On variational principles and consistency of elasticity relations of thin shells (Q749310)

The article is based on the authors' previous papers about the vector- form description of the nonlinear theory of thin shells under small strains [the authors, e.g.: ibid. 23, No.1, 9-23 (1988; Zbl 0632.73003)]. It is demonstrated that the strain- and stress measures used in the equilibrium- and compatibility equations are consistent with the principle of virtual displacements (strains) and the (artificially constructed) incremental principle of virtual forces (stresses), i.e. these measures are conjugate quantities which are connected to each other by a material law. Based on this fact Koiter's strain energy is discussed and simplified leading to the linear constitutive equations. The complementary energy is considered additionally. There follow the applications of the consistent relations to the socalled semi-momentless theory (due to the first author) and the discussion of orthogonal coordinates and physical components.