Study and computational implementation of a FEM code to the analysis of plates and shells instability

Abstract

This study intents to initiate an aeronautical engineering undergraduate student in the development of computational codes to the geometrical non-linear analysis of plates and shells with critical loads evaluation. The critical loads will be achieved from eigen-value analyses by Lagrangean Finite Element Method formulation. The formulation will be studied and implemented by the student using MATLAB® and FORTRAN.Some basic concepts will be visited as: (I) objective strains measures, (II) Principle of Stationary Total Potential Energy, (III) non-linear systems convexity and (IV) stability and eigen-values. Representative examples will be solved to validate the implemented codes for both critical loads in undeformed configuration and los of stability ath the equilibrium path for large deformable structures. More than the development of the computational codes the student skills and sensibility will be developed.