Matrix Displacement Analysis of Anisotropic Shells by Triangular Elements

Abstract

Over the last five years or so both in the USA (especially by the active group at Berkeley under R. W. Clough(7) ) and the UK, there have been a number of attempts to incorporate the plane triangular element under bending and membrane action into a general matrix displacement analysis of shells. All investigators stressed the positive aspects of the triangular element, which arise from its adaptability to any geometrical form of the shell, but noted at the same time some serious shortcomings due to a partial satisfaction of the kinematic compatibility conditions at the boundary. Thus we have within the Matrix Displacement Method the rather unusual example of a type of element whose deficiency with respect to kinematic compatibility does not automatically ensure convergence to the exact result as the number of elements is increased.