Versatile Variable-Node Flat-Shell Element

Abstract

A variable-node flat shell element is presented. The element has a variable number of midside nodes and each node has a drilling freedom. The element has been developed basically by combining a membrane element with drilling degrees of freedom and a plate bending element. Thus, the element possesses six degrees of freedom per node that, in addition to improvement of the element behavior, permit an easy connection to other six-degrees-of-freedom per node elements. By introducing the variable-node elements that have physical midside nodes, some difficulties associated with connecting the different layer patterns in the common adaptive