DYNAMIC RESPONSE OF THIN COMPOSITE SHELLS EXPERIENCING NON-LINEAR ELASTIC DEFORMATIONS COUPLED WITH LARGE AND RAPID OVERALL MOTIONS

This study presents a transient non-linear finite element analysis within the realm of a multibody dynamics formalism. The governing equations are derived using the concept of virtual work. Unlike others, this analysis includes the non-linear strain measure and rotation explicitly in order to capture the correct dynamic stiffening in anisotropic shells. The finite element analysis invokes the co-rotational form of the updated Lagrangian formulation and utilizes a flat shell element.