Intrinsic finite element modeling of a linear membrane shell problem
  A Galerkin finite element method for the membrane elasticity problem on a meshed surface is constructed by using two-dimensional elements extended into three dimensions. The membrane finite element model is established using the intrinsic approach suggested by [Delfour and Zol\'esio, A boundary differential equation for thin shells. J. Differential Equations, 119(2):426--449, 1995]. 
Peter Hansbo, Mats G. Larson
math.NA