Application of transversely isotropic materials to multi-layer shell elements undergoing finite rotations and large strains

The contribution deals with an extension of a classical Neo–Hookean model for compressible isotropic materials to transverse isotropy. With this enhancement for one preferred material direction there is a possibility to simulate large strains in volume changes of the isotropic basic continuum and supplementary in fiber direction. The integrity basis of polynomial invariants in case of transversely isotropic hyperelasticity consists of three principal invariants of the isotropic basic continuum and additionally of two principal invariants for the preferred material direction. The proposed stored energy function for transverse isotropy contains the classical theory near to the natural state and fulfills the restriction on polyconvexity and coerciveness.By numerical enforcement of the material model into shell kinematics without rotational variables a four-node isoparametric finite element is developed using special concepts to avoid locking. The capability of the algorithms proposed is demonstrated by a numerical example involving large strains as well as finite rotations.