Dangers inherited in shells optimized with linear assumptions

This paper provides the background theory and results of an investigation i nto the dangers inherited in the shells optimized using linear elastic, sma ll displacement, Reissner-Mindlin shell models with shape and/or size desig n variables. The Various tools developed and utilized in this study are bri efly described and include computational geometric modelling, automatic mes h generation, finite element analysis, design sensitivity analysis and math ematical programming procedures. In the subsequent studies, once the optima l shape and thickness distributions of the shell have been determined, the non-linear buckling loads of the initial and optimized shells are investiga ted using a geometrically nonlinear analysis tool capable of dealing with c omplex load-displacement paths including snap-through and snap back. (C) 20 00 Civil-Comp Ltd. and Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.