A new approach to the analysis of shells, plates and membranes with finite deflections

Abstract This paper presents a new perturbation method of analysis applicable to a class of geometrically non-linear problems of shells, plates, and membranes with translationally restrained edges. The perturbation parameter is a linear function of Poisson's ratio. The convergence of successive perturbations (i.e., approximations) is independent of the magnitudes of deflections. The method also offers a rational explanation of the efficacy of Berger's approximate equations, thus placing Berger's method on a firmer foundation while at the same time weakening his hypothesis of vanishing second membrane strain invariant in the strain energy integral. Several solutions and results are obtained for the purposes of illustration and discussion. Whenever possible, calculated values are compared with results obtained by other means.