Three Dimensional Solids

Many structures have geometrical, mechanical or loading features which make it impossible to use the simple plane stress/plane strain and axisymmetric models studied in previous chapters; or even the plate and shell models to be described in the second volume of the book [On]. The only alternative is to perform a full three dimensional (3D) analysis based on general 3D elasticity theory [TG].

Examples of these situations are found in solids with irregular shapes and in the study of prismatic solids with heterogeneous material properties or arbitrary loading. Figure 8.1 shows some examples of typical structures requiring a full 3D analysis.