Hello everyone, I worked especially with multilayered shell modeling of bridge deck slabs. I adopt a nonlinear crack Model implemented in UMAT.for as regards plane stresses but  I was wondering if there is a method to change the transverse shear stiffness during the analysis without keeping it constant.

I have checked Abaqus Documentation and I've learned something about the user subroutine USDFLD that redefine field variables at a material point. Is it possible to use UMAT in conjuction with USDFLD? Does it exist another method of implementing a variable trasnverse shear stiffness with shell modeling? Thank you very much ahead for your kind attention.

Best regards

RC