Finite Element Analysis of Structures through Unified Formulation (PDF)

The finite element method (FEM) is a computational tool widely
used to design and analyse complex structures. Currently,
there are a number of different approaches to analysis using the
FEM that vary according to the type of structure being analysed:
beams and plates may use 1D or 2D approaches, shells and solids 2D
or 3D approaches, and methods that work for one structure are
typically not optimized to work for another.

Finite Element Analysis of Structures Through Unified
Formulation deals with the FEM used for the analysis of the
mechanics of structures in the case of linear elasticity. The
novelty of this book is that the finite elements (FEs) are
formulated on the basis of a class of theories of structures known
as the Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF). It formulates 1D, 2D and
3D FEs on the basis of the same 'fundamental nucleus' that comes
from geometrical relations and Hooke's law, and presents both 1D
and 2D refined FEs that only have displacement variables as in 3D
elements. It also covers 1D and 2D FEs that make use of 'real'
physical surfaces rather than 'artificial' mathematical
surfaces which are difficult to interface in CAD/CAE software.

Key features:

* Covers how the refined formulation can be easily and
conveniently used to analyse laminated structures, such as sandwich
and composite structures, and to deal with multifield problems

* Shows the performance of different FE models through the 'best
theory diagram' which allows different models to be compared in
terms of accuracy and computational cost

* Introduces an axiomatic/asymptotic approach that reduces the
computational cost of the structural analysis without affecting the
accuracy

* Introduces an innovative 'component-wise' approach to deal with
complex structures

* Accompanied by a website hosting the dedicated software package
MUL2 (www.mul2.com)

Finite Element Analysis of Structures Through Unified
Formulation is a valuable reference for researchers and
practitioners, and is also a useful source of information for
graduate students in civil, mechanical and aerospace
engineering.