Finite element analysis of compressible transversely isotropic hyperelastic shells (Q6098729)

A finite element analysis of shells made of a transversely isotropic hyperelastic material is considered. The development of the low-order finite shell element enriched by schemes of alleviation of locking is presented in the article. The higher-order shell model for transversely isotropic hyperelastic materials is used. The result of the research is the finite element which can be adopted to analyze states of thin or thick shells. The 12-parameter finite shell element based on the approximation of displacement is prone to three types of locking involving transverse shear locking, membrane locking and curvature-displacement locking. The first two ones are alleviated here and the last one is bypassed here. The weak form of equations associated with shells was obtained through the principle of virtual work, and remedies for overcoming membrane locking and curvature locking were used for elaboration of the four-node finite shell element. In some numerical examples the good properties of the developed shell element were shown.