Large deflexion, geometrically non-linear finite element analysis of circular arches

Sabir, A.B. and Lock, A.C. (1973) Large deflexion, geometrically non-linear finite element analysis of circular arches. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 15 (1), 37-47. (doi:10.1016/0020-7403(73)90044-1).

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the geometrically nonlinear behaviour of circular arches. A curved element is used, based on satisfying the condition that the circumferential strain and change in curvature, rather than the displacements, should be simple independent functions of the co-ordinate axes. The analysis was carried out using the linearized incremental method based on the mid-increment stiffness in conjunction with the Newton-Raphson iterative technique. A comparison is first made between the results obtained with this element and those using a simple polynomial shape function. The behaviour of a range of arches is then considered and the results are compared and found to agree well with an analytical method. The results include the behaviour of deeper but still shallow arches which exhibit “looping” of the load-deflexion curve, and bifurcation of the equilibrium path into unsymmetric deflexions of the arch.

A computer program was developed to allow any of the generalized degrees of freedom which are designated for incrementation to be expressed as either forces, to avoid failure at the vertical tangent to the load deflexion curves, or as generalized displacements to avoid failure at the horizontal tangent. The program also allows the quantity subjected to incrementation to be changed as necessary to follow complex load-deflexion equilibrium paths.

This record has no associated files available for download.

Contributors

Download statistics