Plate, 3D & Axisymmetric Elements

Plate Elements
carry transverse loads (through bending
action)
Each node has 1 translational DOF & 2
rotational DOF
Can be used in plane stress/ 3D stress
analyses

Thickness < 10% of shorter lateral dimension

Mid-pane lies halfway between faces, lying in plane z=0
2 bending moments and 1 twisting moment
respectively

NB

There are two Mathematical models for plate elements

(i) Kirchoff (thin) plate theory
(ii) Mindlin (thick) plate theory
 Kirchoff (thin) Plate Theory

i.e

Forces

No stress/
strain at mid-surface Stresses and Strains
Displacements
Fourth order governing DE

Boundary conditions
3D Elements
Shape function
Axisymmetric Elements

Generated by revolving a plane

cross-section
Use this only if geometry, loads
& boundary conditions are
axisymmetric
Shape function