Non-linear finite elementmodelling of prestressed slab-between-girder bridge: using a 3D non-planar mesh of shell elements

Across the Netherlands close to 70 prestressed concrete T-beam bridges with cast-in-between slabs and transverse prestressing built in the 60's and are still in service. The current code NEN-EN 1992-1-1+C2:2011 assesses the shear capacity more conservatively. In addition, the NEN-EN 1991-2+C1:2015 prescribes an increased traffic load. This...

Stress State Dependent Fracture Prediction in Shells

The goal of this thesis is to propose a stress state dependent ductile fracture criterion for shell elements that can be used for crash simulations for example collisions of ships with offshore structures. Fracture has been extensively researched for solid elements for finite element analysis in Bai & Wierzbicki [2009], among others. Shells...

Modelling Delamination in an Equivalent Single Layer Model in Explicit Finite Element Analysis

Delamination is one of the failure modes of composites prone to happen in the case of a car crash. In the early stages of car design, finite element analysis is used as a tool to analyze structural concepts. In order to model delamination in a newly developed material model, it is analyzed in two parts: detection and effects of delamination. To...

Finite element modeling of non-rigid origami: Parametric study on bistable origami using the finite element method

Origami has become a source of inspiration in engineering for structural design and the creation of mechanical metamaterials. In the often used analytic geometric and energy methods, it is difficult to incorporate deformation of the faces in non-rigid origami. However, deformation of the faces can play a significant role in their mechanical...

Radius Bending: User Element Testing and Investigation on Effect of Stacking Sequence on Out-of-plane Failure

A new doubly-curved shell element (ThickS4 element) is presented and tested for flat and singly curved configurations. The benchmark tests show good correlation for the ThickS4 element with the Abaqus S4 shell element and with 3D FEM for flat and highly curved configurations (R/t ≥ 4). For radius over thickness ratios smaller than 4 the element...

Investigation of facesheet wrinkling and its effects on the performance and response of a sandwich structure using a new sandwich shell element

A new linear sandwich shell element is presented, based on the third order shear deformation theory from Reddy in combination with a `zig-zag' model. Following from a set of benchmark tests, the sandwich element shows superior accuracy in determining facesheet stresses compared to the Abaqus S4 shell element and a good correlation with 3D finite...

Validation of efficient numerical model for out-of-plane bending of unreinforced masonry walls

This study investigates four numerical models to approximate the static and dynamic resistance of an unreinforced masonry wall loaded in one-way out-of-plane bending. From validation with experimental data it was found that for the combination of shell and interface elements with discrete cracking the static and dynamic behaviour of unreinforced...

Computational Modeling of Progressive Failure in FRP Composite Laminates Subjected to Static and Impact Transverse loading

In order to arrive at safe and reliable design of composite structures, understanding of the mechanisms and mechanics of damage growth in these materials is of paramount significance. Numerical models, if designed, implemented and used carefully, can be helpful not only to understand the mechanisms and mechanics of damage growth but also to...

Finite element procedure for modelling fibre metal laminates