Nonlinear inelastic behavior of an HP saddle shell has been examined by a finite element computer program developed on a Cray Y-MP. The mesh convergence is studied using three progressively refined finite element mesh models, $16{\times}16$, $32{\time...
Nonlinear inelastic behavior of an HP saddle shell has been examined by a finite element computer program developed on a Cray Y-MP. The mesh convergence is studied using three progressively refined finite element mesh models, $16{\times}16$, $32{\times}32$ and $64{\times}64$, for the elastic and inelastic analyses. It is shown that the $32{\times}32$ mesh model gives a solution that is very close to that given by the $64{\times}64$ mesh model, thus, showing a convergence. The inelastic analysis shows that the shell has a tremendous capacity to redistribute the stresses. At the ultimate, the concrete cracks and the reinforcement yieldings are spread out all over the shell, indicating that the stress distribution in the shell is approaching that given by the classical membrane theory. The present computer program provides a very useful tool for evaluating the nonlinear ultimate behavior of concrete shells during the design process.