Trigonometric function used to formulate a multi-nodal finite tubular element

Abstract

It is presented an alternative formulation to solve the problem of the deformation analysis for tubular element under pinching loads. The solution is based on a new displacement field defined from a total set of trigonometric functions. The solution is developed in a multi-nodal finite tubular ring element with a total of eight degrees of freedom per section considered. The purpose of this paper is to provide an easy alternative formulation when compared with a complex finite shell element or beam element analysis for the same application. Several case studies presented have been compared and discussed with numerical analyses results reported by other authors and the results obtained with a shell element from a Cosmos/M® programme.