Static and dynamic analysis of isotropic shell structures by the spectral finite element method

Abstract

The paper deals with certain problems related to static and modal analysis of isotropic shell structures by the use of the approach known in the literature as the time-domain spectral finite element method. Although recently this spectral approach has been widely reported as a very powerful numerical tool used to solve various wave propagation problems, its properties make it very well suited to solve static and modal problems. The robustness and effectiveness of the spectral approach has been successfully demonstrated by the authors in the case of a thin-walled spherical shell structure representing a pressure vessel. Static and modal responses of the structure have been investigated by the use of transversally deformable shell-type spectral finite elements and the results of this investigation have been compared to known analytical solutions as well as those obtained by the use of commercially available software for the finite element method. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.