TY - JOUR AB - An efficient algorithm to estimate the large elasto‐plastic strains encountered in thin sheet metal forming parts has been continuously developed by the authors since 1987. The algorithm is based on a finite element discretization of the known final shape. In this paper a new simple triangular shell element with constant membrane and bending strains is presented using discrete Kirchhoff constraints. The expressions of the internal force vector and logarithmic strains through the thickness are derived. Two applications are considered to discuss the validity and efficiency of the numerical procedure. VL - 15 IS - 7 SN - 0264-4401 DO - 10.1108/02644409810236894 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/02644409810236894 AU - Batoz Jean‐Louis AU - Qiao Guo Ying AU - Mercier Frederic PY - 1998 Y1 - 1998/01/01 TI - The inverse approach with simple triangular shell elements for large strain predictions of sheet metal forming parts T2 - Engineering Computations PB - MCB UP Ltd SP - 864 EP - 892 Y2 - 2024/03/29 ER -