HYBRID TREFFTZ FORMULATION FOR THIN PLATE ANALYSIS

Abstract

In this paper, two efficient elements are proposed by utilizing hybrid Trefftz method for the analysis of thin plate bending. The triangular element, THT, and the quadrilateral element, QHT, which have 9 and 12 degrees of freedom, respectively. Two independent displacement fields are defined for internal and boundary of the elements. The internal field is selected in such a way that it satisfies the governing equation of the thin plate. Boundary field is dependent on the nodal degrees of freedom via boundary interpolation functions. For deriving boundary interpolation functions, element's edges are assumed to deform like a beam, and the related interpolation functions are used for the boundary fields. The solution accuracies of the famous and hard bench mark problems, such as circular and skew plates, prove the justification of suggested elements. Based on the various test problems, QHT in comparison to other four-sided elements, and THT in comparison to triangular ones, show better results and rapider convergence rate.