An efficient hybrid/mixed element for geometrically non linear analysis of plate and shell structures

In this paper, a geometrically nonlinear hybrid/mixed curved quadrilateral shell element (HMSHEL4N) with four nodes is developed based on the modified Hellinger/Reissner variational principles. The performance of element is investigated and tested using some benchmark problems. A number of numerical examples of plate and shell nonlinear deflection problems are included. The results are compared with theoretical solutions and other numerical results. It is shown that HMSHEL4N does not possess spurious zero energy modes and any locking phenomenon, and is convergent and insensitive to the distorted mesh. A good agreement of the results with theoretical solutions, and better performance compared with displacement finite element method, are observed. It is seen that an efficient shell element based on stress and displacement field assumptions in solution and time is obtained