This work studies the approximation of plane problems concerning transversely isotropic elasticity, using a low-order virtual element method (VEM), with a focus on near-incompressibility and near-inextensibility. Additionally, both homogeneous problems, in which the plane of isotropy is fixed; and non-homogeneous problems, in which the fibre direction defining the isotropy plane varies with position, are explored. In the latter case various options are considered for approximating the non-homogeneous fibre directions at an element level. Through a range of numerical examples the VEM approximations are shown to be robust and locking-free for several element geometries and for fibre directions that correspond to both mild and strong non-homogeneity. Further, the convergence rate of the VEM is shown to be comparable to classical low-order standard finite element approaches.
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