-existent, as formulas for manual calculation are frequently used.

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A major problem of this analysis method is that economical results will be hardly achieved for shell structures with load
situations that deviate considerably from the standard buckling modes. In addition, as a user of this concept, you are set
on the wrong track by this method, because you could easily think that the plate buckling safety of the shell structure only
depends on the occurring stresses. If that were the case, stiffening of a shell wall by, for example, longitudinal ribs would
have little benefit, as this does not significantly reduce stresses. In reality, the plate buckling safety of a skilfully stiffened
shell is much higher than that of an unbraced shell of the same wall thickness.

Plate Buckling Analysis Based on Numerical Calculation by Means of Global MNA/LBA Calculation
This method will be used for the following shell design. An MNA/LBA calculation certainly requires that the user has a bit
more background knowledge on shell stability than this is the case for the stress-based design method. Moreover, the
computing technique should be more powerful, since a linear elastic bifurcation analysis (LBA) and a material nonlinear
analysis (MNA) have to be performed for a correct application of this method.

In the author's view, this design method is the most effective way to perform plate buckling analysis if the calculation is to
be carried out by using the FE analysis. The justification of this is that for the design by means of the MNA/LBA concept,
the computing technology is consistently used without expecting too much effort from the user. If the internal forces of the
shell are calculated linear elastic to use them for the stress-based plate buckling analysis, the computer technology will
be used too inconsistently, as powerful programs such as RFEM are also able to determine the load bearing capacity of
the shell structure.

Plate Buckling Analysis Based on Numerical Calculation by Means of Global GMNIA Calculation
A GMNIA analysis to determine sufficient shell stability is probably the most consistent method of a plate buckling
analysis. The internal forces are thus calculated geometrically and materially nonlinearly using imperfections.

This method requires excellent background knowledge on shell stability from the user, as, among other things, the
correct approach of imperfections (pre-buckling) is very difficult. If the user does not have this background knowledge,
the design process with the GMNIA concept should be avoided in any case. Moreover, substantial demands are placed
on the computer technology when using this method. Thus, the program system used must be able to perform a
bifurcation analysis for each load step of the nonlinear analysis to, where appropriate, detect a "jump" from the subcritical
pre-buckling path to the supercritical post-buckling path.

This concept will not be explained further here, since, according to the author's view, it has little significance for the
design practice. For more information, please refer to the article by Herbert Schmidt [2] in the Steel Construction
Calendar of 2012, which gives a good overview of the difficulties when using the design according to the GMNIA method.

Example of a Plate Buckling Analysis by MNA/LBA Method

Input of Structural System
The steel shell shown in Figure 01 will be designed for buckling. In principle, this structure is a typical case where an
engineer familiar with the design of steel shells would hardly consider an FE analysis. Since the principal aim of this
article is to familiarize the reader with the topic of plate buckling analysis according to the MNA/LBA concept, an example
will be used which is as simple as possible.

An important topic in nonlinear calculations or bifurcation analyses of shell structures is the element size, since
unfavourably selected FE mesh settings can lead to falsified results. In specialized literature, various formulas for rough
calculation exist for this where the (small) convergence study is the most appropriate approach.

Calculation with RFEM

After model and load input and selecting suitable FE mesh settings, the calculation with RFEM can start. First, the
material nonlinear analysis is performed. The aim of this analysis is the plastic reference resistance, i.e. the critical load
factor at which the entire shell would fail plastically. The RF-MAT NL add-on module is ideally used, as only nonlinear
material properties are then available in RFEM. Alternatively, a linear elastic calculation can be carried out and then the
plastic reference resistance can be approximately calculated using formula (8.24) from [3]. Figure 02 shows the
deformed system after reaching the plastic reference resistance rRpl = 11.90.

Figure 02 - Material Nonlinear Calculation

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possible to perform this analysis first and then continue with the MNA method. The aim of the linear bifurcation analysis

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27/3/2019 Plate Buckling Analysis of Steel Shell Structures Using MNA/LBA Concept | Dlubal Software

is also to obtain a critical load factor, but this time the one that would cause the buckling of the perfect shell. This requires
the RF-STABILITY add-on module, with which linear bifurcation analyses and geometrically nonlinear calculations can be
performed. This refers not to GMNIA calculations. Figure 03 shows the first mode shape of the considered shell for the
eigenvalue of rRcr = 7.70.

Figure 03 - Linear Bifurcation Analysis (1st Eigenvalue)

Plate Buckling Analysis

The plate buckling analysis is shown as a whole in the following. Special attention is to be paid to the four independent
buckling parameters, which can be determined for most practical construction cases according to Annex D in [3].

Plastic reference resistance from the MNA:

rRpl = 11.9

Critical load factor from the LBA:

rRcr = 7.70

Slenderness degree:
¯
¯¯ rRpl

λ
11.9
ov = √ = √ = 1.243
rRcr 7.70

Elastic imperfection factor:

α ov ≈ α x =
0.62

1.44
=
0.62

1.44
= 0.217
⎛ Δwk ⎞ 1 + 1.91 ⋅ (0.98)
1 + 1.91 ⋅
⎝ t ⎠

Plastic multiplying factor:

βov = 0.60

Buckling curve exponent:

ηov = 0.60

Fully plastic limiting degree of slenderness:

¯
¯¯
λ 0,ov
= 0.20

Partially plastic limiting slenderness:

¯
¯¯
α
λ p,ov
= √
1 −
ov

β
= √
0.217

1 − 0.60
= 0.737
ov

Buckling reduction factor:

¯
¯¯ ¯
¯¯
λ ov = 1.243 > λ p,ov = 0.737

→ Pure elastic buckling is available.

α
χ ov 0.217
= = = 0.140
ov ¯
¯¯2 2
λ ov
1.243

Plate buckling analysis:

χ ov ⋅ rRpl 0.140 ⋅ 11.9
rd = = = 1.515 > 1.0
γ M1 1.10

→ Design is f ulf illed.

The main issue of the design is to classify the results obtained by the program into one of the typical buckling cases. In
the present case, it is very simple due to the loading: It is about pure meridian pressure buckling. Thus, the independent
buckling parameters according to Annex D 1.2 in EN 1993-1-6 [3] are calculated.

The result of the plate buckling analysis according to the MNA/LBA method is a critical load factor. In the example shown
here it is 1.515.This means that the load of the shell could be increased by more than 50 %.
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for typical buckling cases, such as the meridian pressure buckling considered here, no additional benefits are gained by
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27/3/2019 Plate Buckling Analysis of Steel Shell Structures Using MNA/LBA Concept | Dlubal Software

the numerically based plate buckling analysis according to the MNA/LBA method. It should be noted, as already
mentioned, that this is different as soon as local load introductions or supports lead to stress concentrations.

Summary
Modern, powerful and user-friendly FEM programs such as RFEM significantly facilitate the work of a calculating
engineer when performing the design of the sufficient buckling safety of a shell. As a result of the more consistent use of
computer technology in the MN /LBA concept, more realistic and therefore more economical results can generally be
achieved.

It should also be mentioned that an FE analysis is not advisable for every shell structure, as good analytical methods are
available for typical buckling cases, which can lead to a reduced documentation and at the same time to similar
economical results. However, if the engineer encounters cases in the design practice that cannot be assigned to a typical
buckling case, an FE analysis according to the MNA/ LBA concept with RFEM with the RF-STABILITY and RF-MAT NL
add-on modules is a real alternative to the standard methods.

Reference
[1] Knödel, P.; Ummenhofer, T.: Regeln für die Berechnung von Behältern mit der FEM, Stahlbau 86, pp. 325 - 339.
Berlin: Ernst & Sohn, 2017
[2] Schmidt, H.: Stahlbaunormen - Kommentar zur DIN EN 1993-1-6: Festigkeit und Stabilität von Schalen, Stahlbau-
Kalender 2012, pp. 135 - 204. Berlin: Ernst & Sohn, 2012
[3] Eurocode 3 - Design of steel structures - Part 1-6: Strength and Stability of Shell Structure; EN 1993-1-6:2007 +
AC:2009 + A1:2017

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