Isogeometric analysis of shells

The aim of this thesis is the development of a computational platform for the analysis of thin curved structures using the method of isogeometric analysis. Isogeometric analysis is an innovative method that integrates CAD – CAE, resulting in the same model being used in both design and analysis. In this project, analysis is carried out using Kirchhoff-Love shell elements employing NURBS as shape functions. NURBS provide an exact geometric representation of complex geometries hence resulting in smooth geometries, consistent with the requirements of the Kirchhoff-Love shell theory. The behavior of the structure is described using only displacement degrees of freedom. The method employed assumes linear elasticity and small strain kinematics. Design is performed at the visual programming environment “Dynamo” and the code used for the analysis was developed in the high-level language and interactive environment “Matlab”. Finally, the accuracy of the developed numerical framework is examined through a set of illustrative benchmarks.The aim of this thesis is the development of a computational platform for the analysis of thin curved structures using the method of isogeometric analysis. Isogeometric analysis is an innovative method that integrates CAD – CAE, resulting in the same model being used in both design and analysis. In this project, analysis is carried out using Kirchhoff-Love shell elements employing NURBS as shape functions. NURBS provide an exact geometric representation of complex geometries hence resulting in smooth geometries, consistent with the requirements of the Kirchhoff-Love shell theory. The behavior of the structure is described using only displacement degrees of freedom. The method employed assumes linear elasticity and small strain kinematics. Design is performed at the visual programming environment “Dynamo” and the code used for the analysis was developed in the high-level language and interactive environment “Matlab”. Finally, the accuracy of the developed numerical framework is examined through a set of illustrative benchmarks.