A field-consistent, four-noded, laminated, anisotropic plate/shell element

Abstract

The development of simple but efficient and accurate finite-element models of laminated, anisotropic plate and shell behaviour has been particularly difficult because of two problems relating to the use of shear deformable theory to describe the elasticity and a description in curvilinear geometry for the shell action. A fuller understanding of these problems has been possible recently, in terms of the 'field-consistency' approach. In this paper we examine the problems mentioned earlier in this context and develop and test an accurate and reliable element with four nodes and five degrees of freedom at each node, the in-plane displacements u and v, the transverse displacement w, and section rotations θ_x and θ_y. The element offered here is seen to be very reliable and efficient and should be the simplest displacement type element of its class. Its convergence properties are insensitive to thickness ratio, degree of anisotropy and extent of inextensional bending action in a shell configuration.