Finite elements for analysis of sheet forming processes

On the basis of a brief critical review the development of finite elements techniques for the analysis of plates and shells is described. It is shown that frequently one of the most universal and effective thin-walled finite elements methods the degenerated element based on the Timoshenko-Mindlin hypotheses. The application of the finite element method to the analysis of thin-walled structures is illustrated on the problem of hydrostatical forming of a clamped square plate.