Analysis of the transient response of shell structures by numerical methods.

This paper examines some basic considerations underlying dynamic shell response analysis and the impact of these considerations upon the practical aspects of solution by numerical methods. Emphasis is placed on the solution of linear problems. The present states of development of the finite difference and finite element methods are reviewed, and techniques for the treatment of temporal variation are discussed. An examination is made of the frequency parameters characteristic of thin shell theory, applied excitations, and spatial mesh geometries, and the significance of these parameters with respect to computational convergence is illustrated.