Finite Element Method with Applications in Engineering

8.2 AXI-SYMMETRIC SOLIDS

This section deals with analysis of axi-symmetric solids (solids of revolution) subjected to axi-symmetric and non-axi-symmetric (asymmetric) loadings. Solid is formed by rotating a plane about an axis of rotation, z (see Figure 8.1) and is assumed to have material properties and boundary conditions independent of the circumferential co-ordinate, θ. The axi-symmetric solid structures have wide applications in civil and mechanical applications, like water tanks, cooling towers, circular columns, silos, rotors, pressure vessels, etc. Though the structure is three-dimensional, it can be mathematically decomposed into a series of two-dimensional problems. If the loading is axi-symmetric, the problem reduces to a two-dimensional ...