Existence theorems for nonlinear shell models of Koiter’s type

Abstract

We first show that the minimization problem associated with the nonlinear shell model of W.T. Koiter becomes coercive over its natural space of admissible deformations when the third fundamental form is added to its functional. Then, under the assumption that the middle surface of the shell is a minimal surface, we approach this minimization problem by a new minimization problem that is well-posed over the same space of admissible deformations.