Implementation of shell and beam elements

[alexanderkjellgren]

I would like to implement Mindlin-Reissner shell elements (2D elements in 3D space) and Timoshenko beam elements (1D elements in 3D space).

Is this possible and where is a good point to start?
Would it be possible to connect beam and shell elements into a structure?

Thanks!

/AK

[tzanio]

There are several other groups interested in this. I will CC them below to get their input:

• @tupek2
• @mehranmfe

[mehranmfe]

We recently implemented the MITC shell element in our in-house library, which is built on MFEM. Our approach is an 'engineering' implementation rather than a 'mathematical' one, as we did not leverage MFEM's existing integrators to construct the elemental stiffness matrix. Currently, our shell element supports only linear triangular elements.