CAD - BASED FE MODELING OF THIN-WALLED STRUCTURES

Abstract

The paper presents an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of using different finite element types for the discretization of thin-wall structures. Thin-walled structures are usually described in modern CAD program packages as a solid geometry. Boundary surfaces of a solid geometry are usually defined as a nonuniform rational basis spline (NURBS). Contrary to CAD models, FE modelling of thin-walled structure models is often performed using the shell element type with different formulations. The paper provides an overview of the obtained results and the convergence speed of the finite element method using different isoparametric and isogeometric types of finite elements.