Recent advances in local–global FE analysis of shells of revolution

Abstract

A local–global finite element technique, suitable for the analysis of shells of revolution with localized non-axisymmetric effects such as cracks, cutouts and column supports, is presented. Both material and geometrical nonlinearities are considered. The model combines, in a single analysis, rotational shell elements, general shell elements, and column elements. Rotational shell elements are employed in the axisymmetric portion of the shell, where the nonaxisymmetric behaviour in loading and deformation is accounted for by including appropriate Fourier harmonics. In the local zone, where deviations from axisymmetry are contained, a general isoparametric shell element is employed. Continuity of displacements between the rotational and general shell elements is achieved either by a layer of transitional elements or by a direct coordinate transformation. If the shell is supported on a discrete system of columns , a standard 3-D beam element with six degrees-of-freedom per node is deployed. This local–global approach has been applied to a wide variety of shell problems.