Cubic B-spline for finite element analysis of axisymmetric shells

Analysis of thin axisymmetric shells by means of finite elements based on cubic B-splines is described. The elements are isoparametric, i.e. both geometry and displacements are described by cubic B-splines. At the interior nodes of the meridian, the degrees of freedom are two nodal displacements. Three degrees of freedom are used at the edge nodes: two displacements and the rotation of the meridian. Since the spline interpolant has continuous first and second derivatives, meridional curvature and the bending moments at the interior nodes are also continuous. Three benchmark examples are solved with this element to demonstrate its capability.