This study was intended to contribute to the development of more rational practical methods for predicting the transient responses of structures which are subjected to transient and impact loads. Attention is restricted to the global structural response; local (or stress-wave- induced) response is not included. The use of higher-order assumed- displacement finite elements (FE) is investigated to seek more efficient and accurate strain predictions; these studies were carried out for 2-d structural deformations typical of beams and curved rings to minimize cost and labor. These studies were done in conjunction with the use of various approximations to the nonlinear strain-displacement relations since large deflections and rotations need to be taken into account. Transient large-deflection elastic-plastic structural response predictions are made for these various FE models for impulsively-loaded beams and a free initially-circular ring, for which high quality experimental measurements of strains and deflections are available. From comparisons of (a) predictions with each other for the various FE models investigated and (b) predictions vs. experimental data, it appears to be more efficient for the same number of degree-of-freedom (DOF) unknowns to use the simple 4 DOF/node elements rather than fewer of the more sophisticated 8 DOF/node elements although the latter provide a physically superior and more realistic distribution of strain along the structural span at any given time instant compared with the use of the 4 DOF/N elements. Comparisons of measured with predicted transient strain and final deformation of a thin aluminum beam with both ends clamped and impacted at midspan by a 1-inch diameter steel sphere show very good agreement. Extensions to the present analysis to accommodate more general types of fragments and fragment-impacted structures are discussed briefly.
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