Abstract: In order to analyze bellows effectively and practically, the finite-element-displacement-perturbation method (FEDPM) is proposed for the geometric nonlinear behaviors of shells of revolution subjected to pure bending moments or lateral forces in one of their meridional planes. The formulations are mainly based upon the idea of perturba-tion that the nodal displacement vector and the nodal force vector of each finite element are expanded by taking root-mean-square value of circumferential strains of the shells as a perturbation parameter. The load steps and the iteration times are not as arbitrary and unpredictable as in usual nonlinear analysis. Instead, there are certain relations between the load steps and the displacement increments, and no need of iteration for each load step. Besides, in the formulations, the shell is idealized into a series of conical frusta for the convenience of practice, Sander’s nonlinear geometric equations of moderate small rotation are used, and the shell made of more than one material ply is also considered.

Key words: perturbation technique, finite element method, shell of revolution, bellows, deflection by lateral force, geometrical nonlinearity