Interactive-adaptive geometrically nonlinear analysis of shell structures

This paper presents an investigation of interactive-adaptive techniques for nonlinear finite element structural analysis. In particular, effective methods leading to reliable automated, finite element solutions of nonlinear shell problems are of primary interest here. This includes automated adaptive nonlinear solution procedures based on error estimation and adaptive step length control, reliable finite elements that account for finite deformations and finite rotations, three-dimensional finite element modeling, and an easy-to-use, easy-to-learn graphical user interface with three-dimensional graphics. A computational environment, which interactively couples a comprehensive geometric modeler, an automatic three-dimensional mesh generator and an advanced nonlinear finite element analysis program with real-time computer graphics and animation tools, is presented. Three examples illustrate the merit and potential of the approaches adopted here and confirm the feasibility of developing fully automated computer aided engineering environments.