A new C1 4-node flat laminated shell element based on a generalized plate formulation

Abstract

The performance of an element with C1 continuity in the thickness direction was investigated within the scope of unified plate and shell formulations considering skew elements and the shear locking problem. A remedy for the shear locking pathology was found in the form of an algorithm which applies a penalty factor when the element is thinner than 𝐿𝐸 ∕𝐻 = 2. Moreover, the proposed test cases showed the ability of Caliri’s Generalized Formulation - CGF to better control the through-the-thickness behavior of the structure at the boundary conditions. Consistent results were obtained even for skew meshes and laminated shells.