• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.311-331
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• 2007

The purpose of this paper is to study shear locking-free analysis of thick plates using Mindlin's theory and to determine the effects of the thickness/span ratio, the aspect ratio and the boundary conditions on the linear responses of thick plates subjected to uniformly distributed loads. Finite element formulation of the equations of the thick plate theory is derived by using higher order displacement shape functions. A computer program using finite element method is coded in C++ to analyze the plates clamped or simply supported along all four edges. In the analysis, 8- and 17-noded quadrilateral finite elements are used. Graphs and tables are presented that should help engineers in the design of thick plates. It is concluded that 17-noded finite element converges to exact results much faster than 8-noded finite element, and that it is better to use 17-noded finite element for shear-locking free analysis of plates. It is also concluded, in general, that the maximum displacement and bending moment increase with increasing aspect ratio, and that the results obtained in this study are better than the results given in the literature.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.603-633
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• 2008

A four-node plate finite element for the analysis of laminated composites which is developed using strain gradient notation is presented. The element is based on a first-order shear deformation theory and on the equivalent lamina assumption. Strains and stresses can be calculated at different points through the thickness of the plate. They are averaged values due to the equivalent lamina assumption. A shear correction factor is used as the transverse shear strain is taken to be constant over the plate thickness while its actual variation is parabolic. Strain gradient notation, which is physically interpretable, allows for the detailed a-priori analysis of the finite element model. The polynomial expansions are inspected and spurious terms responsible for modeling errors are identified in the shear strains polynomial expansions. The element is corrected by simply removing the spurious terms from the shear strains expansions. The element is implemented into a FORTRAN finite element code in two versions; namely, with and without spurious terms. Results are compared to show the effects of the spurious terms on the solutions. It is also shown that a refined mesh composed of corrected elements provides solutions which approximate very well the analytical solutions, validating the procedure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.277-298
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• 2002

In this study, free vibration analysis of Reissner plates on Pasternak foundation is carried out by mixed finite element method based on the G$\hat{a}$teaux differential. New boundary conditions are established for plates on Pasternak foundation. This method is developed and applied to numerous problems by Ak$\ddot{o}$z and his co-workers. In dynamic analysis, the problem reduces to the solution of a standard eigenvalue problem and the mixed element is based upon a consistent mass matrix formulation. The element has four nodes and bending and torsional moments, transverse shear forces, rotations and displacements are the basic unknowns. The element performance is assessed by comparison with numerical examples known from literature. Validity limits of Kirchhoff plate theory is tested by dynamic analysis. Shear locking effects are tested as far as $h/2a=10^{-6}$ and it is observed that REC32 is free from shear locking.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.69-86
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• 2007

A four-noded plate bending quadrilateral (PBQ4) and an eight-noded plate bending quadrilateral (PBQ8) element based on Mindlin plate theory have been adopted for modeling the thick plates on elastic foundations using Winkler model. Transverse shear deformations have been included, and the stiffness matrices of the plate elements and the Winkler foundation stiffness matrices are developed using Finite Element Method based on thick plate theory. A computer program is coded for this purpose. Various loading and boundary conditions are considered, and examples from the literature are solved for comparison. Shear locking problem in the PBQ4 element is observed for small value of subgrade reaction and plate thickness. It is noted that prevention of shear locking problem in the analysis of the thin plate is generally possible by using element PBQ8. It can be concluded that, the element PBQ8 is more effective and reliable than element PBQ4 for solving problems of thin and thick plates on elastic foundations.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.324-345
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• 2015

A new procedure for determining properties of thick plate finite elements, based on the modified Mindlin theory for moderately thick plate, is presented. Bending deflection is used as a potential function for the definition of total (bending and shear) deflection and angles of cross-section rotations. As a result of the introduced interdependence among displacements, the shear locking problem, present and solved in known finite element formulations, is avoided. Natural vibration analysis of rectangular plate, utilizing the proposed four-node quadrilateral finite element, shows higher accuracy than the sophisticated finite elements incorporated in some commercial software. In addition, the relation between thick and thin finite element properties is established, and compared with those in relevant literature.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.607-622
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• 1999

Being a significant mode of deformation, shear effect in addition to the other modes of stretching and bending have been considered to develop two finite element models for the analysis of beams on elastic foundation. The first beam model is developed utilizing the differential-equation approach; in which the complex variables obtained from the solution of the differential equations are used as interpolation functions for the displacement field in this beam element. A single element is sufficient to exactly represent a continuous part of a beam on Winkler foundation for cases involving end-loadings, thus providing a benchmark solution to validate the other model developed. The second beam model is developed utilizing the hybrid-mixed formulation, i.e., Hellinger-Reissner variational principle; in which both displacement and stress fields for the beam as well as the foundation are approxmated separately in order to eliminate the well-known phenomenon of shear locking, as well as the newly-identified problem of "foundation-locking" that can arise in cases involving foundations with extreme rigidities. This latter model is versatile and indented for utilization in general applications; i.e., for thin-thick beams, general loadings, and a wide variation of the underlying foundation rigidity with respect to beam stiffness. A set of numerical examples are given to demonstrate and assess the performance of the developed beam models in practical applications involving shear deformation effect.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.163-180
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• 2014

In the displacement based finite element analysis of composite beams that consist of two Euler-Bernoulli beams juxtaposed with a deformable shear connection, the coupling of the displacement fields may cause oscillations in the interlayer slip field and reduction in optimal convergence rate, known as slip-locking. In this study, the B-bar procedure is proposed to alleviate the locking effects. It is also shown that by changing the primary dependent variables in the mathematical model, to be able to interpolate the interlayer slip field directly, oscillations in the slip field can be completely eliminated. Examples are presented to illustrate the performance and the numerical characteristics of the proposed methods.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.432-432
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• 2011

Dry adhesion caused by Nanoscale contact comes up to important scientific issue. Herein, we introduce bendable nanohairy locking fastener system with high shear strength and mechanically flexible backing. The polymeric patches like velcro are composed of an array of straight nanohairs with 100 nm diameter and $1{\mu}m$ height. To fabricate high aspect vertical nanohairs, we used UV molding method with appropriately flexible and rigid polyurethane acrylate material on PET substrate. Two identical nanohairy patches are easily merged and locked each other induced by van der Waals force. Because nanohairs can be arrayed with high density ${\sim}4{\times}10^8/cm^2$, we can obtain high shear adhesion force on flat surface (~22 N/$cm^2$). Furthermore, we can obtian nanohairy locking system with maximum shear adhesion ~48 N/$cm^2$ of curved surface due to flexibility of PET substrate. We confirm the tendency that shear adhesion force increases, as radius of curvature increases.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 1997

A 4-node element for efficient finite element analysis of plate bending is presented in this paper. This element is formulated based on Mindlin plate theory to take account of shear deformation. To overcome the overestimation of shear stiffness in thin Mindlin plate element, especially in the lower order element, five nonconforming displacement modes are added to the original displacement fields. The proposed nonconforming element does not possess spurious zero-energy mode and does not show shear locking phenomena in very thin plate even for distorted mesh shapes. It was recognized from benchmark numerical tests that the displacement converges to the analytical solutions rapidly and the stress distributions are very smooth. The element also provides good results for the case of high aspect ratio.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.1408-1415
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• 2002

In this paper, we investigate the effect and the importance of the accuracy of finite element analysis in the shape optimization based on the finite element method and improve the existing finite element which has inaccuracy in some cases. And then, the shape optimization is performed by using the improved finite element. One of the main stream to improve finite element is the prevention of locking phenomenon. In case of bending dominant problems, finite element solutions cannot be reliable because of shear locking phenomenon. In the process of shape optimization, the mesh distortion is large due to the change of the structure outline. So, we have to raise the accuracy of finite element analysis for the large mesh distortion. We cannot guarantee the accurate result unless the finite element itself is accurate or the finite elements are remeshed. So, we approach to more accurate shape optimization to diminish these inaccuracies by improving the existing finite element. The shape optimization using the modified finite element is applied to a two and three dimensional simple beam. Results show that the modified finite element has improved the optimization results.