FINITE-ELEMENT METHOD FOR LARGE DISPLACEMENT AND LARGE STRAIN ELASTOPLASTIC ANALYSIS OF SHELL STRUCTURES AND SOME APPLICATION OF DAMAGE MECHANICS

The discrete Kirchhoff theory is generalized to the analysis for larger displacement/ rotation and large strain elasto-plastic response of general shell structures. In the analysis the updated Lagrangian incremental Jaumann stress formulation, flow theory of plasticity coupled with ductile damage and Von Mises yield condition are adopted. Not only the nodal coordinates but the surface area and the thickness of the elements are updated after each incremental loading step. A circumferentially through-wall cracked pipe and a circumferentially through-wall notched pipe under four-point bending load were analysed and compared with experimental data, a better agreement than the results of fracture mechanics have been shown. © 1990.