Some Recent Experiences on the Use of Penalty Constrints in Axissymetric thin Shell Analysis

Abstract

Penalty functions are used to enforce bending and continuity
constraints through modifying the Variational Indicator of thin
axissimetric shells. The procedure is found useful to enforce implicity rotational constraints in the formulation to impose interelement continuity and element end constraints. The resulting model procedure allows the removal of element rotation degree-of-freedom with full compatibility between shells of different curvatures at the elements adjoining node. While the process is approximate, good practical results can be obtained provided an appropriate numerical parameter is
employed and sufficient accuracy is available in the computer. The formulation has been implemented and test results of some sample problems are compared to other numerical or analytical solutions to show its effectiveness.