Refined nine-parameter triangular thin plate bending element by using refined direct stiffness method

Abstract

Based on a new generalized variational principle, a refined direct stiffness method (RDSM) which can be directly used to improve non-conforming elements is proposed. The formulation is similar to that of the direct stiffness method (DSM), but the constraint condition of interelement continuity is satisfied in an average sense and as a result convergence and high accuracy are insured. The well-known BCIZ nine- parameter triangular thin plate bending element is refined by the RDSM to yield a new nine-parameter thin plate bending element RT9. Numerical examples are presented to show that the present model passes the patch test and possesses high accuracy.