A four-node inverse curved shell element coupling MITC method for deformation reconstruction of plate and shell structures

In the field of structural deformation monitoring, the inverse finite element method (iFEM) has significant engineering value as a structural health monitoring technique that provides timely and reliable warnings for shell structures. However, existing inverse finite elements are mainly based on first-order shear deformation theory and kirchhoff–love theory, which are not suitable for deformation reconstruction in plate and shell structures of arbitrary thickness. This study integrates iFEM with the Mixed Interpolation of Tensorial Components (MITC) method to develop a novel four-node quadrilateral inverse curved shell element, named iMICS(inverse Mixed Interpolation Curved Shell)4, aimed at enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of deformation reconstruction in complex plate and shell structures. The method uses the MITC4 shell element as the kinematic framework and applies the least squares variational principle to achieve deformation reconstruction, effectively alleviating shear and membrane locking issues across structures of varying thickness. Numerical examples validate the superior performance of the iMICS4 element, demonstrating its promising application prospects.