Studies of finite element procedures-stress band plots and the evaluation of finite element meshes

We describe a visual method-stress band plots-for displaying the stress solution within a two-dimensional finite element mesh. The stress band plots differ from conventional stress contour plots because stress band plots display unaveraged stresses (the stresses are computed directly from the solution variables) and stress discontinuities in the finite element solution are directly displayed. Stress band plots are useful in judging the accuracy of a finite element solution, in the comparison of different finite element solutions and during mesh refinement. These uses are demonstrated in an axisymmetric pressure vessel analysis.