Geometrically nonlinear multi-patch isogeometric analysis of spatial Euler–Bernoulli beam structures

Abstract This study presents a novel isogeometric Euler–Bernoulli beam formulation for geometrically nonlinear analysis of multi-patch structures. The proposed is derived from the three-dimensional continuum theory where axis and director vectors cross-sections are used to characterize configurations. translational displacements axial cross-sectional rotation along considered as unknown kinematics. orthogonality between satisfied by using smallest mapping description finite rotations. use reduces nonlinearity employed strain measurements with respect kinematics offers highly efficient linearization. Furthermore, penalty-free approach introduced deal rigid connections in structures context analysis. A transformation total derived, which facilitates rotations at ends patches discrete unknowns. also allows straightforward enforcement rotational boundary conditions. investigated several well-established examples great accuracy efficiency observed.