Comparative FE Analysis of Steel Plate Using MATLAB and LUSAS

This project presents a comprehensive finite element analysis (FEA) of a uniform steel plate, treating it as a 2D plane stress problem. The analysis involves both manual calculations and software simulations using MATLAB and LUSAS, with a focus on comparing triangular and quadrilateral elements. The manual FE method utilizes triangular constant strain elements, dividing the plate into four elements and calculating stiffness matrices, displacements, and element stresses. The strength assessment is performed based on an allowable stress limit. The software solutions explore various mesh densities (4, 16, 32, 64, and 288 elements) for triangular elements and rectangular elements to validate the manual calculations and observe convergence. The project includes detailed MATLAB codes, results, and discussions, offering a thorough investigation into the stress distribution within the steel plate and a comparison of different FEA approaches. Desklib is the perfect platform for students who need similar solved assignments.