Finite element modelling of the behaviour of thin planar and curved plates

The finite element has been made increasingly more accessible to engineering analysts through the development of powerful user-friendly software. It is a widely used approach to the analysis of thin planar and curved plate structures for bending behaviour. This applications-type paper describes the role which the finite element technique played in an analytical and experimental investigation of the behaviour of thin plate elements under static loading.

In this investigation, finite element analysis was used firstly to assess the validity of various assumptions used in the experimental setup and, secondly, to provide theoretical predictions for the cracking load of the small scale test specimens. One type of element examined was the thin doubly curved hyperbolic paraboloid form. Linear elastic analysis of such relatively complex geometrical shapes is now comparatively straight forward using computers.

The paper highlights the value of the finite element method as a complementary tool to experimental analysis. The data provided helps to validate the use of discrete models for the class of problem studied. The discretization and refinement of the model is greatly faciliated by modern software and hardware.