Two Simple Triangular Plate Elements Based on the Absolute Nodal Coordinate Formulation

Abstract

In this paper, two triangular plate elements based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) are introduced. Triangular elements employ the Kirchhoff plate theory and can, accordingly, be used in thin plate problems. As usual in ANCF, the introduced elements can exactly describe arbitrary rigid body motion when their mass matrices are constant. Previous plate developments in the absolute nodal coordinate formulation have focused on rectangular elements that are difficult to use when arbitrary meshes need to be described. The elements introduced in this study have overcome this problem and represent an important addition to the absolute nodal coordinate formulation. The two elements introduced are based on Specht’s and Morley’s shape functions, previously used in conventional finite element formulations. The numerical solutions of these elements are compared with previously proposed rectangular finite element and analytical results.