On an isoparametric finite-element for composite laminates with finite rotations (Q1311926)

The authors develop the special isoparametric finite element (f.e.) T5- IAS4 for the finite rotation f.e. analysis of arbitrary composite laminates. Special emphasis is taken to develop algorithms permitting the prediction of the real force distribution in strongly deformed shell structures. The new element T5-IAS4 is compared with the well-known finite shell elements NACS [\textit{R. Harte} and \textit{U. Eckstein}, Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng. 23, 367-384 (1986; Zbl 0585.73122)] and SDFR [\textit{Y. Basar, Y. Ding} and \textit{W. B. Krätzig}, Comput. Mech. 10, No. 3/4, 289-306 (1992; Zbl 0779.73055)] in a series of numerical experiments for different examples.