Model Details and Parameters
The purpose of this test case is to validate the plate/shell element solver in SkyCiv Structural 3D (S3D). The results were compared against a third-party analysis software. In this test case the following model parameters were used:
- Analysis Type: Linear Static
- Material: Structural Steel
- Young’s Modulus: 200,000 MPa
- Poisson’s Ratio: 0.27
- Plate Type: Mindlin Plane Stress
- Plate Size: 5m x 5m (offset 80mm to sit on top of the stiffener members)
- Plate Thickness: 10 mm
- Supports: FFFRRR (3D Pin) on two parallel sides
- Pressure Load: 0.1 kPa normal to plate
- Members: 5m Length, 150mm x 150mm x 10mm
Results – 10×10 Structured Mesh
| Result | Location | SkyCiv | Third-Party 1 | Difference 1 | Third-Party 2 | Difference 2 |
| Max Member Displacement Y (mm) | Node 69 | -8.43938 | -8.27840 | 1.94% | -8.44165 | -0.03% |
| Max Plate Displacement Y (mm) | Node 58 | -9.20418 | -9.02384 | 2.00% | -9.20338 | 0.01% |
| Max Von Mises Stress – Element (MPa) | Meshed Element 1 | 8.32423 | 8.31716 | 0.09% | 8.32423 | 0.00% |
| Max Shear Stress, Tresca – Element (MPa) | Meshed Element 1 | 3.61087 | 3.52626 | 2.40% | 4.54959 | -20.63% |
Extra Considerations
- This verification model was created and checked on 28 February 2020. Since this date, the plate solver and S3D software may have been further improved to achieved greater accuracy.
- Plates are not exact elements like beam and frame elements and therefore the mesh plays a huge role in the results. Always try to use a structured mesh when it is possible to do so.
- Results between software will never be exactly the same since different elements are used and the nature of plates are approximate