Geometrically nonlinear analysis of FGM shells using solid-shell element with parabolic shear strain distribution

This paper presents a modified first-order enhanced solid-shell element formulation with an imposed parabolic shear strain distribution through the shell thickness in the compatible strain part. Moreover, zero transverse shear stress on the top and bottom surfaces of the shell is satisfied exactly and the shear correction factors is no longer needed. Furthermore, the developed solid-shell element allows an efficient and accurate analysis of functionally graded material shells under geometric nonlinear static conditions. A simple power-law functionally graded distribution of the shells along the thickness direction is considered. The validity and accuracy of the developed solid-shell element are illustrated through the solution of several known problems taken from the literature. The influences of power-law index on the nonlinear static behavior of the FGM shells are discussed.