User defined finite element for modeling and analysis of active piezoelectric shell structures

Abstract

This paper presents the user defined nine-node piezoelectric shell element and its implementation within a user element subroutine for modeling and analysis of thin-walled active composite structures. The element has been implemented within commercial finite element software ABAQUS. Application of the element covers modeling of arbitrary thin-walled structures also with complex geometries, whereby the automated mesh generation has been accomplished by developing a Python based interface for meshing procedure. In order to be able to perform the post-processing, a special adaptation of the user element had to be performed for visualization purposes. The implemented element regards the piezoelectric thin layers polarized in the thickness direction and it is based on the \(e_{31}\) piezoelectric effect. It has been also shown that this biquadratic nine-node element based on degenerated shell approach is less prone to locking effects and more suitable for implementation with curved structures. Through several examples the accuracy of the implemented user defined shell element as well as of the Python-based mesh extension has been demonstrated, along with the possibilities for post-processing. Meshing the structures with the nine-node user element is not third party software dependent.