Finite element analysis of curved beams

Curved beam structures play a vital role in many engineering applications, such as civil, mechanical, and aerospace engineering. Finite Element Analysis of curved beams poses unique challenges to obtain exact stiffness and mass matrices due to the combined effects of axial, shear and bending forces, along with geometric nonlinearity and material behavior. In this study, finite curved beam element and finite straight beam element were used to simulate a quarter-circular cantilever ring beam. This paper investigates the effect of the radius of curvature on axial, shear and rotational displacements obtained by the two approaches. A comparison between using the finite curved beam element and the finite straight beam element shows that the two methods provide very similar results when the curve radii are not big. Keywords: FEA, straight beam elements, curved beam elements, radius of curvature.