BENCHMARKS GUIDE

The Standard NAFEMS Benchmarks:

Linear Elastic Tests

Converged StressCheck® results are provided for the Linear Elastic

Test benchmark models referenced in “The Standard NAFEMS
Benchmarks”, Rev. 3, October 1990

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STRESSCHECK® BENCHMARKS GUIDE
THE STANDARD NAFEMS BENCHMARKS - LINEAR ELASTIC TESTS

About The StressCheck® Results....................................................................................................................................3

StressCheck® Minimum Mesh vs. Dense Mesh .........................................................................................................3
StressCheck® Convergence Graphs ...........................................................................................................................3
StressCheck® Results Tables......................................................................................................................................3
NAFEMS LE1: Plane Stress– Elliptic Membrane .............................................................................................................4
Model Description .....................................................................................................................................................4
NAFEMS Reference Solution .....................................................................................................................................4
StressCheck® Results .................................................................................................................................................5
NAFEMS LE2: Cylindrical Shell Bending Patch Test ........................................................................................................8
Model Description .....................................................................................................................................................8
NAFEMS Reference Solution .....................................................................................................................................8
StressCheck® Results .................................................................................................................................................9
NAFEMS LE3: Hemispherical shell with point loads ....................................................................................................12
Model Description ...................................................................................................................................................12
NAFEMS Reference Solution ...................................................................................................................................12
StressCheck® Results ...............................................................................................................................................13
NAFEMS LE5: Z-section Cantilever ...............................................................................................................................15
Model Description ...................................................................................................................................................15
NAFEMS Reference Solution ...................................................................................................................................15
StressCheck® Results ...............................................................................................................................................16
NAFEMS LE6: Skew Plate Under Normal Pressure ......................................................................................................19
Model Description ...................................................................................................................................................19
NAFEMS Reference Solution ...................................................................................................................................19
StressCheck® Results ...............................................................................................................................................20
NAFEMS LE7: Axisymmetric Cylinder/Sphere Under Pressure ....................................................................................23
Model Description ...................................................................................................................................................23
NAFEMS Reference Solution ...................................................................................................................................23
StressCheck® Results ...............................................................................................................................................24
NAFEMS LE8: Axisymmetric Shell Under Pressure ......................................................................................................26
Model Description ...................................................................................................................................................26

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 NAFEMS Reference Solution ...................................................................................................................................26
StressCheck® Results ...............................................................................................................................................27
NAFEMS LE10: Thick Plate Under Pressure .................................................................................................................29
Model Description ...................................................................................................................................................29
NAFEMS Reference Solution ...................................................................................................................................29
StressCheck® Results ...............................................................................................................................................30
NAFEMS LE11: Solid Cylinder/Taper/Sphere – Temperature Loading ........................................................................32
Model Description ...................................................................................................................................................32
NAFEMS Reference Solution ...................................................................................................................................32
StressCheck® Results ...............................................................................................................................................33

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ABOUT THE STRESSCHECK® RESULTS

The following StressCheck® results were generated using StressCheck® Professional v10.3 (Build 40322). Learn
more about StressCheck’s Numerical Simulation Technology, including how the degrees of freedom (DOF) are
increased on a fixed mesh until convergence is achieved.

STRESSCHECK® MINIMUM MESH VS. DEN SE MESH

The authors define “Minimum Mesh” as the least-refined mesh required to achieve numerical convergence within
1% of the target extraction, and “Dense Mesh” as an overly-refined mesh relative to the “Minimum Mesh” to
demonstrate that adding more elements produced insignificant changes in the target extraction.

 The “Minimum Mesh” for each benchmark was determined by first generating the minimum number of
elements (either manually or using our automatic mesh generator) required to fill the geometric domain.
We then increased the DOF on this fixed mesh by p-extension and determined if convergence within 1%
of the target extraction was achieved.
o If not, the mesh was refined accordingly until convergence was achieved with the fewest possible
elements. Note: in most cases only one iteration of mesh refinement was needed.
 The “Dense Mesh” is provided for comparative purposes to show that the approximation of the solution
was already achieved for the Minimum Mesh within the required error tolerance.

STRESSCHECK® CONVERGENCE GRAPHS

Numerical convergence was evaluated independently of the NAFEMS reference solutions, hence StressCheck®
results for each fixed mesh included graphical convergence evidence to automatically quantify the discretization
error in the target extraction. Note: graph numbering (e.g. Graph10) is inconsequential to this report.

Converged StressCheck® results for the solution with highest DOF are extracted from each graph and reported in
the StressCheck® results table. Note: the estimated limit in each graph is for reference only and should not be
reported for the target extraction.

Remark: the discretization error was reported to be < 1% for all StressCheck® results in all benchmark models.

STRESSCHECK® RESULTS TABLES

Each StressCheck® result table row includes the following information:

 Element topology
 Number of elements for the Minimum Mesh of the element topology
 Converged StressCheck® result for the Minimum Mesh, with the relative % difference between the
converged StressCheck® result and the NAFEMS reference benchmark solution.
 Number of elements for the Dense Mesh of the element topology
 Converged StressCheck® result for the Dense Mesh, with the relative % difference between the converged
StressCheck® result and the NAFEMS reference benchmark solution.

Remark: the StressCheck® results and the NAFEMS reference benchmark solutions differed by < 3% for all
benchmarks.

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NAFEMS LE1: PLANE STRESS– ELLIPTIC MEMBRANE

MODEL DESCRIPTION

 Plane stress problem with elliptic boundaries defined by ABCD.

o Functions defining the shape of the ellipses BC and AD are given in the figure above.
 Linear elastic analysis, Young's modulus = 210 GPa, Poisson's ratio = 0.3.
 Symmetry boundary conditions along AB and DC.
 Uniform outward pressure of 10 MPa at outer edge BC.
 Objective of the analysis is to compute the tangential edge stress (y) at point D.

NAFEMS REFERENCE SOL UTION

 Tangential edge stress at point D is 92.7 MPa.

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STRESSCHECK® RESULTS

Minimum Dense
Element Solution Solution
Mesh Mesh

92.75 MPa 92.70 MPa

Quad 4 elements 144 elements
(0.05%) (0.00%)

92.84 MPa 92.66 MPa

Tri 6 elements 216 elements
(0.15%) (-0.04%)

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 Figure 1: Convergence evidence for minimum quad mesh.

Figure 2. Convergence evidence for dense quad mesh.

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 Figure 3. Convergence evidence for minimum tri mesh

Figure 4. Convergence evidence for dense tri mesh

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NAFEMS LE2: CYLINDRICAL SHELL BENDING PATCH TEST

MODEL DESCRIPTION

 Theta = 30 sector of cylindrical shell with a constant thickness T = 10 mm.

 Linear elastic analysis, Young's modulus = 210 GPa, Poisson's ratio = 0.3.
 Fixed (clamped) boundary conditions along edge AB.
 Symmetry boundary conditions along edges AD and BC.
 Uniform bending moment of 1000 N-mm/unit length along edge DC.
 Objective of the analysis is the outer surface tangential stress.

NAFEMS REFERENCE SOL UTION

 Outer surface tangential stress is 60 MPa.

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STRESSCHECK® RESULTS

Minimum Dense
Element Solution Solution
Mesh Mesh

59.81 MPa 59.80 MPa

Quad 1 element 121 elements
(-0.3%) (-0.3%)

59.81 MPa 59.82 MPa

Tri 2 elements 200 elements
(-0.3%) (-0.3%)

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 Figure 5. Convergence evidence for minimum quad mesh

Figure 6. Convergence evidence for dense quad mesh

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 Figure 7. Convergence evidence for minimum tri mesh

Figure 8. Convergence evidence for dense tri mesh

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NAFEMS LE3: HEMISPHERICAL SHELL WITH POINT LOADS

MODEL DESCRIPTION

 90 sector of hemispherical shell of R = 10 m with a constant thickness T = 0.04 m.

 Linear elastic analysis, Young's modulus = 68.25 GPa, Poisson's ratio = 0.3.
 Uz = 0 at point E.
 Symmetry boundary conditions along edges AE and CE.
 Concentrated point loads of Fx = 2 kN at point A, Fy = -2 kN at point C.
 Objective of the analysis is to compute the radial displacement at point A.

NAFEMS REFERENCE SOL UTION

 Radial displacement at point A is 185 mm.

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STRESSCHECK® RESULTS

Minimum Dense
Element Solution Solution
Mesh Mesh

184.3 mm 184.4 mm
Quad/Tri 16 elements 64 elements
(-0.4%) (-0.3%)

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 Figure 9. Convergence evidence for minimum quad/tri mesh

Figure 10. Convergence evidence for dense quad/tri mesh

Note: Point loads are inadmissible input data for hierarchic shell models because the strain energy associated with
a point load is not finite and therefore the corresponding displacements cannot be finite. However when point loads
are used for computing displacements (as in this benchmark problem) the divergence in the data of interest is
extremely slow and the reported results compare well with the reference solution.

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NAFEMS LE5: Z-SECTION CANTILEVER

MODEL DESCRIPTION

 Z-section cantilever under torsional loading.

 Linear elastic analysis, Young's modulus = 210 GPa, Poisson's ratio = 0.3.
 All displacements are fixed at X=0.
 Torque of 1.2 MN-m applied at X=10.
o The torque is applied by two uniformly distributed shear loads of 0.6 MN at each flange surface.
 Objective of the analysis is to compute the axial stress at X = 2.5 from fixed end.

NAFEMS REFERENCE SOL UTION

 Axial stress at X = 2.5 from fixed end (point A) at the midsurface is -108 MPa.

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STRESSCHECK® RESULTS

Minimum Dense
Element Solution Solution
Mesh Mesh

-109.8 MPa -109.5 MPa

Hexa 20 elements 78 elements
(1.7%) (1.4%)

-109.3 MPa -109.5 MPa

Tetra 136 elements 1186 elements
(1.2%) (1.4%)

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 Figure 11. Convergence evidence for minimum hexa mesh

Figure 12. Convergence evidence for a dense hexa mesh

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 Figure 13. Convergence evidence for minimum tetra mesh

Figure 14. Convergence evidence for dense tetra mesh

Note: Hexas/tetras were used for this benchmark as StressCheck® does not implement slope-discontinuous shells.

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NAFEMS LE6: SKEW PLATE UNDER NORMAL PRESSURE

MODEL DESCRIPTION

 Skew plate under normal pressure.

 Linear elastic analysis, Young's modulus = 210 GPa, Poisson's ratio = 0.3.
 Uz = 0 along edges AB, BC, CD, and AD.
 Ux = Uy = 0 at point A and Uy = 0 at point B to prevent rigid body motion.
 Uniform pressure of -0.7 kPa in the vertical z-direction.
 Objective of the analysis is to compute the maximum principal stress on the lower surface at point E.

NAFEMS REFERENCE SOL UTION

 Maximum first principal stress on lower surface in the middle of the plate is 0.802 MPa.

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STRESSCHECK® RESULTS

Minimum Dense
Element Solution Solution
Mesh Mesh

0.820 MPa 0.820 MPa

Quad 64 elements 169 elements
(2.2%) (2.2%)

0.826 MPa 0.822 MPa

Tri 128 elements 254 elements
(2.9%) (2.5%)

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 Figure 15. Convergence evidence for minimum quad mesh

Figure 16. Convergence evidence for dense quad mesh

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 Figure 17. Convergence evidence for minimum tri mesh

Figure 18. Convergence evidence for dense tri mesh

Note: There are multiple corner singularities in the problem description that required graded meshing techniques
for convergence. This benchmark problem was solved using a 3D thin-solid formulation which may be different
from the plate model from which the analytical solution was obtained.

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NAFEMS LE7: AXISYMMETRIC CYLINDER/SPHERE UNDER PRESSURE

MODEL DESCRIPTION

 Axisymmetric thin-walled pressure vessel.

 Linear elastic analysis, Young's modulus = 210 GPa, Poisson's ratio = 0.3.
 Ur = 0 at point A.
 Uz = 0 at point F.
 Uniform internal pressure of 1.0 MPa.
 Objective of the analysis is to compute the axial stress on the outer surface at point D.

NAFEMS REFERENCE SOL UTION

 Axial stress on outer surface at R = 1.0125, Z = 1.4034 is 25.86 MPa.

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STRESSCHECK® RESULTS

Minimum Dense
Element Solution Solution
Mesh Mesh

25.27 MPa 25.27 MPa

Quad 5 elements 605 elements
(-2.3%) (-2.3%)

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 Figure 19. Convergence evidence for minimum quad mesh

Figure 20. Convergence evidence for dense quad mesh

Note: Axisymmetric shell theory was used in the original NAFEMS benchmark test. In StressCheck®, axisymmetric
solids were used to represent the model.

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NAFEMS LE8: AXISYMMETRIC SHELL UNDER PRESSURE

MODEL DESCRIPTION

 Axisymmetric shell under pressure.

 Linear elastic analysis, Young's modulus = 210 GPa, Poisson's ratio = 0.3.
 Uz = 0 at point A.
 Ur = 0 at point E.
 Uniform internal pressure of 1.0 MPa.
 Objective of the analysis is to compute the hoop stress on the outer surface at point D.

NAFEMS REFERENCE SOL UTION

 Hoop stress on the outer surface at 36 degrees from circle center is 94.55 MPa.

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STRESSCHECK® RESULTS

Minimum Dense
Element Solution Solution
Mesh Mesh

91.93 MPa 92.05 MPa

Quad 12 elements 48 elements
(-2.8%) (-2.6%)

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 Figure 21. Convergence evidence for minimum quad mesh

Figure 22. Convergence evidence for dense quad mesh

Note: Axisymmetric shell theory was used in the original NAFEMS benchmark test. In StressCheck®, axisymmetric
solids were used to represent the model.

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NAFEMS LE10: THICK PLATE UNDER PRESSURE

MODEL DESCRIPTION

 Thick plate under uniform pressure.

 Linear elastic analysis, Young's modulus = 210 GPa, Poisson's ratio = 0.3.
 Symmetry on faces DCD’C’ and ABA’B’.
 Ux = Uy = 0 on face BCB’C’.
 Z-displacement fixed along mid-plane of face BCB’C’
 Uniform normal pressure of 1.0 MPa on the upper surface of the plate.
 Objective of the analysis is to compute the direct stress at point D.

NAFEMS REFERENCE SOL UTION

 Direct stress in y-direction at point D is -5.38 MPa.

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STRESSCHECK® RESULTS

Minimum Dense
Element Solution Solution
Mesh Mesh

-5.24MPa -5.25 MPa

Hexa 32 elements 60 elements
(-2.6%) (-2.4%)

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 Figure 23. Convergence evidence for minimum hexa mesh

Figure 24. Convergence evidence for a dense hexa mesh

Note: Since constraints along a line are incompatible with 3D-elasticity, the StressCheck® results were obtained by
fixing the z-displacement of the face BCB’C’.

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NAFEMS LE11: SOLID CYLINDER/TAPER/SPHERE – TEMPERATURE LOADING

MODEL DESCRIPTION

 Solid cylinder/taper/sphere with applied temperature loading Δθ.

 Linear elastic analysis, Young's modulus = 210 GPa, Poisson's ratio = 0.3, coefficient of thermal expansion
= 2.3E–4/°C.
 Uz = 0 on the plane Z = 0.
 Ux = 0 on the plane X = 0.
 Uy = 0 on the plane Y = 0 and the face BCDE.
 Linear temperature gradient in the radial and axial directions is given by Δθ in the above figure.
 The objective of the analysis is to compute the direct stress y at point A.

NAFEMS REFERENCE SOL UTION

 Direct stress in y-direction at point A is -105 MPa.

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STRESSCHECK® RESULTS

Minimum Dense
Element Solution Solution
Mesh Mesh

-105.2 MPa -105.4 MPa

Hexa 8 elements 216 elements
(0.19%) (0.38%)

-105.5 MPa -105.4 MPa

Tetra 317 elements 3531 elements
(0.48%) (0.38%)

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 Figure 25. Convergence evidence for minimum hexa mesh

Figure 26. Convergence evidence for dense hexa mesh

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 Figure 27. Convergence evidence for minimum tetra mesh

Figure 28. Convergence evidence for dense tetra mesh

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