Finite Element Modeling in Petroleum Road Tankers Using MATLAB®

This work has used the Gallerkin finite element method in the presentation of in-plane displacements and Von–mises stresses analyses in petroleum road tankers. MATLAB® plotting capability and computational tools were used to generate geometrical mesh model suitable for the finite element analysis with a special chapter devoted to 3-D geometry modeling and point extraction for FE modeling. Element coordinates of the mesh model were extracted and used to conduct finite element analysis. Elliptical and circular section tankers were used for the analysis. Codes used for the modeling are placed in the book. Exercises are given to help the reader familiarize with 3-D geometry modeling and code writing using MATLAB® and results of exercises are placed at the back of the book. Codes used in the modeling of the tankers are presented as well and can be run in stages to follow the modeling procedure.