Simple and effective elements based upon Timoshenko-Mindlin shell theory (Q1348270)

Mixed finite element models are developed for analysis of multilayered anisotropic Timoshenko-Mindlin(-Reissner)-type shells. The effects of transverse shear and transverse normal strains, and laminated anisotropic material response are included. An accurate representation of rigid body motion in displacement patterns of curved shell elements is achieved by developing strain-displacement relations of Timoshenko-Mindlin-type theory which are consistent with the rigid body motions. The fundamental unknowns are six displacements and eleven strains of the face surfaces of the shell, and 11 stress resultants. The element characteristic matrices and vectors are obtained by using Hu-Washizu mixed variational principle. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed mixed models and to compare their performance with some other existing finite element models. An extension to nonlinear analysis appears to be promising.