Nonlinear problems of connecting composite spatial bodies and thin shells, and variational methods for their solution (Q1083282)

The author considers the problem of connecting composite spatial bodies (f.i. Kirchhoff-Love-shells) for the case of finite deformations. The problem is governed by the statical and kinematical field equations of the individual bodies, the external boundary conditions and the interelement conditions. All these relations turn out to be the Euler equations of a certain generalized variational problem which takes into account possible discontinuities at the interelement boundaries, and which is due to \textit{W. Prager} [Z. Angew. Math. Phys. 18, 301-311 (1967; Zbl 0155.521)] for the linear problem and to \textit{S. Nemat-Nasser} [Q. Appl. Math. 30, 143-156 (1972; Zbl 0253.73003)] for the nonlinear one. The admissible functions need not to satisfy the interelement conditions. The formal application to shell problems is sketched.