APPLICATION OF SHELL THEORY TO STRUCTURAL PROBLEM USING THE FINITE ELEMENT
METHOD
Prefazione - Indice
Prefazione
This publication consists of the
lectures held at the CNUCE in June 1984 on the application of shell
theory to structural problems using the finite element method. The wide
scope of the subject and the limited time available forced us to carefully
select the 
topics
to be dealt with.
We were guided in this choice by the objective of giving the most unitary
view of the subject as possible, so that all of the hypotheses
presented at the base of the definition of the shell elements would be
justified in the previous pages.
In particular, the thin shell and the thick shell elements are deduced
from a single general theory, introducing several simplifying hypotheses.
The first two chapters are dedicated to the general shell theory and
to several indispensable references to classic differential geometry.
Afterwards, a conforming element is described in detail which, besides
having execellent, practical perjormances, constitutes a significant example
of application of the thin shell theory.
In the fourth chapter, we have tried to justify 'heuristically' all
the numerical tricks or, as Strang says, the variational crimes necessary
far the jormulation oj the nonconjorming elements described in chapters
five and six.
The last two chapter contain some examples of application which allow
comparison with the difjerent behavior oj the elements described in the
preceding chapters; in some simple cases, even the formal solution has
been reported.
The numerical examples were obtained using the MARC program which is
available at this institute, but the elements utilized are also found
in the libraries of other public programs.
Throughout the report we have tried to present the subject in simple
form, sometimes neglecting a more rigorous approach; however, the reader
who is interested in a better knowledge of the topic will find some bibliographical
indications at the end of each chapter.
The Editors wish to express many thanks to the Professor Piero Villaggio
for his seminars on Shell Theory.
THE EDITORS
