Non Uniform Rational B Spline (NURBS) Based Non-Linear Analysis of Straight Beams with Mixed Formulations

Displacement finite element models of various beam theories have been developed traditionally using conventional finite element basis functions (i.e., cubic Hermite, equi-spaced Lagrange interpolation functions, or spectral/hp Legendre functions). Various finite element models of beams differ from each other in the choice of the interpolation functions used for the transverse deflection w, total rotation , and/or shear strain , as well as the variational method used (e.g., collocation, weak form Galerkin, or least-squares). When nonlinear shear deformation theories are used, the displacement finite element models experience membrane and shear locking. The present study is concerned with development of alternative beam finite elements using both uniform and non-uniform rational b-splines (NURBS) to eliminate shear and membrane locking in an hpk finite element setting for both the Euler-Bernoulli beam and Timoshenko beam theories. Both linear and non-linear analysis are performed using mixed finite element models of the beam theories studied. Results obtained are compared with analytical (series) solutions and non-linear finite element and spectral/hp solutions available in the literature, and excellent agreement is found for all cases.