Numerical solution of curved pipes submitted to in-plane loading conditions

• Main Author: Fonseca, E.M.M.
• Publication Date: 2010
• Other Authors: Melo, F.J.M.Q. de
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://hdl.handle.net/10198/1338
• topic: Curved pipe; In-plane loading; Linear analysis; Polynomial function

An alternative formulation to current meshes dealing with finite shell elements is presented to solve the problem of stress analysis of curved pipes subjected to in-plane bending forces. The solution is based on finite curved elements, where displacements are defined from a total set of trigonometric functions or a fifth-order polynomial, combined with Fourier series. Global shell displacements are achieved through the one associated with curved arch bending and the other referred to the toroidal thin-walled shell distortion. Beam-type displacement and in-plane rotation are uncoupled and separately formulated, using trigonometric shape functions, as in Timoshenko or Mindlin beam theory. To build up the solution, a simple deformation model was adopted, based on the semi-membrane concept of the doubly curved shells behaviour. Several studies are presented and compared with experimental and numerical analyses reported by other authors.