Nonlinear Finite Element Formulation for the Large Displacement Analysis of Plates

For each finite plate element an intermediate element coordinate system is introduced. This intermediate element coordinate system is used for the convenience of describing the configuration of the element with respect to the deformable body coordinate system in the undeformed state. The nonlinear dynamic equations are expressed in terms of a unique set of time invariant element matrices. The invariants of motion of the deformable body discretized using the plate elements are obtained by assembling the invariants of its elements