Generation of higher-order subparametric bending elements

Abstract

A family of high-order subparametric bending elements with up to 25 nodes are developed. These elements are conforming elements and by including the effect of transverse shear moderately thick plates can also be analysed. This is demonstrated in one of the numerical examples in which the contribution of the shear deformation to the central deflection of rhombic plates supported on two opposite sides is investigated. The elements, being subparametric, can model plates of different geometries, such as rhombic, trapezoidal and curved plates. Several examples are presented here and comparisons are made with results obtained by other methods. The versatility of these elements are clearly shown since only a few elements will normally give results of sufficient accuracy for design purposes. © 1980.