Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAFE
REVISION NO.: 0
EXAMPLE 3
Rectangular Plate with Mixed Boundary
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
The plate, shown in Figure 3-1, is analyzed for uniform load only. The edges
along x = 0 and x = a are simply supported, the edge along y = b is free, and the
edge along y = 0 is fully fixed. The geometrical description and material
properties of this problem are the same as those of Example 1. To test
convergence, the problem is analyzed employing three mesh sizes, as shown in
Figure 1-2: 4 × 4, 8 × 8, and 12 × 12. The plate is modeled using plate elements
available in SAFE. The two simply supported edges are modeled as line supports
with large vertical stiffnesses. The fixed edge is modeled as a line support with
large vertical and rotational stiffnesses. The self weight of the plate is not
included in the analysis.
An explicit analytical expression for the deflected surface is given in
Timoshenko and Woinowsky (1959). The deflections obtained from SAFE are
compared with the theoretical values.
GEOMETRY, PROPERTIES AND LOADING
Plate size a×b = 360" × 240"
Plate thickness T = 8 inches
Modulus of elasticity E = 3000 ksi
Poisson's ratio v = 0.3
Load Cases:
Uniform load q = 100 psf
TECHNICAL FEATURES OF SAFE TESTED
Comparison of deflection with bench-mark solution.
RESULTS COMPARISON
The numerical solution obtained from SAFE is compared with the theoretical
solution that is given by Lévy (Timoshenko and Woinowsky 1959). Comparison
of deflections shows monotonic convergence to the theoretical values with
successive mesh refinement as depicted in Table 3-1. It is to be noted that even
with a coarse mesh (4 × 4) the agreement is very good.
EXAMPLE 3 - 1
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAFE
REVISION NO.: 0
Figure 3-1 Rectangular Plate with Two Edges Simply Supported,
One Edge Fixed and One Edge Free
EXAMPLE 3 - 2
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAFE
REVISION NO.: 0
Table 3-1 Comparison of Displacements
Thin Plate Formulation
Location SAFE Displacement (in) Theoretical
Displacement
X (in) Y (in) 4×4 Mesh 8×8 Mesh 12×12 Mesh (in)
180 0 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
180 60 0.0849 0.0831 0.0827 0.08237
180 120 0.2410 0.2379 0.2372 0.23641
180 180 0.3971 0.3947 0.3940 0.39309
180 240 0.5537 0.5511 0.5502 0.54908
Thick Plate Formulation
Location SAFE Displacement (in) Theoretical
Displacement
X (in) Y (in) 4×4 Mesh 8×8 Mesh 12×12 Mesh (in)
180 0 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
180 60 0.0806 0.0841 0.0839 0.08237
180 120 0.2338 0.2398 0.2392 0.23641
180 180 0.3837 0.3973 0.3970 0.39309
180 240 0.5322 0.5544 0.5542 0.54908
COMPUTER FILE:
S03a-Thin.FDB, S03b-Thin.FDB, S03c-Thin.FDB, S03a-Thick.FDB, S03b-
Thick.FDB, and S03c-Thick.FDB
CONCLUSION
The SAFE results show an acceptable comparison with the independent results.
EXAMPLE 3 - 3
