INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, VOL.

35, 1603- 1632 (1992)

ON A SIMPLE TRIANGULAR REISSNER/MINDLIN PLATE

ELEMENT BASED ON INCOMPATIBLE MODES
AND DISCRETE CONSTRAINTS

JEAN-LOUIS BATOZ* AND IRWAN KATILI' zyxwvu

Laboratoire de GCnie Mkcanique pour les Materiaux et les Structures, BP 649,
Universite de Technologie de Compiigne, 60206 Compiigne CCdex, France

SUMMARY
In this paper the formulation of a new triangular element based on the Reissner/Mindlin plate theory is
presented. The element has three nodes and three d.0.f. per node only. It is based on constant bending modes
plus incompatible energy orthogonal higher order bending modes. The transverse shear effects are
represented using the moment equilibrium and the constitutive equations. Discrete (collocation) shear
constraints are considered on each side to relate the kinematical and the independent shear strains. The
element has a proper rank, is completely locking free, passes all constant patch-tests exactly. The detailed
numerical evaluation shows that the element, called DST-BK, is a robust and high-performance element for
thick and thin plates.

zyxwvuts
1. INTRODUCTION

zyx
In the field of finite elements for plates and shells there is still a great interest for high performance
yet simple triangular elements with engineering degrees of freedom (d.0.f.) at the corner nodes
(Figure 1). This interest is well recalled in a recent paper by Felippa and Militello,' who discussed
the various variational formulations available to obtain efficient and simple elements for plates.
Saleeb et a1.' reviewed the developments of three noded triangles up to 1987 and the difficulties in
obtaining locking free elements based on the Reissner/Mindlin plate theory.
A review of existing elements with three nodes, three d.0.f. per node for thin Kirchhoff plate was
made in earlier papers by Hrabok and H r ~ d e y by , ~ Felippa and Bergan4 and by Batoz and
co-workers.s*6It appears that the DKT element,5.788 the improved IDKT element' and the free
formulation element presented in Reference 4 are three efficient Kirchhoff elements.
Nine d.0.f. Triangular elements based on the Reissner/Mindlin plate theory have also been
developed using various approaches. There are not many elements that satisfy all of the following
aspects:
(i) proper rank (no spurious modes for one element);
(ii) no shear locking (for any mesh);
(iii) constant curvature patch-tests fully satisfied;

zyxwvuts
(iv) low sensitivity of distortion;

zyxwvu
*Professor of Mechanical Engineering
'Graduate Student

0029-5981/92/211603 -30$20.00
0 1992 by John Wiley 8z Sons, Ltd.
Received 6 August 1991
Revised 14 October 1991
1604 zyxwvutsrq J.-L. BATOZ A N D I. KATILI

Figure 1. Nine d.0.f. triangular plate bending element zyxwv

zyxwvu
(v) good accuracy in displacement and stresses for coarse meshes, for thin and thick plates;

zyxw
(vi) simplicity of the presentation and of the programming of the stiffness matrix.
The simple triangular displacement element based on Co linear approximations for the
displacement w and the rotations fix and fi,, with full integration (three Hammer points for the
shear stiffness) is overstiff and leads to extreme locking. A Selective Reduced Integration (SRI)
version (one point integration) which is equivalent to a mixed element with C - constant shear
forces (as shown in Reference 5) also leads to shear locking. Many modifications have been
proposed and tested to improve this basic linear element with nine d.0.f. The first modifications
were done in 1976 and resulted in the TRIA3 element in the NASTRAN program. As is recalled
by MacNeal," these modifications were not published in a journal. They consisted in two things:

zyxwv
the first was to express the transverse shear strains in terms of the three constant tangential shear
strains on each side which are then expressed in terms of the nodal variables. This was an
application of what is now called the assumed (or independent) transverse shear approach. The
other technique included in the TRIA3 element is a modification of the shear elasticity matrix to
improve its behaviour. No precise results are available but it is reported in Reference 10 that
TRIA3 passes the patch-tests and performs quite well. Garnet et al." modify only the shear
elasticity matrix through the introduction of a factor to reduce the locking tendency of the basic
displacement model. Hughes and Taylor" and Hughes' also used the assumed transverse shear

zy
strain approach but did not modify the shear elasticity matrix. They found that if exact
integration is performed the element locks; if one point is used for the evaluation of the shear
energy, locking is avoided but for one element one spurious mode exists. Cross diagonal meshes
lead to satisfactory results. The assumed (or independent) transverse shear strain approach, first
used for linear triangular elements, was then considered to develop many plate and shell elements,
mostly of quadrilateral shape (see the recent proceedings by Noor et ~ 1 . ' ~Belytschko
) et ~ 1 . ' ~
proposed another technique to improve the SRI element, called the mode decomposition
technique. The element formulated by these authors passes the constant curvature patch-tests,
and has an overall good performance. Locking is not completely excluded (depending on the
mesh orientation) and the element has one spurious mode (again for one element).
Wu16 considered the hybrid stress model and formulated an element close to the Kirchhoff
HSM element.5 This author included transverse shear energy in its element but discrete Kirchhoff
constraints are imposed at the modes so the numerical results should converge with mesh
 TRIANGULAR PLATE ELEMENT

refinement towards the classical Kirchhoff solutions (we doubt that this hybrid element is valid
for thick plates).
Tessler and Hughes17 and Tessler’* started with a triangular element with quadratic approx-
1605 zy
imations for the displacement. They imposed constant tangential transverse shear strains along
the edges to obtain a 9 d.0.f. element called MIN3. A first version of this element showed a
tendency to lock occasionally. An improved version was made by the introduction of an ‘element
appropriate shear correction factor’. This element has a proper rank, pass the patch-tests and is

zyxwvutsrq
zyxw
efficient for thick and thin plates if proper choice is made for the modified shear correction factor.
FrickerIg presented three methods to include transverse shear effects in existing Kirchhoff nine
d.0.f. elements. He did not succeed in eliminating the internal constant shear variables he
introduced with satisfaction of both the constant curvature and shear patch-tests. However, one
element appears to be acceptable for practical analyses.
Saleeb et d 2formulated a mixed element using linear Co approximations for displacement and

zy
rotations. C constant bending moments are assumed and C - particular linear approxima-
tions of the shear forces are chosen in order to avoid shear locking. There are, however, no
constant shear stress terms so that the element cannot be valid, strictly speaking, for extreme cases
of thick to thin plates. Cross-diagonal macroelement meshes are used to avoid locking and to
obtain good performance compared to other elements (such as DKT, MIN3 and the other
triangular elements based on assumed shear strain’2313and on mode decomposition’ 5 ) . The
formulation of another mixed/hybrid free-locking element is developed by Gellert,” but results
are not presented.
Starting with incomplete quadratic approximations of the rotations 8, and 8, (the normal /I, on
each side is linear), Batoz and Lardeur6+” generalized the discrete constraints used in the DKT

zyxwv
element to take account of the transverse shear effects. The constant shear strains per element are
expressed in terms of‘ the quadratic terms of the rotations using the moment equilibrium
equations and the constitutive equations. The element thus obtained, called DST-BL in this
paper, has a proper rank, is absolutely locking free since it is identical to DKT if transverse shear
effects are negligible but the incompatibility of rotations due to shear effects leads to some errors
in the constant curvature patch-tests for thick plates ( L / h < 10). The element has been thor-
oughly tested for isotropic and composite plates (with evaluation of displacements and stresses).
Its overall practical behaviour is very satisfactory and it has the advantage of coinciding with the
well known DKT element for thin plates. A detailed presentation of the DST-BL element is also
included in the recent book by Batoz and Dhatt.” The problems with exact constant curvature
patch-tests for thick plates were the main motivations at the beginning of the present study. This
is why we tried to combine some aspects of the free f o r m ~ l a t i o n together
~ ~ ~ ~ with
- ~ ~independent
transverse shear strains and discrete shear constraints. To our knowledge several nine d.0.f.
triangular elements based on the free f ~ r m u l a t i o n have ~ * ~been
~ ~ ~formulated
~ for Kirchhoff
plates but no element has been proposed for thick to thin plates. However, a free formulation
quadrilateral element was presented by Bergan and War~g,’~ who started with the Kirchhoff
theory (the main displacement field is w(x, y)). Here we start with the Reissner/Mindlin plate
theory and it is only through the discrete constraints that the displacement w ( x , y ) appears (as in
DKT formulations).
We will first recall the basic relations of the linear first-order Reissner/Mindlin plate theory and
present the modified Hu-Washizu functional. Although the new element called DST-BK is not
exactly based on that functional, since the discrete constraints are established quite independently
of the variational equations associated with shear forces, we believe that this comparison with this
(continuum) mixed formulation is interesting and helpful. We then present some considerations
on the assumed shear strain approach before presenting in detail the formulation of the DST-BK
1606 zyxwvutsr
element:
zyxwvu J.-L. BATOZ AND 1. KATILI

6) choice of the energy orthogonal incompatible higher order modes;

(ii) definition of the independent shear strains using some Euler-Lagrange equations of the
variational principle (the moment equilibrium equations and the bending and shear
constitutive equations);
(iii) matrix relations resulting from the introduction of discrete shear constraints on each side.

zyxw
zyx
In the last part of the paper we present and discuss some numerical results obtained with the
new element.

zyxwv
zyxwv
2. MODIFIED HU-WASHIZU FUNCTIONAL FOR THICK PLATES
We consider a plate defined by its middle surface A (plane x y ) and its thickness h along the z
co-ordinate direction. The main relations of the first-order ReissnerlMindlin plate theory are the
following:
(a) Equilibrium equations for a static distributed load f , :

M X , ,

MXY,, zyx
z,, + Ty,y + f ,= 0
+ M*y,y- T, = 0

zyx
+ M y , y - Ty = 0
on A, where T,, Ty, M,, M y and M , are the shear forces and the bending moments per unit
length (Figure 2). These resultants are related to the Cartesian stresses ox, oy,o,,,, o,, and

T, = {lt oxzdz; Ty =
h
oyzdz; t = j
(2)
M, = o,zdz; My= f t oyzdz; M,, = {It oXyzdz

Mx nx
nr

X
ny ds

Figure 2. Bending moments and shear forces

 zyxwvut zy
zyxwvutsrqp
zyxwvuts TRIANGULAR PLATE ELEMENT 1607

zyxw
( 2 ) and (2) are (independent) curvatures and shear strains. The elasticity (or rigidity)

zyxw
matrices [HJ and [ H , ] depend on the material properties at each point x,y,z. For
isotropic plates

zyxwvut zy CHJ= k G h [ i ;]
with D = Eh3/12(l - v’), Here k is the shear correction factor and is taken as 516 for
homogeneous plates (Reissner coefficient). We define the transverse shear influence factor

zyxwvuts
4 as6
2

where L stands for a characteristic length of the plate.

zyxw
(i) if 4 -,0 the influence of transverse shear strains { y } is small. This situation is
encountered for thin Kirchhoff plates (large aspect ratio L / h ) or for any plates if we
consider a large value for k.
(ii) if 4 -, co,the influence of curvature { x} is small. The shear strains { y } are dominant.
This situation is obtained for very thick plates (small aspect ratio Lyh) or for k + 0.
(c) The displacement field and strain-displacement relations are obtained with the Mindlin
hypothesis
24 = zPx(x, v);
v = zBy(x, v); w = 4 x 9 Y) (7)
where - t < z 6 t; w is the transverse displacement in the z direction. p, and p, represent
the rotations of the normal in the x-z and y-z planes respectively (Figure 3). The curvatures
and shear strains are defined in terms of the independent quantities w, 3/, and /3, by
{XI - {XI = (0); { Y } - { I } = (0) (8%b)
where

where 6,Exand
(x)

zyxwvut
By
= (PX,, By,,
(d) The kinematical boundary conditions are
w = w;
+ By,,);

p, =
(Y> =(Bx

Fx; fly= By
+ w , x By + w , y >

on S , (9)
are prescribed quantities on the part S , of the total boundary 8 A of the

Y-2 plane 2-X plane

Figure 3. Positive directions of /

I,and By
1608 zyxwvutsr
zyxw
zyxwvut
zyx
zyxwv J.-L. B A T 0 2 AND 1. KATILI

zyx
plate. The mechanical boundary conditions on S , (with S, u Sf = a A ) are
T, = T,n,
M,, = Mxnx
+ q n , = F,
+ M X Y n y= m,
M y , = M x y n , + MYn, = m y
on S,

where n, and n,, (Figure 2) are the direction cosines of the unit outward normal along the
(10)

boundary S,. F,, m, and my are known force and couples per unit length.
Equations (1) to (10) are the complete relations describing the bending of plates with transverse
shear effects under the Reissner/Mindlin assumptions. Various variational principlesz2,29 can be
formulated depending on which relations (among equations (1) to (10)) are satisfied in a weak
form.
1. In the classical principle of minimum potential energy (displacement model) only the
equilibrium relations (equations (1) and (10)) are expressed in a weak form. The independent

zyxwvu
quantities are then w, Bx and By.

zyxwvu
zyxw
2. In the modified Hellinger-Reissner variational principle used to derive several mixed plate
elements with C independent shear strain^^'-^^ the constitutive relations (equations (3)),

zy
the curvature relations (equation (8a)) and the boundary conditions (equations (9)) are
satisfied explicitly, whereas the equilibrium equations (equations (1) and 10)) and the shear
strain definition (equation 8b)) are satisfied in a weak form. The independent quantities
subjected to variation are ihen: w, B,, By, y, and y y (or T, and q).
3. If we assume that the bending constitu&ve equations (equation (3a)) with {x} = {x}
(equation (8a)) as well as the kinematical boundary conditions (equations (9)) are satisfied
explicitly we obtain the following modified Hu-Washizu f ~ n c t i o n a l : ~ ~
= nb(bx, fly) + ns(w, B x , By, { I } ?{ T } )- nf(w, Bx, f l y ) (11)
with

The independent quantities subjected to variation are w, p,, P,, the shear strains y , and y,, and
the shear forces T, and T,. The relations expressed in a weak form are the equilibriim equations
(equations (1) and (10)) in terms of T,, q, B, and By, the shear constitutive equation (equation
(3b)) and the transverse shear definitions (equation (8b)). We remark that:
(i) if the relations (3b) ( { T } = [ H , ] {y})
- are satisfied explicitly we obtain the modified H-R
r,
functional in terms of w, B,, By, and I,,;
(ii) if in addition the kinematical relations (8b) ( { y} = { y}) - are satisfied explicitly than the
classical displacement potential energy is obtained.

3. ASSUMED SHEAR STRAIN ELEMENTS

If the finite element models are derived based on relations (1 1) to (14) then the approximations of
 zyxwvutsr
zyxwvu
zyxwvu
zyxwvu
zyxwvutzy
zy
the independent quantities w, b,,
TRIANGULAR PLATE ELEMENT

by,y , 1y , T, and should be consistently defined in order that:

(i) the element has a proper rank (only three rigid body modes);
(ii) the element exactly passes the constant curvature patch-tests for any value of 6;

zyxwv
(iii) the element exactly passes the constant transverse shear patch tests for the limit case
q5 4 cc ( L / h and/or k very small);
(iv) the element is valid for the whole range of thick to extremely thin plates (no shear locking).
1609

The convergence, reliability and robustness of mixed and assumed shear strain elements have
been discussed by many authors and necessary conditions have been given for a proper rank and
for absence of shear l o ~ k i n g . ~ , * ~ , ~ ~ - ~ ~

zyxwvu
Co (or half Co as in References 32 and 37) approximations are considered for the displacement
wand rotations b,, 8, but C - ’ approximations are usually considered for the independent shear
strains and shear forces in order to have the usual engineering d.0.f. at nodes after static
condensation of the internal element shear variables.

zyxw
Recent triangular mixed elements such as T63B331and AFT32,37have been derived using the
modified Hellinger-Reissner functional (assuming { T } = [ H , ] { y } in equation (13)). However,
many (if not all) of the existing assumed shear strain elements arenot strictly based on equation
(13) but simply on

n: = ; < y )cmIy 1dA (1 5 )

However, the stationarity condition of I l e (equation (11)) with respect to the independent
quantities { T } ,

} {y})dA = 0
<6T)({Y- (16)

is replaced by various discrete constraints on each element to relate the independent shear strains
{ y } to the h e m a t i c a l strains { y } in order to avoid shear locking ( { y } is expressed in terms of the
eikments d.0.f. { u”}) . Some examples are given (chosen among existing triangular elements,
Figure 4).
1. The 9 d.0.f. triangular element by Hughes and Taylor” and HughesL3can be obtained using
C O linear expressions for w, B, and By with { y- } linear in terms of y- constant per side. The
constraints are
Y s k - Y- s k =0 k = 4, 5, 6 with ys = W 3 s + B, (17)
which is equivalent in this case to
rLk
6 T ( y s - ys)ds = 0 k = 4 , 5 , 6

with
J O -

YskLk zyxw
-
constant per side. Equation (17) or (18) leads to

= wj - wi + jOLk
Psds

2. The 9 d.0.f. triangular element by Batoz and L a r d e d was presented using

at the corner nodes and at the mid-side points assuming a cubic variation of w(s), a
1610 zyxwvu
zyxwvutsrq
J.-L. BATOZ AND I. KATILI

(X4Yl) zyxwvutsr
zyxwv
zyxwvut
a) elemenf nodes b) side k (nodes I,/)

zyxw
Figure 4. Geometry of the triangular element

quadratic variation of P,(s) and a constant value of y. - In this case these constraints are

zyx
equivalent to equations (18) and (19).,,
3. The DRM element presented by Onate, Taylor and Zienkiewicz and their
c ~ l l a b o r a t o r also
s ~ ~leads
~ ~ to
~ ~equations
~~ (18) and (19).
The present element, called DST-BK, is based on equation (12) to define the bending stiffness
matrix [kb] and on equations (15) and (17) to define the shear stiffness matrix [ k , ] with the
independent strains ( y } constant per element and expressed in terms of p, and by using the
moment equilibrium equations and the constitutive relations (in a manner similar to the former
DST-BL element6). However, in the DST-BK element we consider incompatible modes that are

zyxwvuts
such that the constant curvature patch-tests are fully satisfied.

4. FORMULATION OF THE DST-BK ELEMENT

( a ) The incompatible shape functions for the rotations

We start with approximations of the rotations bx and By in terms of six nodal values f l x i and byi
( i = 1, 2, 3) and in terms of three indetermined parameters ak ( k = 4, 56):

fix= c3
c6

b y =
i= 1

1
3

i=l
Nipxi+

Niflyi+ zyxwvuts
k=4

1
6

k=4
pkckak

pkskak

where N , = 1= 1 - 4 - q; N , = 5; N , = q. Ckand s k are the direction cosines of side k ( k = 4,5,

6 for i = 1,2,3 and j = 2,3, 1, see Figure 4). C k = X j i / L k ; s k = y j i / L k P k are quadratic terms in
{ and q, defined latter.
Equation (21) has been used in previous papers on the DKT on the DST
element,’ and on the DRM element35936*38 where a k is identified with the increment of tangential
rotation at mid-sides (ak = APsk)and the Pk are then the hierarchical compatible shape functions
P4 = 4 @ ; P , = 4{q and P6 = 4 q 1 (22)
In the present DST-BK element, ak are not identified with the increments of rotation at mid-nodes
and the P , are not given by equations (22).
 TRIANGULAR PLATE ELEMENT zy
zyxwv 1611

zyxwvut zy
From equations (8a) and (21) we define the curvature vector

zyxwv
zyxwvutsr
A = +(x21y31- ~

[B,]=--
[B,]

...
<un> =

3
=
2A
]
e
0
(wi

l [
1 is ~the ~area
zyxwvut
Dxi Dyi

Y23

x32
0
Y23
i = 1,293); (an)

~ 3

~ of) the element.

(pk, 5 Y 3 1
20

x13
Y31

+ 'k,qYl 2 l c k
( pk, g X 1 3 + ' k , q x2 1
xi3

Y31
= <a4 as

0
Y12

O
x21
~

Y12
6

2
)

. . . k=4,5,6 ]
(24)

(25)

(26)
2A'
+ pk,qx21)ck + ( P k , < Y 3 1 + P k , q y 1 2 ) S k

zyxwvut
l [ (Pk,t;X13

In the family of DKT22s39 and DST6,22elements the parameters {a,} are related to the nine
nodal d.0.f. {u,) through constraints like equation (19) (in DKT, ysk is zero and in DST ysk is not
zero but expressed in terms of {u, ] using the moment equilibriumand the constitutive equations).
We can then write

{x} = (CBcI + CBuI CAnl){un) (28)

The [An] matrix is such that if { u i } represents nodal values according to a constant curvature
state { x"} then
[1A,l(u:J = (0) so that{x) = {X'> = [B,l{Uf;} (29)
Using the quadratic compatible P, functions (equations (22)) the matrix [B,] is such that

Hence these Pk functions (leading to [ B , ] ) are not energy orthogonal to the N i linear functions
(leading to the constant [B,]) matrix, i.e.

[kucl = jAe[AnITIBuITIHbl[BcldA =
(JAe
[BuITdA CHbl [BcI # Lo] (3l)

It is not necessary that, at the element level, the matrix [k,,] be [O] in order to exactly reproduce a
constant state of curvature. But for a patch of elements the assemblage of the individual [k,,]
matrices must be such that the constant state of curvature is reproduced exactly for any aspect
ratio. For the DKT element we can check that [k,,] is not [O], the assemblage of the [k,,] is not
zero either but the constant curvature patch-tests are exactly represented (in fact for a rectangular
patch the [k,,] matrices are producing the concentrated forces at the corners in accordance with
the state M,, = 1). For the DST-BL element we have a similar situation ([ k,,] is not zero), but
due to the construction of the [ A n ] matrix the shear influence terms are such that the constant
curvature patch-tests are not exactly represented for thick plates (see Reference 6 and also
Section 5 of this paper).
 zyxwvutsr
zyx
zyxwvuts
zy
zyxwvu
1612 J.-L. BATOZ AND I. KATILI

zyxwv
On the other hand, if we choose P k functions that are energy orthogonal to the N ifunctions, i.e.
that are such that

!Ae
P,,,dA =
JAe
P,,,dA =0 then
%. [ B , ] dA =0 and

In this case the constant curvature patch-tests will be exactly reprzsented for any [ A , ] matrix.
This observation was made in the past to derive membrane element^^'.^^ and Kirchhoff plate
[ k a c ] = [o] (32)

zyxwv
element^,,^.,^ and is the basis of the ‘individual element tests’ and ‘free formulation'.'^ 2 3 - 2 8
There are many Pk(5, q ) that satisfy equation (32)! We have decided in the present DST-BK

zyx
element to keep the compatible P, functions of the DKT element (equations (22))plus some linear
and constant terms:
P, = 452 - + b; N4 = 1 - 2q
ae,
P , = 4(7- a&’, + b; N5 = 1 - 2.A
P6 = 4Aq - aN6 + b; N 6 = 1 25 -
(334

N , are incompatible half C o shape functions (which alone are such that the constant strain patch-
tests can be reproduced exactly). The coefficient u in (33a) is such that equation (32) is satisfied, i.e.

zyxwvu
a = 5, and b is quite arbitrary and obtained by numerical experimentation (scaling parameters
are often introduced for free formulation based elements). For the present element we solve
several plate problems (clamped and simply supported square plates under uniform and concen-

P4 = 451 -

(Pk.5)
zyx
trated load) to obtain a value b = 1/6 so that
+ $ 7 3; P5 = 4(7 + $1 - 3;
5) (YI - 3 ) - ( r l - 3 ) )
= 4((A -
P, = 41q + $( - 3 (33b)

(Pk,q) = 4 ( - ( l- 3 ) ( 4 - 3 ) - ?)>

If we introduce equations (33b) in equations (21) we observe that fix(( = q = 0) is not equal to pxxl
(as it would be using equations (22)) but we obtain
fix((=q=o)=p X I - 12 C4a4 - 2C5a5 - 3Csa,
A similar observation can be made if we look at the substitute shape functions derived by least
square techniques and used in References 9 and 44 to obtain the so called Improved DKT and
DKQ elements which are convergent and efficient elements for thin Kirchhoff plates.

(b) The bending stifness matrix

Using equation (23), (28) and (32), the bending strain energy (equation (12)) is given by (for
uniform thickness and material)
~E=+(un)CkcI(un} ++(an>EkuI{~n} (34)
with

ckc1 = A e [ B c I T I H b I LBc1; ckal

[k,] can be integrated explicitly or using three Gauss/Hammer points;

=
1. [BalTIHbl[BaI dA

[k,] is the constant moment basic stiffness (the same one appears in the free formulation in
References 4 and 26).
(c) The transverse shear stiflness matrix
zy
TRIANGULAR PLATE ELEMENT

The shear energy is expressed as in the DST-BL element6*22using the moment equilibrium
1613

zyxwv
equations (equations (lb, c)), the constitutive equations (equations (3a, b)) and the kinematical
definitions of curvatures and shear strains (equations (8a, b)).

( M ) = CHhl{x} and ( x } = CBcI(un} + CBaI(an)

Since [Hh] and [Bc] are constant, we finally obtain
{ y l = CBsal{N,}
with
[&I = CHs1-"fiblCTz1CT,1

CHJ= [ H1l

H13
H33

HZ3 HIZ
2H13

+ H33
H13

H33
HZ3

HZ2
H12

2HZ3
+ H33]

(Hi, are the terms of [Hh]).

- zyxw
zyxwvu
-8C4
0
0
-8c6
0
-

zyxwv
0
-4c4 4 c , -4c,
[TI =
-8S4 0 0
0 0 - 8S,
-4s, 4s5 -4s6
L -

( d ) Discrete constraints

ysk
zyxwvut
The independent parameters (a,,} are related to the final d.0.f. {u,,} using the following
constraints at each mid-point:
= Ysk = ( w , s ) k + Psk = 4?5, (38)
 zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvutsrq zyxwvu
1614 J.-L. BATOZ AND I. KATILI

with

and
Z)sk zyxwvutsrqp
= (ck sk)(Z)k) = (ck sk>[Bsal

zyxwvutsrq
= ckpxk + skPyk

zyxw
Psk

zyxwvut
Using equations (21):
bxk = +@xi +
+ b x j ) + f f kck + & am cm + & cP
byk = f ( p y i + b y j ) + 3 a k s k + i % s m + i a P s P

where the values of k, i, j , rn and p are given in Table I.

Assuming a linear variation of w(s), equation (38) leads to
Lk
-f f k
2
+6 (CmCk + smsk)ffm +7 Lk
( c p c k + spsk)ap

zyxwvu
C A U S I

2 x1z Y12 -2 x12 Y12 0 0

x23 Y23 - x23 Y23

-2

4
5
6
zyxwv
x31

zyxwvu i

1
2
3
Y31

Table I

2
3
1
m

5
6
4
P
6
4
5
 zyxwvu
zyxwvutsrq zyxwvu
TRIANGULAR PLATE ELEMENT 1615

Remarks.
In the DKT element22*39
fLk

J O
zyxwvutsr
we can use for the discrete constraints

ysds = wj- wi + J
rLk

0
Psds = 0 k = 4,5,6

This means that

In the present formulation these side integrals cannot be used since equation (47) is already
verified (for the higher-order terms involving at) because of the choice of the P k functions, i.e.

zyxwv
If we use equation (47) instead of equation (38), [Aub] (equation (43)) is singular.
If the collocation constraint (equation (38)) is used at the two end nodes and at the centre
of each side assuming a cubic variation of w(s) (as was often presented for DKT’ and

zyxwvuts
for DST-BL6 then [Aab] is also singular (the diagonal coefficients of [C] become 1/3 instead
of 1).
The [A,] matrix is such that

(29)).
zyx C A w l { u f ) = (01
if {uf } represents the nodal values corresponding to the three independent rigid-body
modes or the three independent constant curvature modes (equation (48) leads to equation
(48)

For all choices of the P , functions [Aw] will remain the same, only [C] depends on P,. For
DKT and DST-BL elements,22[C] = [I] (the identity matrix). For the D K T element [A,,]
= [O]. The [&I matrix will remain the same if we modify only the constant and linear
terms of the p k functions.
These remarks are made to understand the links between the various DKT and DST
formulations and also to facilitate any modification of the present formulation if other P k
functions are chosen (instead of equations (33a, b)).

(e) Stiffness matrix [k]

Using equations (34) and (42) the bending stiffness matrix is defined as
= f(ufl>Ckbl{ufl); Ckbl = Ckl + C411TC~ul
[An1 (49)
Using equations (37) and (42) the shear stiffness matrix is such that
n: = 3 < ~ n > C k s I{ u n ) ; CkI = CAnITCkaICAnI (50)
Therefore the stiffness matrix of the DST-BK element is simply
CkI = CkcI + CksI = CkcI + CAnIT(CkaI + CksuI)CAnI (51)
This matrix is given by the constant bending matrix [k,] plus the contribution of the higher-order
bending modes and the shear effects.
 zyxwvutsrqp
zyxwvu
zyxwvutsrq
zyx
zyxwvuts
1616 J.-L. B A T 0 2 AND 1. KATlLl

Remarks.

zyx
1. The element has a proper rank (there are only three zero eigenvalues in [k] corresponding to
the three rigid body modes).

zyxwvuts
2. Shear locking is completely avoided by construction of the [k,,] matrix (equations (35) and
(37)). If the transverse shear effects are not taken into account (i.e. if 4 = 0) than { y}
Ck,,l = COl; CAUJ = COl and
CkI = CkcI + CAnI'CkaI [An1
- = (0);

zyxwvu
with
[An1 = "4,1- "4,l; CAE1 = CLI [Cl.
3. For nodal values { u : } corresponding to constant curvatures the internal (or reaction) forces
are simply given by
(52)

zy
{f;,,,}
= [k3(ti;j = [k,]{u:} = Ae[BCIT{MC} with { M " } = [Hb]{xc} (53)
{ f:,,,}
is such that
r r

zyxwvut
with constant values of Mf,, Mfn,MEs, ME and linear approximation of fr,, By, frs and p,, on
each side. (For the DKT element the product of [k] by { u : } will not give the vector {fFnt)
given by equation (53), see equation (31). In DKT the reaction forces in the z direction are
not zero, whereas by definition of [ B , ] (equation (25)),these forces are zero in { f;,,,) given
by equation (53).)

(f)Load vector
For distributed load f, we can compute the nodal load vector be assuming a linear variaiion of
w ( x , y). Iff, is constant then

(55)

Another load vector with non-zero values for the bending moments can be defined as for the
DKT element (see Reference 22).

(9) Stresses
When the nodal values are known the bending moments are computed using equations (23)
and (42), i.e.
{ M ( l Y])}
, = LHbl (cBci + [B,(l,Y])] lun} (56)
The shear forces are constant on each element and given by equation (36).
{TI = CHS1 CBSJ [An1 (57)

5. NUMERICAL RESULTS
In this section we present the results of the numerical evaluation of the DST-BK element for a
large number of thick and thin plate problems with known analytical solutions (the circular plate,
for example) and for other plate problems considered as benchmarks in the literature.
 zy
zyxwvutsr
zyxwvutsrqpo
1 . Rank of an element
TRIANGULAR PLATE ELEMENT

The eigenvalues of an element have been computed for different geometries and aspect ratio (to
1617

check the programming). Only three zero eigenvalues are obtained corresponding to the three
rigid-body modes.

2. Constant curvature patch-tests

zyxw
By virtue of its construction the DST-BK should pass the constant curvature patch-tests
exactly. Nevertheless, we can check this important result by solving some patch-tests in various
forms. Also, since the problem of the exact patch-tests for the DST-BL element6 was the main
motivation at the beginning of the present study we report some results using DST-BL

zyxwvutsrq
zyxw
elements.

zyxwvut
zyxwvu
We consider a patch of four elements (Figure 5). Since the stability of the model is

zyxwvu
zyxwvutsrq
guaranteed we can first consider the kinematical form of the p a t c h - t e ~ t sby~ ~imposing on the
boundary, nodal values in accordance with the following theoretical displacement fields

zyxwvu
leading to constant curvatures and zero transverse shear:
(a) w
(b) w =

(c) w
= - 1x2.
2 1

- 1Z Y

= -ixy;
;
P,=x;
P,

P,=2;
= 0;

Y
Py=0;
By = y ;

Py=2;
X
(x) = ( I 0 0 ) ;
(x> = (0 1 0 ) ;
( x > = < O 0 1);
(y>= (0 0)
(Y>

(y)=(O
= (0 0)

0)
(58)

With the DST-BK element exact results are obtained for any L / h values.
For the DST-BL element exact results are obtained for L / h > 100 (in this case DST-BL
= D K T ) but small errors appear for L / h < 10 if the internal node is not located at the centre
(this was reported in Reference 6). The errors on the displacement w at node 5 (as given in
Figure 5) are reported on Figure 6 for lo4 d L / h < The constant curvature patch-tests
are not exactly passed for DST-BL for thick plates. Nevertheless, the error is very small less
than 1 per cent on w 5 for L / h > 10.
Very often the constant curvature patch-tests have been presented using distributed mo-
ments on the boundary which are theoretically equivalent to constant internal bending
moments on the plate. Since for DST-BK element the rotations P, and P, are not compatible, it
may at first be difficult to compute the consistent load vector for constant values of M , and M,,
on a side. However, the equivalent consistent nodal forces according to constant bending

I I\” I k = 516

1 (0,O) 2 (10,O)

Figure 5. Data for the patch test problems

1618 zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvu
zyxwvu t o -t =--T---
.-
L

8
-1

-2

-3

4
4

I ]
-
-t-

10
zyxw
zyxwvutsrq
--P-
J.-L. BATOZ AND I. KATILI

3
10
2
DST-BL
DST-BK

10
1 0 - 1
10 10
-
10
2
I

Llh

4 zyxwvu
10
3

b) x y = I (w = - 9 1 2 ,
10
2
10
1
--t

0 - 1
10 10
PX = 0
DST-BK

-
10
2

, py = y )
./h

zyxw
-2
4 3 2 1 0 - 1 - 2
10 10 10 10 10 10 Llh
c ) x x y = I (w = -xy12 , p x = y12 , p y = XI2 )

Figure 6. Constant curvature patch-tests--effect of L/h on the displacement w at node 5: (a) xx = 1 (w = - x2/2;
= - y2/2; 8, = 0 8, = y); (c) xxy = l ( w = - X Y / ~ ;fix = y/2; By = ~ / 2 )
8, = X; 8, = 0); (b) x, = I(w

moments on an element are those obtained by the constant curvature matrix [ B e ] only (see
equation (53)). The consistent load vector for DST-BK can then simply be obtained by
considering linear approximations for fix and fin on each side.
It is interesting to mention here that if the same load vector is used for a patch of DKT

zyxwvut
elements the constant state M,, = 1 is not reproduced. To obtain exact results we should either
consider the assemblage of vectors given by

jAC + [41TCB,IT)
(CBJ' { M ' ) dA = [kl i.3 (59)

with ( M ' ) = (0 0 1 )
 zyxwzyxwv TRIANGULAR PLATE ELEMENT

or more simply by considering the quadratic variation of & = =- w . on

lead to concentrated loads at the corners of the patch (Figure 7(c)).
The exact solution for the problem of Figure 7 is
zyxw
zyxwvu
zy
~ each side, which will

w = - a x y ; B, = a y ; by = ax and a = 12(1 v ) / E h 3 (60) +

1619

These results are obtained with DST-BK and DKT for any value of L / h using the consistent

zyx
load vectors of Figure 7(b) for DST-BK and 7(c) for DKT.

zyxwvutsrqponmlk
3. Constant shear patch-tests
A state of constant transverse shear ( y ) = ( 1 1) and zero curvature (x) = ( 0 0 0) can be
obtained only (with all equilibrium equations satisfied) for the extreme case of thick plates
(4 --+ GO). This can be checked for both the DST-BL and DST-BK elements if we impose nodal

zyxw
values on the boundary of a patch according to the following fields:

zyx (a) w = - ;

(b) w
2

= -.
X

2'
1
&=-; pY=O;
2

By = 0; 8, = -1;
2
(y)=(l

( y) = ( 0 1 )
0)

3-4

-1
i7
2+1

ff Mns=-1

a ) values of M n r f o r M x y = I

b ) consistent nodal forces f o r DST-BK c ) consistent nodal forces for DKT

Figure 7. Constant M,, patch-test: (a) values of M,, for M,, = 1; (b) consistent nodal forces for DST-BK; (c) consistent
nodal forces for DKT
1620 zyxwvu
zyxwvuts J.-L. B A T 0 2 AND 1. KATILI

for large values of h ( h / L > 10)or for very small values to k ( k = The results are shown

zyxwvuts
for DST-BL and DST-BK on Figure 8.
Mechanical shear patch-tests can also be performed again for large values of h / L or for very
small values of k.

4 . Twisting of a square plate

We consider a thin square plate ( L / h = 100) supported at three corners and subjected to a

zyxwvutsrq
concentrated load ( F , = - 2) at the fourth corner (Figure 9). The reference solution is given by

zyxw
equation (60) for thin plates only.
The present problem has been considered by many researcher^^^ (including the present
, ~a’ )bending patch-test for thin plates. In fact it is not a necessary test for
a ~ t h o r s ~ ~as

zyxwvuts
assessing convergence.
The ‘true’ M,, = 1 patch-test is the one where consistent nodal forces are computed on the
boundary with M,, = & 1 (see Figure 7). It is only when fl, = w,, at any point s on the

2
.-
I.
zyxwvutsrq
10

0 ’

-in -
-
Limiting case of pure shear

€3
-20 -
-30 - El -
--t DST-BK

4-
t T

3
.-e
L

t
1
zyxwvut
10

A -

6 -

4 -

b)
4 3
10
2
10

nr feAt . w = yi2 zyxwvuts

1
in
0

Figure 8. Influence of L / h on w at node 5 for constant shear tests: (a) yx, test: w
w = y/2; B, = 0 8, = 1/2
-
10
1
10

, O x = 0 , fly = 112
-
10
2

=
L/h

x/2; 8, = 1/2; 8, =0 (b) y,. test:

 TRIANGULAR PLATE ELEMENT

1' zy
-2

h = 0.1
Lh=100
v =0.3
E = lo6
zyxw
1621 zy

zyxwvutsrqpo
Figure 9. Convergence of using DST-BK elements

zyxwv
zyx
boundary that the consistent load vector leads to concentrated loads at the corners of the
rectangular patch. This is the case for all compatible Kirchhoff elements and also for the
classical DKT and D K Q elements.46947
For the DST-BL element6 the test is also passed for L / h = 100 since in this case the element
is equivalent to DKT. But for the new DST-BK element exact values for w are not obtained for
a patch of four elements.
The present problem is, however, a simple and useful precision test. The results for several
refined meshes of DST-BK elements are reported on Figure 9 showing the convergence rate of
the model for this problem.

5 . Simply supported and clamped circular plates under uniform loading

The analytical solutions including transverse shear effects are easily obtained for axisymnietric
problem^.^^*^^. The numerical results are obtained with 6, 24, 96 and 240 elements for a

zyxwv
quarter of a plate with symmetry conditions on the x and y axes (Figures 10). We consider two
aspect ratios ( R / h = 50 and R / h = 2) and two types of boundary conditions:
(i) simply supported with w = 0 on the boundary;
(ii) clamped with w = b, = by = 0 on the boundary.
1622

C
zyxwv
zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvutsr
't

Reference zyxwvutsrq
J.-L. BATOZ AND 1. KATILI

L
B u
X

solutions f o r SS vla&s
zyxwvu
zyxwvuts
Data :
E=10.92.v 3 . 3 , Rlh =50 and Wh = 2
Uniform loading : fz=f=l
Boundary condition on AB:

zyxwv
For S S :w=O

zy
For Clamped: w=px=py&

Symmetry conditions :
onCB : p y = O
onCA: p x = O

: 122,361

Center moment : zyxwvu

Center displacement : W,

I=+#!%=
=

hz1: ==(3+v)
fR2 ; D=&
12(1-V)

,
(m)2

zyxw
4
Exact strain ( a = n / 2 )energy (quarter) : E

peference &s 'on for ClarnDed o l U s 8(NR)2

: 122,361

Center displacement : - e x 1 +-
-64D ( 3k((l-v))

fR2
Center moment : hn, =-(3+v)
16

Exact energy a = n / 2 ) energy (quater) : E zyxwv

=c cmP
$21 1 +-4k(1-v)
Figure lo(a). Circular plates under uniform loading (data and reference solutions)
I
 TRIANGULAR PLATE ELEMENT zyxwv 1623

A zyxwvutsrq
C zyxwvutsrq
NELT = 6 NELT = 24

zyxw
zyxwvutsrqpo
. points
NELT = 96

where Mr, Meand Tr

are evaluated.
NELT = 240

Figure lqb). Circular plates under uniform loading (meshes considered)

 zyxwvuts
zyxwvu
1624

zyxwvuts
zyxwvuts
J.-L. BATOZ AND 1. KATILl

The results are reported in Tables I1 and I11 using both the DST-BL and DST-BK elements.
They are presented on Figures 11 to 15.
The bending moment M , at the centre is computed directly using equation (56). Figure 11

zyxwvuts
deals with the clamped thick plate whereas Figure 12 deals with the simply supported thick
plate. We observe that both elements converge to the reference values for both thin and thick
plates. The distribution of M , and M , along a radius are shown on Figures 13 and 14
respectively. The results are obtained using a mesh of 96 elements and are computed at the
centroid of the elements (see Figure (lob)).
The shear forces along the x axis are evaluated using equation (57) for each element (the
exact value is 7; = -Lr/2). The values are reported on Figure 15 for the clamped plates and
the mesh of 96 elements. Some errors are observed for the thin plate for both DST-BL and
DST-BK elements. A similar observation has been made recently in Reference 48 for DST-BL.
One should notice, however, that the transverse shear effects are not significant for R / h = 50.

6. Simply supported and clamped thin square plates under concentrated load
The classical square plates under concentrated loads at the centre are considered to compare

zyxwv
the performances of the classical DKT elements, the improved IDKT (El)9 and the present
DST-BK elements for thin plates (for these problems we consider k = lo6 in the DST-BK
elements to neglect the shear energy). We consider regular meshes (with orientations A and B)
on a quarter of the plate with N = 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 elements per half side (Figure 16).
The results for the central displacement w, and for the bending moment at mid-side (MyB)for
the clamped plate are reported on Figure 17. The results for the central displacement w, and for

NELT

6
DST-BK

9843.0
WCzyxwvuts
Table 11. Results for the clamped circular plates ( R h = 50 and 2)

DST-BL
(a) Thin plate R / h = 50

10 306.0
DST-BK

2.56
M r c

DST-BL

2.40
DST-BK
~

64 546.0
E

DST-BL
-

67 601.0
24 9855.1 9 995.8 2.25 2.17 65 329.0 66 241.0
96 9802.5 9 848.3 2.09 2.07 64456.0 64 753.0
240 9789.5 9 784.0 2.05 2.05 64 204.0 64 154.0

Exact 9783.5 2.03 64091.0

(b) Thick plate R / h = 2

WC M r c E
_ _ _ _ ~ ____
NELT DST-BK DST-BL DST-BK DST-BL DST-BK DST-BL

6 1.289 1.339 2.30 2.48 9.233 9.49 1

24 1.335 1.360 2.14 2.22 10.638 10.766
96 1.339 1.359 2-07 2-13 10-985 11.097
240 1.339 1.342 2.04 2.06 11.056 11.071

Exact 1.339 2.03 11,103

 zyxwvu
zyxw
zyxwv
zyxwvutsrq zyxwvut
TRIANGULAR PLATE ELEMENT 1625

Table 111. Results for the simply supported circular plates ( R / h = 50 and 2)

(a) Thin plate R / h = 50

*c M,, E

NELT DST-BK DST-BL DST-BK DST-BL DST-BK DST-BL

6 37 391.0 37 847.0 5.43 5.26 287 7 10 290 780

24 39 234.0 39 397.0 5.28 5.23 340090 341 240
96 39 680.0 39 729.0 5.20 5.18 354 240 354 570
240 39 795.0 30 790.0 5.17 5.17 357 530 357 480

Exact 39 831.0 5.16 359 088

(b) Thick plate R / h = 2

NELT DST-BK DST-BL DST-BK DST-BL DST-BK DST-BL

6 3.052 3.102 5.16 5.35 23.5 15 23.778

24 3.215 3.245 5.20 5.29 28.223 28.379
96 3.252 3.289 5.18 5.28 29.531 29.773
240 3.259 3.262 5.16 5.18 29.829 29.847

Exact 3.262 5.16 29.983

zyxwvuts
zyxwvutsrqpo
1.02 1.3

-
a
1.01 -

1,m-

.
E 0,99 -
5
0.98 -
-
0.97

0,96 I

0
zyxwvutsrqp
a ) Convergence ofzyxwv 100 200
displacement a t center
NELT 300 0 100
b ) Convergence of Mi a t
200
[enter
NELT 300

--5 DST-BL

0,s
- I

0 100 200 NELT 300

c) Convergence of strain energy

Figure 11. Clamped circular plate under uniform loading ( R / h = 2): (a) convergence of displacement at centre;
(b) convergence of M , at centre; (c) convergence of strain energy
1626

a ) Convergence of
zyxwvut
zyxwvutsr
zyxw
zyxw
zyxwvutsrqp
zyxwvutsrqpo 200

displacement a t center

0.9

0-8

0.7
0
J.-L. BATOZ A N D I. KATILl

NELT 300

100 zyxwvuts
0,99

-
--t
0
' zyxwv
zyxwvu

DST-BK
DST-BL

200 NELT 300

100
b ) Convergence of
I

200
1

M r at center
NELT
I
300

c ) Convergence of strain rnergy

Figure 12. Simply supported circular plate ( R / h = 2):(a) convergence of displacement at centre;(b) convergence of M, at
centre; (c) convergence of strain energy

-1

-2

-3 '
0
I

1 2 3
I

4 R 5
1
0 1
1

2 3 4 R
I
5

a)Rlh=50 b) R l h = 2

Figure 13. Clamped circular plates-bending M, on a radius

the corner reaction R, = )2M,,), for the SS plate are reported on Figure 18. Overall good
results are obtained for the new element DST-BK compared to DKT and IDKT.

7. Twisted ribbon
A test involving only two triangular elements have been proposed in Reference 49 to evaluate
the behaviour of plate elements with respect to large distorsions. Many researchers have
 0 1

zyxwvzy
zyxwvutsrqpon
zyxwvutsrqpo
zyxwvutsrqp
zyxwv
zyxwv 2

a)R l h =50
3 4 R 5 0 1

Figure 14. Clamped circular plates-bending moment M, on a radius: (a) R l h

2

b) R l h = 2

=
3

5 0 (b) R l h = 2
4 R 5

/_zyxwvutsrqponm
4

/_I
rn DST-BK

zyxwvutsrqponm
DST-BL &IE

3 -
D m

i: 2

n
I -
-

0
2 1
m u

zyxwvutsrqpon2

a) Rlh = 50
3 4 R 5 0 I

Figure 15. Clamped circular plates-shear forces on a radius: (a) R l h

b) Rlh
2

=
= 2
3

50; (b) R l h = 2
4 R 5

Dot. :
E=10.92 ; v =0.3; L=lOOO ; h=l
S-S plate:

t' w=ps=Oon boundary

Clamped plate:
w=ps=pn=o on boundary
Symmetry conditions:
px=O on BC and py=O on CD

!L
n 0
mesh A mesh B ( N 2 )
U w
L

Figure 16. Square plates

1628 zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvuts J.-L. BATOZ AND I. KATlLI

a ) Displacement at centre zyxwvuts

zyxwvut
zyxwvu
W c = 0.0056 PL2 lD )

-30 '
0
zyxwv
2
t zyxwvutsrqpon
zyxwvuts
zyxwvu
4 6
I

b ) Bending moment at mid side ( M = 0.1257 P )

N
L1
10

Figure 17. Clamped square plate-results for DST-BK, DKT and IDKT: (a) displacement at centre (wc = 0.0056
PL2/D);(b) bending moment at mid-side ( M = 0.1257P)

considered this benchmark test. A reference value is obtained using sixteen Hermite rec-
tangular C' Kirchhoff elements. The results obtained with DKT, HSM, HCT (taken from
Reference 46) and with the new element DST-BK are reported on Figure 19.
We can observe that the quality of the results is not influenced by the aspect ratio for DKT
and DST-BK. The new element appears to be more flexible than DKT, which behaves
particularly well for this test since the average value (combining the two mesh orientations)
almost coincides with the benchmark results. Other results not reported here (like the rhombic
plate with angle of 30") have shown that the new element is not very sensitive to distortion.

6. CONCLUSIONS
A new triangular element called DST-BK having three nodes and three d.0.f. per node has been
presented for the bending analysis of plates with transverse shear effects included. The approx-
imations of the rotations p, and p, have a hierarchical form similar to the approximations
 15

-
.
zy
zyxwvutsrqponmlk TRIANGULAR PLATE ELEMENT

10
1629

zyxwvutsrqpon
--C DKT(A)

zyxwvutsrqponmlk
a

zyxwvutsrqponml
LDKT(A)
p 10-
0.
---*-- DST RK (B)

zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihg
a
L
e _---*-----*

- zy
2 5 -
6Q 0.. -.-.-. ,, -C DST-BK(A)

0
--_ ---- -- . -10 - 0'
--t DKT(A)
IDhT(A)
DST-BK (B)
--m- IDKT (B)
1 I 1 I
-5 -20

n ) mosh A.

zyxwvutsrqp
b) moshD.

Figure 19. Twisted ribbon-results for DKT, HSM, HCT and DST-BK: (a) mesh A; (b) mesh B
 zyxwvutsr
zyxwvutsr
1630 J.-L. BATOZ AND I. KATILI

considered for DKT22*39 (and also for DRM36,38elements). However, in the present element the
three quadratic functions are incompatible functions chosen such that they are energy orthogonal

zyxw
to the linear shape functions, so that the constant curvature patch-tests are exactly satisfied for
any aspect ratio. The constant independent transverse strains are defined in terms of the three
parameters cl,, of the quadratic rotation field using the moment equilibrium and the bending and
shear constitutive equations (as in the former DST-BL6 element). Collocation shear constraints
are then considered at the mid-sides of the triangle, assuming a linear approximation for the

zyxwvuts
transverse displacement w in order to relate the three parameters clk to the nine final d.0.f. of the
element. The stiffness is simply the superposition of a matrix due to the constant and linear
bending modes and of a matrix due to the quadratic (higher-order) modes. The stiffness matrix
has a proper rank and shear locking is completely avoided since the shear strains are defined in
terms of the parameters of the quadratic rotation field and are proportional to the shear influence

zyxwvu
factor 4 (equation (6)).The numerical tests confirm that the element has a proper rank, passes all
bending and shear patch-tests and is free of locking. Several precision tests (ribbon test, rhombic

zyx
plate with 30” angle) have shown that the element is not much influenced by the geometrical
distortion. Its convergence rate is as good and sometimes better than the former DKT, IDKT and
recent high performance free formulation element of Felippa and Bergan.4 It has the advantage of
being valid for thin and thick plates.

zyxwvut
A whole family of triangular elements can in fact be derived with the present formulation using
different higher-order Pk functions. One possibility is to consider another coefficient than b = 1/2
in equations (33a). The other possibility is to abandon the compatible quadratic functions of the
former DKT element. Two considerations should be kept in mind when considering the
incompatible P, functions: energy orthogonality to satisfy the constant curvature patch-tests and
inversion of the [ A , ] matrix (equation (42)).
In the present paper we have also studied in details the formulation of the former DST-BL
element.6 As shown here, the only problem with DST-BL is that it does not exactly pass the
constant curvature patch-tests for thick plates (less than 1 per cent error for L / h = 10 for the
mesh considered in Figure 5). However, convergence to the thick plate solutions have always been
observed for the problems we have considered so far.
The analysis of composite plate and shells using the DST-BK elements is presently performed.
We are also developing and evaluating quadrilateral elements based on the present combination
of incompatible energy orthogonal higher-order bending modes, assumed shear strains and
discrete constraints.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Professor Gouri Dhatt and Dr Pascal Lardeur for interesting and challenging
discussions related to the present work. This research has been partly supported by the French
organizations DRET, CNRS and MRT. The second author also acknowledges the scholarship
from the French Government.

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