Remarks on Raasch’s Hook

Abstract

Finite Element’s designers have always been seeking for benchmarks to judge the capability and potentiality of a numerical method. Considering shell elements many benchmark tests have been established over the years. The Raasch challenge problem, a clamped curved hook with a tip in-plane shear load, acts as a very interesting benchmark of shell elements. The structure consists of two cylindrical shells with different curvatures. In this paper the problem is also modelled as a curved beam with a rectangular cross-section. The beam model is investigated analytically. Thus an analytical expression for the tip deflection can be obtained. Further on numerical calculations with 4-node-shell elements based on a director theory are carried out and verify the elements applicability.