Vibration of plates using ANSYS

[webroot]

Hello,

I have a question for an expert in Vibrations and ANSYS.
I am trying to get the natural frequency for vibrations of plates with varying thicknesses. My question is: Will I get accurate results if I used a SHELL 63 element to model a plate with varying thickness? Should I use a solid element instead of SHELL63 element? The results I got using SHELL63 element were quite good compared with the analytical reesults, althoug I am not sure if this was the right element for modelling a (3-D)plate with varying thickness.

Thank you very much.

 

Hello there,

my guess is that you will get 100% satisfactory results, as long as the "plate hypothesis" is not violated (plate thickness / element length ratio, a.s.o).

As long as "engineering accuracy" is concerned, using plates is the good choice.

If vibrations are concerned, using plates vs. solids will only produce slightly higher flexulral waves speed, because rotationnal inertia is neglected (this is only of concern at "high frequencies&quot.

Nicolas

 

first of all,if thickness is of a influential factor 4 u'r work then u do use solid element(my choice is solid 46) only minor variations will be there from frequency side, but care should be given to mode shapes... check out the mode shapes using both shell & solid element then u may feel the difference.
u didn't mention about the size of the plate. if all the 3 dimensions r comparable then solid element is the best option.
before selecting element u should see the dimension comparability, from that u can decide upon thick or thin plate..this is the funda behind this..
cheers
manosiva(IIT MADRAS)