New Finite Element Formulation for the Plate Bending Problem

摘要

In the paper the authors will introduce a new finite element formulation for theReissner-Mindlin plate model. Their approach can be seen as a simplification of a stabilized mixed formulation by Hughes and Franca or as a generalization of a low order method given by Pitkaranta. The formulation is shown to be consistent and stable for any combination of finite element spaces chosen for the deflection and rotation. The order of the polynomials used is, however, dictated by the consistency error; the approximation for deflection should be one order higher than that for the rotation. In engineering terminology the authors have a formulation which does not suffer from a 'locking' which is the problem with many finite element methods for this problem.