ABSTRACT
The objective of this research report is the finite-element analysis of
dynamic instability phenomena of arbitrary shell structures subjected to
impulsive and monotonously increasing loads. A special attention is taken
to the consideration of the elasto-plastic material behaviour which can
affect the critical conditions, considerabely. The basis of the numerical
investigations is the principle of virtual work for a finite rotation the
ory, more exact its transformation by a variational procedure into an in
cremental formulation. By means of a finite-element displacement discreti
zation the incremental principle results into the tangential equation of
motion to be used for the numerical tracing of arbitrary nonlinear motions
caused, particularly, by the load classes mentioned above.
