Analysis of deep beams and shear walls by finite strip method with C0 continuous displacement functions

Abstract

This paper presents a new finite strip method for the analysis of deep beams and shear walls. The essence of the method lies in the adoption of displacement functions possessing the right amount of continuity at the ends as well as at locations of abrupt changes of thickness. The concept of periodic extension in Fourier series is utilized to improve the accuracy of the stresses at the strip ends. The equilibrium conditions at locations of abrupt changes of thickness are taken into account by the incorporation of piecewise linear correction functions. As these displacement functions are built up from harmonic functions with appropriate corrections, they possess both the advantages of fast convergence of harmonic functions as well as appropriate order of continuity. Numerical results also show that the method is versatile, efficient and accurate. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.