Development of solid-shell elements for large deformation simulation and springback prediction

Objective of the thesis is to develop a finite element that is effective for simulation of thin-walled behavior, such as in metal forming processes. The thesis includes six chapters and is structured as follows. The first chapter presents the objects for the research. The second chapter introduces background methods which will be incorporated in the solid-shell elements. The third chapter develops an alternative ANS technique and applies it to the solid-shell elements. As a result, in that chapter a new solid-shell element based on the alternative ANS technique is proposed. Elastic applications of the just developed solid-shell element are illustrated in Chapter 4. In Chapter 5, plasticity theory and numerical problems in plasticity deformation are presented. The thesis specially concentrates on treating a current industrial problem: spring back prediction. Results in Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed solid-shell element. Chapter 6 withdraws conclusions and then makes some remarkable future developments.