A 3D cylindrical finite element model for thick curved beam stress analysis

A finite element model is proposed to perform stress analysis for thick curved beams and panels subjected to various types of loadings. The model has 18 nodes in a three-dimensional cylindrical coordinates system. Three stress components on radial surface (sigma(rr), tau(rtheta), and tau(rz)) and three displacement components (u(r), u(theta), and u(z)) are used as nodal degrees of freedom. Therefore, the continuity condition for both stresses and displacements is achieved in the radial direction. Formulation of nodal shape functions and equilibrium equations are based on three-dimensional elasticity theory and a minimum potential energy method. The accuracy of the method is verified with the standard test problems and exact solutions from the theory of elasticity. The model shows no locking phenomena. Convergence is investigated and the application to layered composite panel is illustrated. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.