A postprocess method for laminated shells with a doubly curved nine-noded finite element

A numerical method that predicts through-the-thickness stresses accurately by using in-plane displacement of Efficient Higher Order Shell Theory (EHOS T) as a postprocessor is implemented in nine-noded doubly curved shell elem ent. In the present study, an efficient postprocess method is developed in the framework of shell finite element without losing the accuracy of soluti ons. This method consists of two steps. First is to obtain the relationship between shear angles of First Order Shear Deformation Theory (FSDT) and EH OST. Second is to construct accurate displacement and stress fields from th e FSDT solution by using EHOST displacement fields as a postprocessor. To o btain accurate transverse shear stresses, integration of equilibrium equati on approach is used. In the course of calculating transverse shear stresses , the computation of third derivatives of transverse deflection is required . Simply supported curved panels and finite cylinder problems demonstrate e conomical and accurate solution of laminate composite shells provided by th e present method. The present postprocess method should work as an efficien t tool in the stress analysis of multilayered thick shells. (C) 2000 Elsevi er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.