A new high-precision stress finite element for analysis of shell structures

A new high-precision finite element for analysis of shell structures is presented. It is derived from a slightly generalized equilibrium principle. Accordingly both stresses and displacements are obtained as primary result of analysis. At the assembly level the element has 45 degrees of freedom, all of them generalized displacements. For the price of some additional computational effort on the elemental level of analysis the proposed element is believed to gain certain advantages over the recently developed high-precision displacement elements. Thin as well as thick shell structures of arbitrary shape and loading can be equally analyzed. Engineering accuracy is attained with only very few elements. A variety of numerical examples demonstrates the applicability of the new element to all kinds of situations occuring in practice. A review of the existing high-precision shell elements is also included.