An isoparametric quadratic thick curved beam element

Abstract

A three-noded curved beam element with transverse shear deformation, based on independent isoparametric quadratic interpolations, is designed from field-consistency principles. It is shown that a quadratic element that is field-inconsistent in membrane strain suffers from 'membrane locking'—i.e. an error of the second kind propagates indefinitely as the element length to thickness ratio and/or the element length to radius of curvature ratio increase, in nearly inextensional bending. However, field-inconsistency in shear strain does not lead to 'shear locking' but degrades its performance to exactly that of a field-consistent linear element. It is also seen that field-inconsistency leads to severe axial force and shear force oscillations. Error estimates for locking are derived, wherever possible, and confirmed by numerical experiments. The field-consistent element offered here is the most efficient quadratic curved beam element possible.