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: 2m x 1m
- Plate Thickness: 10 mm
- Edge Boundary Supports: FFFFFF (Fixed)
- Pressure Load: 1 kPa normal to plate
Results – 8×4 Structured Mesh
| Result | Location | SkyCiv | Third-Party 1 | Difference 1 | Third-Party 2 | Difference 2 |
| Max Displacement Z (mm) | Node 25 (center of plate) | -0.14645 | -0.12737 | 14.98% | -0.14645 | 0.00% |
| Max Von Mises Stress – Element (MPa) | Element 20 Top | 1.66868 | 1.61767 | 3.15% | 1.66875 | 0.00% |
| Max Shear Force YZ – Element (kN/m) | Element 24 | 0.18906 | 0.24271 | -22.10% | 0.18906 | 0.00% |
| Max Moment XY – Element (kN-m/m) | Element 26 | 0.00703 | 0.00533 | 31.89% | 0.00703 | 0.00% |
Results – 16×8 Structured Mesh
| Result | Location | SkyCiv | Third-Party 1 | Difference 1 | Third-Party 2 | Difference 2 |
| Max Displacement Z (mm) | Node 79 (center of plate) | -0.14254 | -0.13768 | 3.53% | -0.14254 | 0.00% |
| Max Von Mises Stress – Element (MPa) | Element 120 Top | 2.89678 | 2.87609 | 0.72% | 2.89676 | 0.00% |
| Max Shear Force YZ – Element (kN/m) | Element 64 | 0.31696 | 0.35256 | -10.10% | 0.31697 | 0.00% |
| Max Moment XY – Element (kN-m/m) | Element 98 | 0.01057 | 0.01008 | 4.86% | 0.01057 | 0.00% |
Results – Unstructured Mesh
| Result | Location | SkyCiv | Third-Party 1 | Difference 1 | Third-Party 2 | Difference 2 |
| Max Displacement Z (mm) | Node 79 (center of plate) | -0.14207 | -0.13815 | 2.84% | -0.14195 | 0.08% |
| Max Von Mises Stress – Element (MPa) | Element 105 Top | 3.40034 | 3.09604 | 9.83% | 3.38262 | 0.52% |
| Max Shear Force YZ – Element (kN/m) | Element 130 | 0.39549 | 0.40303 | -1.87% | 0.39374 | 0.44% |
| Max Moment XY – Element (kN-m/m) | Element 225 | 0.01090 | 0.01078 | 1.11% | 0.01092 | -0.18% |
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