NURBS-based analysis of higher-order composite shells

Isogeometric analysis (IGA) can represent general double-curved geometries very well, as opposed to the classic finite element method (FEM). A composite shell is introduced for a third-order shear deformation theory (TSDT) that achieves the C2 required continuity by the use of higher-order NURBS through a k-refinement strategy. The TSDT is therefore an approach that can be easily implemented in view of the IGA advantages. Numerical locking is moreover avoided by the use of higher-order NURBS. Here, linear static and dynamic analyses are performed and compared with some known analytical and FEM solutions to demonstrate the efficiency of isogeometric analysis for TSDT and for the most widely used equivalent single layer theories (ESL), that is, classical laminate theory (CLT) and first order shear deformation theory (FSDT).