Variational formulation in the geometrically nonlinear thin elastic shell theory (Q1082849)

The variational formulation for thin elastic shells undergoing large deflections is discussed. No restrictions are imposed on the magnitude of the rotational part of the deformation gradient, yet it is assumed that the strains remain small everywhere in the shell. Ten functionals and associated variational principles are derived, including the Hu-Washizu, the Hellinger-Reissner, the generalized complementary energy and the stationary potential energy principles. The total Lagrangian description (TLD) is exclusively used.