Based on purely kinematical considerations the possibility of inextensional bending is introduced to isoparametric curved C° elements, which, otherwise, are plagued by severe membrane (and shear) locking. The analysis is restricted to arches and axisymmetric deformations of shells, i.e. kinematically two-dimensional problems. The results show exceptionally good accuracy. High reliability of the approach is guaranteed by absence of spurious kinematic modes on the element level, which complements its ability to bend inextensionally (in the case of arches).

The mode-decomposition,C° formulation of curved, two-dimensional structural elements

A finite element technique for thin-walled girders

Stress analysis of the ring in continuously variable transmission mechanism

The Hellinger–Reissner generalized variational principle is used to deduce further principles directed especially towards formulation of high integrity finite elements for plates and curved shells in polynomial parametric representation. Assumed stresses in these principles are derived from displacements and supplemented with stresses derived from stress functions.

L.S.D. Morley

Papers

Inextensional bending of a shell triangular element in quadratic parametric representation

Inextensional bending in shells of explicit cubic representation