
2010 SECTION VIII, DIVISION 2
5-61
5.A.5.3 Shell Elements
a) Stress results derived from a finite element analysis utilizing shell elements may be processed using the
structural stress method and nodal forces. The membrane and bending stresses can be computed from
element nodal internal forces using the equations provided in Table 5.A.2. A typical shell model is
illustrated in Figure 5.A.9.
b) When using three-dimensional shell elements, forces and moments with respect to the mid-thickness of
a member must be obtained at a cross section of interest. The process is illustrated in Figure 5.A.10.
5.A.6 Structural Stress Method Based on Stress Integration
As an alternative to the nodal force method above, stress results derived from a finite element analysis
utilizing two-dimensional or three-dimensional continuum elements may be processed using the Structural
Stress Method Based on Stress Integration. This method utilizes the Stress Integration Method of paragraph
5.A.3, but restricts the set of elements that contribute to the line of nodes being processed. The elements
applicable to the SCL for the region being evaluated shall be included in the post-processing, as is illustrated
in Figure 5.A.11.
5.A.7 Nomenclature
structural stress
Δ structural stress range.
i
line force at element location position i .
j
NF nodal force at node
, normal to the section.
ij
NF
nodal force at node
, normal to the section, for element location position i .
j
NM in-plane nodal moment at node
, normal to the section, for a shell element.
i
F nodal force resultant for element location position i .
K fatigue strength reduction factor used to compute the cyclic stress amplitude or range.
i
m line moment at element location position i .
n
number of nodes in the through-wall thickness direction.
i
nodal moment resultant for element location position
i
.
m
membrane stress.
b
bending stress.
ij
stress tensor at the point under evaluation.
,ij m
membrane stress tensor at the point under evaluation.
,ij b
bending stress tensor at the point under evaluation.
,ij F
peak stress component.
,ij in
stress tensor on the inside surface of the shell.
,ij out
stress tensor on the outside surface of the shell.
mi
membrane stress for element location position
i
.
bi
bending stress for element location position
i
.
j
r radial coordinate of node
for an axisymmetric element.