On a finite disk method for hyperelastic rods and shells (Q922044)

This paper formulates a finite element method, called finite disk method, because the disk is used as the element, for the simplest models of rods and shells. The deformation fields and the acceleration fields of the disk can be expressed in terms of six vector parameters of the disk. Using these expression for each disk, the weak forms of the field equations are integrated, disk-by-disk and then the results over all disks are summed to get the corresponding field equations for the vectors parameters for a rod or a shell. Solutions to those field equations constitute the approximate solutions to several elastostatic and elastodynamic problems of these types of structures.