On the calculation of limit and bifurcation points in stability problems of elastic shells (Q2265860)

With the progress in computer technology the following question is becoming more and more important: Is it possible to compute limit and bifurcation points for nonlinear partial differential equations? And secondly, if the answer is yes, how can it be done? The author shows in this clearly written paper that many theoretical results from functional analysis are directly applicable to set up computational algorithms to calculate certain simple types of singular points and branches of solutions emanating from bifurcation points. Applications are given for the classical buckling problem of a clamped shallow spherical shell.