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PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000

REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 2-005
SHELL – RECTANGULAR PLATE WITH STATIC LOADS

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
In this example a rectangular plate, modeled with shell elements, is subjected to
an out-of-plane (Z direction) uniform load and an out-of-plane center
concentrated load. The uniform and concentrated loads are applied in different
load cases. The plate center displacement in the direction of the load is compared
with independent hand calculated results for each load case.

The geometry, properties and loading are as suggested in MacNeal and Harder
1985. The plate is 2 inches wide and is modeled with both a 2 inch and a 10 inch
length. As suggested in MacNeal and Harder 1985, only a quarter of the plate is
modeled. Both a 4x4 and a 16x16 mesh are considered for the quarter plate.

Only the Uz, Rx and Ry degrees of freedom are active in the model. In the 4x4
mesh, model symmetry conditions are imposed by restraining the Rx degree of
freedom at joints 22, 23 and 24; restraining the Ry degree of freedom at joints 10,
15, and 20; and restraining both the Rx and Ry degrees of freedom at joint 25.
Similar symmetry restraints are used in the 16x16 mesh model. Note that because
only a quarter of the plate is modeled, only a quarter of the specified
concentrated load is applied to the center of the plate at joint 25.

GEOMETRY, PROPERTIES AND LOADING

Material Properties
E = 17,472,000 lb/in2
ν = 0.3
Sym G = 6,720,000 lb/in2

Section Properties
2"

21 13 22 14 23 15 24 16 25 Thickness = 0.0001 in
16 9 17 10 18 11 19 12 20
Sym

Loading (in separate cases)

Y 11 5 12 6 13 7 14 8 15 Uniform Load = 0.0001 lb/in2
6 1 7 2 8 3 9 4 10 Center Point Load = 0.0004 lb
1X 2 3 4 5 1 - Joint number
2" or 10" 1 - Area object number
Z

EXAMPLE 2-005 - 1
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SUMMARY OF MODELS USED IN EXAMPLE

The following table identifies each of the models used in this example.

Full Plate Model Model Edge

Model Size Size Mesh Support

A-Thin
2" x 2" 1" x 1" 4x4 Simple
A-Thick

B-Thin
2" x 2" 1" x 1" 4x4 Fixed
B-Thick

C-Thin
2" x 10" 1" x 5" 4x4 Simple
C-Thick

D-Thin
2" x 10" 1" x 5" 4x4 Fixed
D-Thick

E-Thin
2" x 2" 1" x 1" 16 x 16 Simple
E-Thick

F-Thin
2" x 2" 1" x 1" 16 x 16 Fixed
F-Thick

G-Thin
2" x 10" 1" x 5" 16 x 16 Simple
G-Thick

H-Thin
2" x 10" 1" x 5" 16 x 16 Fixed
H-Thick

TECHNICAL FEATURES OF SAP2000 TESTED

 Plate bending analysis using shell elements
 Uniform load applied to shell elements
 Joint force loading

EXAMPLE 2-005 - 2
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RESULTS COMPARISON
The SAP2000 results are presented separately for the thin plate option and the
thick plate option. The independent results are hand calculated using Equation 3
on page 5, Table 8 on page 20, Equation 147 and Table 23 on page 143, Table 35
on page 202, and Table 37 on page 206, all in Timoshenko and Woinowsky-
Krieger 1959. Independent results are also published in MacNeal and Harder
1985.

Thin Plate Option – Uniform Load – 2" x 2" Plate

Edge Output Percent

Support Mesh Model Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference
4x4 A 4.06 0%
Simple Uz, in 4.06
16x16 E 4.06 0%
Center of
4x4 B plate 1.32 +5%
Fixed 1.26
16x16 F 1.27 +1%

Thin Plate Option – Uniform Load – 2" x 10" Plate

Edge Output Percent

Support Mesh Model Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference
4x4 C 12.86 -1%
Simple Uz, in 12.97
16x16 G 12.96 0%
Center of
4x4 D plate 2.60 0%
Fixed 2.60
16x16 H 2.60 0%

EXAMPLE 2-005 - 3
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Thin Plate Option – Center Concentrated Load – 2" x 2" Plate

Edge Output Percent

Support Mesh Model Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference
4x4 A 11.94 +3%
Simple Uz, in 11.60
16x16 E 11.63 0%
Center of
4x4 B plate 5.90 +5%
Fixed 5.60
16x16 F 5.64 +1%

Thin Plate Option – Center Concentrated Load – 2" x 10" Plate

Edge Output Percent

Support Mesh Model Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference
4x4 C 18.12 +7%
Simple Uz, in 16.95
16x16 G 17.15 +1%
Center of
4x4 D plate 7.79 +7%
Fixed 7.25
16x16 H 7.41 +2%

EXAMPLE 2-005 - 4
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Thick Plate Option – Uniform Load – 2" x 2" Plate

Edge Output Percent

Support Mesh Model Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference
4x4 A 4.03 -1%
Simple Uz, in 4.06
16x16 E 4.06 0%
Center of
4x4 B plate 1.25 -1%
Fixed 1.26
16x16 F 1.27 +1%

Thick Plate Option – Uniform Load – 2" x 10" Plate

Edge Output Percent

Support Mesh Model Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference
4x4 C 12.87 -1%
Simple Uz, in 12.97
16x16 G 12.97 0%
Center of
4x4 D plate 2.59 0%
Fixed 2.60
16x16 H 2.60 0%

EXAMPLE 2-005 - 5
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Thick Plate Option – Center Concentrated Load – 2" x 2" Plate

Edge Output Percent

Support Mesh Model Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference
4x4 A 11.61 0%
Simple Uz, in 11.60
16x16 E 11.61 0%
Center of
4x4 B plate 5.38 -4%
Fixed 5.60
16x16 F 5.61 0%

Thick Plate Option – Center Concentrated Load – 2" x 10" Plate

Edge Output Percent

Support Mesh Model Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference
4x4 C 16.27 -4%
Simple Uz, in 16.95
16x16 G 16.92 0%
Center of
4x4 D plate 5.87 -19%
Fixed 7.25
16x16 H 7.12 -2%

COMPUTER FILES: Example 2-005a-thick, Example 2-005a-thin,

Example 2-005b-thick, Example 2-005b-thin,
Example 2-005c-thick, Example 2-005c-thin,
Example 2-005d-thick, Example 2-005d-thin,
Example 2-005e-thick, Example 2-005e-thin,
Example 2-005f-thick, Example 2-005f-thin,
Example 2-005g-thick, Example 2-005g-thin,
Example 2-005h-thick, Example 2-005h-thin
Example 2-005i-thick

EXAMPLE 2-005 - 6
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CONCLUSIONS
The SAP2000 results show an acceptable comparison with the independent
results. In general, meshing of the model improves the comparison.

Model D-Thick, which has a 4x4 mesh and the thick plate option, has a 19%
difference from the theoretical result for the concentrated load at the center of the
plate. The similar thin plate model, Model D-Thin has only a 7% difference from
the theoretical result. Both options show a 2% difference when meshed 16x16.
The difference between the thick and thin plate options occurs because the
twisting behavior for the thick plate is sensitive to shell element aspect ratio,
whereas twisting behavior for the thin plate option is not sensitive.

Meshing Model D-Thick just in the area of the concentrated load will
significantly improve the results. Example 2-005i-thick meshes the plate as
shown in the figure to the right.
This model produces a deflection
for the concentrated load of 6.91
inches, which is approximately
5% different from the theoretical result.

In general a tighter mesh is required in areas where stresses are changing

significantly (i.e., where there is a high stress gradient). The area around a
concentrated load (or any type of load discontinuity) is one of those types of
areas.

EXAMPLE 2-005 - 7
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HAND CALCULATION

EXAMPLE 2-005 - 8
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EXAMPLE 2-005 - 9
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EXAMPLE 2-005 - 10
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EXAMPLE 2-005 - 11