Modeling engine static structures with conical shell finite elements

The conical shell element with nonsymmetric loading and displacement capabilities has excellent possibilities for application to engine static structures. The major benefit would be a dramatic reduction in computer time as compared with a plate model, however, a severe limitation is the inability to combine this element with any other element types. This paper shows a technique that can be used to bypass this element compatibility problem. The inherent difficulty lies in the degreeof- freedom peculiarities of the conical shell element. The nonsymmetric motion of this element is accomplished by expanding each degree of freedom in a Fourier series with respect to the azimuthal coordinate. The technique presented in this paper sums this Fourier series for each degree of freedom and connects it to the appropriate degree of freedom for the nonshell portions of the structure by using functional constraints. The methods used to make the elements compatible and the computer time, displacement, and stress comparisons with standard plate and beam models will be shown. © 1975, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.

Duke Scholars

Author Robert Kielb Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...