Application of Shell Elements to Collapse Load Analysis

Shell elements make it easy to generate FEA model, and reduce time and costs for the analysis. Those are useful for surveying shape of structure. In this paper, FEA with shell elements are performed for a clamped circular plate in order to survey influence of mesh types on the collapse load, as for the sizes, the number of integration points and the order of shape functions. Based on the results, collapse load analysis for a torispherical head vessel for 2-dimensional model with shell elements is performed and studied for applicability of shell elements to collapse load analysis.