In this paper, the analog equation method (AEM) is applied to nonlinear analysis of
heterogeneous orthotropic membranes with arbitrary shape. In this case, the transverse
deflections influence the in-plane stress resultants and the three partial differential equations
governing the response of the membrane are coupled and nonlinear with variable
coefficients. The present formulation, being in terms of the three displacement components,
permits the application of geometrical in-plane boundary conditions. The membrane may be …