Spline finite element analysis of axisymmetric shells

Abstract

The analysis of shell structures has long been an important area of study in the field of structural engineering. Many methods of analysis are available but in recent years, the finite element method has become the most popular method used by the researchers and practising engineers. Much research of the method has been carried out over the past few decades and the current trend in the development of finite elements appears to be directed towards the improvement of solution accuracy and computational efficiency. In an attempt to obtain an element with better performance, a spline finite element suitable for the analysis of axisymmetric shells is developed in this thesis. The distinctive feature of this development lies in the numerical modelling of the element in which a new set of B-spline shape functions for the interpolation of geometry as well as displacements is adopted. These shape functions are derived from B3-spline functions and have inherited the efficiency and accuracy of spline interpolation. The spline finite element developed is therefore, superior to the conventional finite elements.