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On the accuracy of p ‐version elements for the Reissner–Mindlin plate problem
Author(s) -
Rank Ernst,
Krause Roland,
Preusch Karin
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
international journal for numerical methods in engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.421
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1097-0207
pISSN - 0029-5981
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0207(19980915)43:1<51::aid-nme382>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - polygon mesh , computation , finite element method , shear (geology) , bending , plate theory , bending of plates , constitutive equation , mathematics , shear force , geometry , mathematical analysis , bending moment , structural engineering , engineering , algorithm , materials science , composite material
This paper addresses the question of accuracy of p ‐version finite element formulations for Reissner–Mindlin plate problems. Three model problems, a circular arc, a rhombic plate and a geometrically complex structure are investigated. Whereas displacements and bending moments turn out to be very accurate without any post‐processing even for very coarse meshes, the quality of shear forces computed from constitutive equations is poor. It is shown that significantly improved results can be obtained, if shear forces are computed from equilibrium equations instead. A consistent computation of second derivatives of the shape functions is derived. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.