This paper on "Adaptive Finite Element Analysis of Shells Using Local Mesh Refinement Techniques" was presented at the 5th International Conference on Reliability of Finite Element Methods for Engineering Applications - 10-12 May 1995, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Abstract

In this paper, a local mesh refinement technique in an h version adaptive procedure is globally reviewed. For 2D and 3D analyses using lower order continuum elements, linear constraint equations must be set up to enforce a continuous displacement field at interfaces of areas with different mesh densities. By taking into account geometric information, newly created nodes can be carefully positioned in order to describe the physical structure accurately. It is shown, however, that for lower order shell elements the derivation of constraint equations is more difficult, due to the differences between membrane and bending behaviour of shells. Moreover, additional complications occur when newly created nodes are positioned on geometric entities. This has led to the development of modified constraint equations for a quadrilateral thick shell element and a modified mesh refinement scheme for a triangular thin shell element. Their performance is illustrated by means of a number of examples.