Shell element at corner 1

[B.L.Smith]

Dear Sirs,

Does shell elements results are correct at corners? For instance at junction of two pipes.

 

[whitwas]

Stress isn't. You won't have specified the shape of any fillet/etc so it can't know the stress concentration factor. The shell elements might also assume a plane stress state which isn't valid at a corner.

 

[corus]

It depends on what you want from the results and how you're going to assess them. There won't be a stress concentration effect from a fillet radius but then that stress contribution would be classed as a peak stress component used in fatigue assessment. If it's a non fatigue assessment then the stresses at the corner would be classed as a secondary stress component with shell elements. Refer to a design standard code for definitions.