On a model of a flexural prestressed shell

E. Sanchez‐Palencia We derive a linearized prestressed elastic shell model from a nonlinear Kirchhoff model of elastic plates. The model is given in terms of displacement and micro‐rotation of the cross‐sections. In addition to the standard membrane, transverse shear, and flexural terms, the model also contains a nonstandard prestress term. The prestress is of the same order as flexural effects; hence, the model is appropriate when flexural effects dominate over membrane ones. We prove the existence and uniqueness of the solutions by Lax–Milgram theorem and compare solution with the solution of the standard shell model via numerical examples. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.