Finite element analysis of laminated shells with exact through-thickness integration

The conventional degenerated shell element which involves numerical integration in three dimensions becomes inefficient when applied to multilayered shells. For the computational efficiency, layered element based on the explicit integration through thickness assumes importance. The explicit integration becomes possible due to the assumption concerning the variation of inverse Jacobian through the thickness. Depending on the level of approximation, whether linearly varying or constant Jacobian inverse along the thickness, three models are discussed. Examples of stress analysis and classical buckling are considered for the comparative studies relating to the computational efficiency and numerical accuracy. The model, which assumes linear variation of Jacobian inverse through thickness with further approximations is seen to be the best from numerical accuracy and computational efficiency points of view. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.