On the incremental equations in non-linear elasticity — I. Membrane theory

A new formulation of the equations of membrane theory in non-linear elasticity is described. It is based on the consistent use of certain conjugate variables averaged through the (undeformed) thickness of the thin shell which the membrane approximates. The deformation gradient is taken as the basic measure of deformation, and its average value as the membrane measure of deformation. It is shown that the average elastic strain energy can be regarded as a function of the average deformation gradient to within an error which is of the second order in a certain small parameter. Moreover, to the same order, the average strain energy is a potential function for the average nominal stress. This means that the averages of the conjugate variables (nominal stress and deformation gradient) are also conjugate.In terms of the average conjugate variables, the membrane equilibrium equations are obtained by averaging from the equilibrium equations of the full three-dimensional theory. Discussion of the order of magnitude of the errors involved in the membrane approximation is a feature of the analysis.The corresponding incremental equations are also derived as a prelude to their application in certain bifurcation problems. One such problem is examined in the companion paper (Part II) in which results for thick shells and membranes are compared.