Development of Flat Shell Elements with Drilling Degrees of Freedom in Java

This study developed flat shell elements with drilling degree of freedom using an object oriented approach and the Java programming language. A review of the work of Kansara (2004) and Nikishkov (2010) was conducted to develop a finite element program using Java programming language which addresses most of deficiencies inherent in the work of Kansara (2004). Input to the program is done through a text file and the loads that can be applied to the structure include concentrated loads and uniformly distributed surface loads. Various load combinations can also be used. The program computes displacements and stresses at each node of the finite element model. Several test examples were analyzed using the program and results were compared with those obtained from Kansara (2004), the commercial finite element analysis program SAP 2000 and LISA respectively. Results were compared at the points of maximum displacements and stresses. The average stress was taken in to consideration to calculate stresses at specific point. The results obtained from the analysis of the example problems were found to be very accurate when compared to those obtained from the Kansara (2004), SAP 2000 and LISA. The difference in displacements computed by the two programs was less than 1, which is very negligible. The difference in stresses was also quite close. Results from the bilinear degenerated shell element with drilling degree of freedom was in agreement with those obtain from LISA and SAP 2000 but differed considerably with those of Kansara (2004).