A SIMPLE CORRECTION TO THE FIRST ORDER SHEAR DEFORMATION SHELL FINITE ELEMENT FORMULATIONS

The present work concentrates on the development of correct representation of the transverse shear strains and stresses in Mindlin type displacement based shell finite elements. The formulation utilizes the robust standard first order shear deformation shell finite element for implementation of the proposed representation of the transverse shear stresses and strains. In this manner the need for the shear correction factor is eliminated. In addition, modification to any existing shell finite element for the correct representation of transverse shear quantities is minimal. Some modifications to correct Mindlin type elements are presented in the literature. These modifications correct the distribution of the transverse shear stresses only and use the constant transverse shear strains through the thickness. As compared to the above, the present formulation uses the correct distribution and is consistent for both transverse shear stresses as well as transverse shear strains.