A simplified formulation of a plate/shell element for geometrically nonlinear analysis of moderately large deflections with small rotations

This paper presents a total Lagrangian formulation of a plate/shell element for geometrically nonlinear analysis with the assumption of moderately large deflections but small rotations. Mallet and Marcal's nonlinear stiffness matrices [N1] and [N2] are derived explicitly by the procedure suggested by Rajasekaran and Murray for a four-node parallelogram isoparametric element with bilinear interpolation functions and an orthotropic constitutive relationship. The performance of the element based on this simplified formulation has been tested through a number of examples. It is concluded that this element offers potential for geometrically nonlinear analysis of large-scale practical structures. © 1989.