On the choice of finite rotation parameters

In this work we discuss some aspects of the three-dimensional finite rotations pertinent to the formulation and computational treatment of the geometrically exact structural theories. Among various possibilities to parameterize the finite rotations, special attention is dedicated to a choice featuring an incremental rotation vector. Some computational aspects pertinent to the implementation of the Newton iterative scheme and the Newmark time-stepping algorithm applied to solving these problems are examined. Representative numerical simulations are presented in order to illustrate the performance of the proposed formulation.