P. Boisse et al., A C(0) 3-NODE SHELL ELEMENT FOR NONLINEAR STRUCTURAL-ANALYSIS, International journal for numerical methods in engineering, 37(14), 1994, pp. 2339-2364
A C0 three-node shell finite element well suited to non-linear calcula
tions is proposed. The element is based on Mindlin kinematics and the
degenerated solid approach. Linear Lagrange functions are used for geo
metry and displacement interpolations. The formulation is made in the
natural material frame. A strain interpolation avoids shear locking an
d an intermediate material frame related to the element sides is intro
duced in order to fix nodal transverse shear strain components. The mo
difications of strain interpolations concern both the non-linear and l
inear parts of strain and are taken into account in all calculations,
among others in the expression of the initial stress stiffness matrix.
A single set of integration points on the normal at the centre of gra
vity is sufficient, which is very interesting for numerical efficiency
especially in the case of non-linear analyses.