A Linear Isotropic Cosserat Shell Model Including Terms up to $O(h^{5})$. Existence and Uniqueness

Abstract

In this paper we derive the linear elastic Cosserat shell model incorporating in the variational problem effects up to order $O(h^{5})$ in the shell thickness $h$ as a particular case of the recently introduced geometrically nonlinear elastic Cosserat shell model. The existence and uniqueness of the solution is proven in suitable admissible sets. To this end, inequalities of Korn-type for shells are established which allow to show coercivity in the Lax-Milgram theorem. We are also showing an existence and uniqueness result for a truncated $O(h^{3})$ model. Main issue is the suitable treatment of the curved reference configuration of the shell. Some connections to the classical Koiter membrane-bending model are highlighted.