Rotation-free element for finite strain analysis of elastic-plastic thin shell and membrane structures

FLORES FERNANDO G.; OÑATE EUGENIO

Barcelona

Congreso; Structural Membranes 2003; 2003

Unversitat Politécnica de Cataluya

This paper shows applications of a recently developed shell element to the analysis of thin shell and membrane structures. The element is a three node triangle with only translational DOFs (rotation free) that uses the configuration of the three side elements to evaluate the strains. This allows to compute (constant) bending strains and (linear) membrane strains. A total Lagrangian formulation is used. Strains are defined in terms of the principal stretches, that allows to consider rubber materials and other type of materials using the Hencky stress-strain pair. An explicit central difference scheme is used to integrate the the momentum equations. Several examples to show the excellent convergence properties and robustness of the element are presented.