Author(s)

R.J. Razzaq & A. El-Zafrany

Abstract

This paper introduces a practical approach for reducing the dimensionality of the finite element method. It is based on applying a new concept to the finite strip method for the derivation of an efficient element for buckling and stress analysis of folded and stiffened plates made of composite layered materials. Mindlin’s plate-bending theory has been employed, where transverse shear stresses and strains are represented by values averaged over the plate thickness. The plate midplane is to be discretized in one direction in terms of this new element, leading to a simple mesh reduced by one dimension as compared with standard finite element meshes. The interpolation in the other direction is achieved by employing independently a smooth polynomial over the plate width. An efficient modular programming pac

Keywords