Question:
Which bending theory should be used for the calculation of plates and shells - Kirchhoff or Mindlin?
Answer:
In the "Calculation Parameters" dialog box, you can select between both bending theories (see Image 01).
In the calculation according to Mindlin, shear force deformations are included; according to Kirchhoff, they are not taken into account. This means: the Mindlin theory leads to more precise results in the case of thicker plates and shells, the Kirchhoff theory in the case of thin elements.