Computational Mechanics for the Twenty-First Century
Edited by: B.H.V. Topping

Chapter 6

HYBRID STRESS ELEMENTS FOR ACCURATE SOLUTION OF ELASTICITY PROBLEMS WITH TRACTION-FREE SEGMENTS

Special hybrid stress elements that give accurate solutions of elasticity problems with traction-free segments are introduced. The elements are formulated based on the Hellinger-Reissner principle. The trial stresses in these elements have been modified to ensure that the traction-free boundary conditions are exactly satisfied. The results of sample examples show that these elements reduce shear locking and ensure good accuracy of displacement and stress fields for a slender component or a body with stress concentration even when the mesh is considerably distorted.

return to the contents page