A constrained Cosserat shell model up to order \(O(h^5)\): modelling, existence of minimizers, relations to classical shell models and scaling invariance of the bending tensor (Q824141)

The unconstrained Cosserat shell model is presented. The corresponding geometrically nonlinear constrained Cosserat shell model is developed which contains several strong symmetry requirements of strain and bending-curvature tensors. The authors propose also a modified shell model in which certain symmetry requirements are neglected. It is established that the constrained Cosserat shell model includes a bending tensor which always couples bending and membrane effects. The new bending tensor satisfies a generalized invariance condition, which is proposed here. The new invariance condition for bending tensors is discussed because the strain measures in the constrained Cosserat shell model can be entirely expressed through classical quantities (first and second fundamental forms of the shell surface). Some connections to existing models and classical shell strain measures are viewed. Comparisons of the resulting model with other classical models, like the Koiter shell model, are provided.