The relationship between geometric and mechanical properties of shell structures

Shell structures can be either calculated with complex mathematics and differential geometry, or with the help of finite element method (FEM) software. Neither method gives the designer sufficient insight about the behaviour of the shell in the early design stage. The first method is for most designers too complex, it requires proficiency in at...

From sequentially linear analysis to incremental sequentially linear analysis: Robust algorithms for solving the non-linear equations of structures of quasi-brittle materials

It is difficult to accurately predict the strength of masonry and concrete structures. The most widely used method for simulating their behaviour is finite element analysis with the Newton-Raphson method and arch length control. However, the Newton-Raphson method can diverge and not produce a result, for example in bifurcations or during snap...