SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS IN POSTBUCKLING PROBLEMS OF SHELL STRUCTURES

In this study, a method to evaluate sensitivities in post-buckling ana lysis is developed. The gradients of load values obtained under severa l constraint conditions are discussed. Unlike other methods for sensit ivity analysis, the present method can cope with both snap-through and bifurcation problems without eigenvalue analysis. In addition, the lo ad sensitivity at arbitrary points on an equilibrium path can be calcu lated. Using the MITC4 shell element, several numerical examples, such as a bifurcation buckling and a snap-through analysis of shell struct ures, are solved to show the performance of this sensitivity analysis method.