Coupled deformations of elastic curves and surfaces

An equilibrium theory for the coupled finite deformations of elastic curves and surfaces is described. Possible wrinkling of the curve or surface is taken into account by using a relaxed version of the theory obtained from minimum energy considerations. The relaxed theory admits a dual formulation leading to extremum principles and uniqueness of the equilibrium stress distribution. A number of examples are treated using spatial finite differences together with a dynamic relaxation method .in which equilibrium configurations are obtained in the long-time limit of a damped dynamical problem. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.