Abstract

This paper provides a state-of-the-art review of asymptotic methods in the theory of plates and shells. Asymptotic methods of solving problems related to theory of plates and shells have been developed by many authors. The main features of our paper are: (i) it is devoted to the fundamental principles of asymptotic approaches, and (ii) it deals with both traditional approaches, and less widely used, new approaches. The authors have paid special attention to examples and discussion of results rather than to burying the ideas in formalism, notation, and technical details.