Plates and shells are fundamental components in most areas of structural engineering, and their analysis and design pose severe challenges to engineers, particularly in the area of aeronautics where structures need to be light. The basic equations describing the behaviour of shells are well-established [1]. However, their solution in practical applications is formidable, and thence a numerical solution is usually required. The finitie element method is today the dominant method used for solving a vast range of practical engineering problems. Given its motivation and origins in structural engineering applications [7], it is not surprising that plate and shell analysis has occupied a pivotal role in the development of finite element theory [8].
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