A Generalized Finite Difference Element for the Thermoelastic Structural Response of Anisotropic Thin Shells.
Abstract
Two well established matrix methods for thin shell structural analysis, the finite element method and the finite difference energy method, have been integrated into one unified analytical approach and have been effectively applied to the thermoelastic analysis of anisotropic thin shells. The finite element method is a widely used tool for structural analysis of thin shells due to its ability to model the complex geometries that occur in engineering practice. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that the finite difference energy method offers significant advantages over contemporary finite element formulations especially for problems involving geometrical nonlinearities. However, the method suffers from the modeling restrictions imposed by rectangular gridworks which must follow the shell coordinate lines. The results of this research demonstrate that this classic restriction can be removed and that a generalized finite difference energy method can be developed for arbitrary quadrilateral meshes. Furthermore, the formulation is amenable to installation in contemporary, general purpose, finite element computer programs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA034788
Entities
People
- Robert J. Edwards
Organizations
- Naval Ordnance Laboratory