A review of some finite element families for thick and thin plate and shell analysis

Abstract

This paper describes a number of triangular and quadrilateral plate and Shell elements derived via Reissner-Mindlin plate theory and mixed interpolation. It shown how by introducing the adequate constrains the original thick plate element evolve into DK forms adequate for this situations only. This evolution process allows to revisite some classical elements like the Morley triangle and also to derive simple plate and shell triangles and quadrilates with only translational degrees of freedom as nodal variables.