A Finite Difference Element Method for thin elastic Shells

Abstract

We present, in this paper, a four nodes quadrangular shell element (FDEM4) based on a Finite Difference Element Method procedure that we introduce. Its stability and robustness with respect to shear locking and membrane locking problems is discussed. Numerical tests including inhibited and non-inhibited cases of thin linear shells are presented and compared with widely used DKT and MITC4 elements