Solution to NBC07 – Modelling Beam Members with Finite Elements

The Challenge - The reader is asked to investigate the two beam problems presented in figure 1 using the various beam elements offered in their finite element system (including and excluding shear deformation) with the aim of providing accurate results for the moment reactions, the maximum displacement and the maximum bending moment. Evidence of solution verification should be provided in terms of the convergence of the quantities of interest with mesh refinement and a prediction of the minimum number of elements required to obtain a accuracy of 1% in all quantities should be provided.