Nonlinear thin shell finite element with six degrees of freedom per node

Abstract This paper describes the features of the JET shell element, a new thin shell curved finite element, based on Marguerre's theory. The element is quadrilateral with corner nodes only; each node has six degrees of freedom, i.e. three translations and three rotations. We emphasize here the physical aspects rather than the equations and give an explanation of the element, choice, difficulties encountered and their solutions, the resulting element and its capabilities, through various examples in linear, nonlinear and instability analysis.