The family of multilayered finite elements for the analysis of plates and shells of variable thickness

Abstract

Urban development requires careful attitude to environment on the one hand and protection of the population from the natural phenomena on the other. To solve these problems, various building structures are used, in which slabs and shells of variable thickness find the wide application. In this work, the family of multilayered finite elements for the analysis of plates and shells of variable thickness is described. The family is based on the simplest flat triangular element of the Kirchhoff type. The lateral displacements in this element are approximated by an incomplete cubic polynomial. Such an element is unsuitable for practical use, but on its basis, improved elements of triangular and quadrilateral shape are built. Particular attention is paid to taking into account the variability of the cross-section. The results of the developed elements testing are presented, and the advantages of their use in the practice of designing and calculating the structures are shown.