Investigation of the accuracy and convergence of the results of thin shells analysis using the PRINS program

The theoretical foundations of compatible finite elements construction for static and dynamic analysis of single-layer and multilayer shells are discussed. These finite elements are implemented in the PRINS computer program. The paper presents verification tests to investigate the accuracy and convergence of the results of calculating various shells using these finite elements. Shell structures are widely used in various fields of technology - construction, mechanical engineering, aircraft construction, shipbuilding, etc. Specialists on the design and calculation of such structures need a reliable and accessible tool for the practical problems solving. Computer program PRINS can be one of such tools. It can be effectively used by engineers of design and scientific organizations to solve a wide class of engineering problems related to the calculations of shell structures. The paper describes the finite elements of the shells, implemented in the PRINS program. The results of verification calculations are presented, which confirm the high accuracy of this program.