Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of Concrete Structures

- O i —
Y
I Concrete element
Y
I Bars in XY-piane
L.
~x
-X
Membrane parallel
to the Z - axis
/
Z
Fig. 4.3: Plane strain elements.
from a finite element point of view, the modelling is very simple.
It also follows that the program is most suited for analysis of
massive structures while slender structures acting primarily in
bending represent problems that are unfitted for use of the program.
In section 4.1 following, the fundamental equations in the finite
element displacement method will be derived. Then, sections
4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 will treat the axisymmetric elements in detail.
The formulation of the plane elements follow very much the same
lines and they will therefore be treated only schematically in
section 4.5. Finally, the computational schemes employed in the
program will be considered in section 4.6.
4.1. Fundamental equations of the finite element method
This section briefly outlines the fundamental equations of the
finite element displacement method. The Galerkin method is util-