Automatic adaptation of an integration formula in thickness direction for solid‐shell elements

Abstract

In the simulation of shell problems in which plastic stresses in thickness direction are developed, the necessity of a more accurate integration through thickness using more integration points e.g. Gauss points becomes obvious, often increasing respectively the computational time and effort. A new algorithm is proposed for the automatic adaptation of the integration formula in thickness direction during the computation. Simple engineering criteria are found to define the time-point and the regions to increase the number of integration points.