J.P. Moitinho de Almeida and O.J.B. Almeida Pereira
In this paper an approach
to the formulation of equilibrium elements for the analysis of
three-dimensional elasticity problems is presented.
This formulation is an
extension of the approach previously proposed for the analysis of
two-dimensional elasticity problems. The general aspects of the formulation
remain unchanged when applied to the new problem, but new points are
considered, namely the way to perform volume integrations for general elements
and the techniques used to obtain the self-equilibrated three-dimensional
stress approximation functions.
The numerical behaviour of
such elements is presented and discussed.
KEY WORDS: finite elements;
three-dimensional elasticity; equilibrium formulations; hybrid finite elements