Approximation of general shell problems by flat plate elements. I (Q912695)

In practice often general shell problems are approximated by triangular plate elements. However, mathematical studies about the behaviour of the approximation have been missing so far. The extensive paper by the authors deals with these problems using Koiter's general linear shell model. For this purpose the compatibility conditions are derived and - after evaluating the consistency errors - the convergence of the approximation is studied. For a class of shallow shells the ``pseudo- convergence'' is proved and error estimates are given. Finally a new method being convergent for any general thin shells without any geometrical restrictions is presented.