Compurers& Srmcmres Vol.19, No. 3, pp. 419-495, 1984
oo
F’rintedin the U.S.A.
A REVIEW AND CATALOGUE OF
PLATE BENDING FINITE ELEMENTS
M. M. HRABOK
Cambrian Engineering, 119-105 Street East Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 122
and
T. M. HRUDEY
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G7
(Received 20 June 1983; received for publication 21 November 1983)
Abstract-A brief review of developments in the field of plate finite elements is presented. This review
is followed by an extensive tabular listing of plate bending elements.
lNTRODUCI?ON
The finite element method has undergone an ex-
tremely active development period since its begin-
nings in the late 1950s. During the first ten to flfteen
years of this activity, research effort centred on
element development. More recently there has been a
natural trend towards work focussing on applications
of the method.
One of the lirst tasks facing a potential practitioner
of the finite element method is element selection. At
this stage, one is confronted with the bewildering
array of elements that has resulted from over twenty
years of research activity. An area for which this
problem is particularly difficult is that of plate ben-
ding where the number of available elements is large
and no one particular element has emerged as the so
called “best” element.
The objective of this paper is to report the results
of an extensive review of research on finite elements
for thin plates. This review was conducted as part of
a project to develop a finite element program for
analysis of stiffened plates as encountered in rein-
forced concrete floor systems[l]. The results of this
review are presented here in a form it is believed will
be particularly useful. The main body of the paper
consists of two parts. The first is an historical review
of developments in the field of plate bending ele-
ments. It is deliberately brief and is intended to serve
as background for the main contribution which is a
tabular presentation of existing plate elements. The
geometry and nodal configuration of each element is
shown along with other pertinent details. This table
or catalogue will serve as a useful guide and reference
for researchers, educators and prospective element
users. Coupled with the review and table is an
extensive bibliography.
Developments in plate bending jinite elements
Interest in plate bending elements came very early
in the history of the finite element method. At the
beginning of the 1960s a number of elements were
proposed by researchers such as Clough [2], Adini [3],
Melosh[4] and Tocher[S]. These elements, as with
most others developed in that period, were of the
displacement type.
By the mid 1960s the variational basis for the finite
element method had become better understood, and
479
OlMs-7949/84 s3.00 + .
Pergamon PressLtd.
coupled with this, came the realization that inter-
element compatibility or conformity was an im-
portant property. Without it element convergence
might not always be obtained.
The conformity requirement for plate problems
proved to be particularly problematic in that inter-
element continuity is required for both the transverse
displacement and the slope normal to the element
boundary. Most early plate bending elements were of
the nonconforming type.
Success in achieving full conformity came easiest in
the case of rectangular elements. Bogner et al.[6]
developed 16 and 36 degree of freedom conforming
rectangles that exhibited good convergence proper-
ties. It was necessary, however, to use second deriva-
tives of displacement as degrees of freedom. In
particular, for the 16 degree of freedom element the
twist was used. It was explained later by Irons and
Draper[q that it is not possible to derive a con-
forming element using simple polynomials and only
the three geometric degrees of freedom.
The derivation of suitable triangular elements
proved to be considerably more difficult than rectan-
gular elements. Clough and Tocher [2] discussed three
of the early non-conforming triangular elements. One
of these is an element that was derived earlier by
Adini[8], and which violates the constant strain re-
quirement and does not converge. The second, de-
rived by Tocher [5], converges but is not geometrically
isotropic and cannot be derived for certain shapes.
The third does not pass the patch test and was found
to converge to incorrect results.
Bazely et al.[9] simplified the problem associated
with geometric isotropy by formulating shape func-
tions using area coordinates. Although their non-
conforming triangle has been used widely, it does not
satisfy the patch test.
Satisfying the conformity requirement was found
to be particularly difficult for triangular elements. A
number of different approaches were followed.
To achieve a conforming element, while still using
only the three geometric degrees of freedom, Bazeley
et al. introduced the approach of superimposing
non-polynomial shape functions. Zienkiewicz[lO] has
labelled these types of displacement functions as
“conforming shape functions with nodal singu-
larities”. This term refers to the fact that the second
480 M. M. HRABOKand T. M. HRUDEY
derivatives or curvatures are not defined uniquely at
the element nodes.
Clough[2] introduced what Gallagher[ 1l] has la-
belled as the “subdomain approach” in which the
main triangle is subdivided into three component
triangles. The matrix for the whole triangle is ob-
tained by imposing compatibility conditions along
subtriangle boundaries. Several researchers have used
the subdomain approach or variations of it. Elements
derived in this way are identified in Table 2 by
showing the subtriangles within the element.
Of all the different schemes considered for the
derivation of conforming plate elements, perhaps the
most straightforward is the use of higher order
polynomials. This class has been referred to as refined
or higher order elements. A twenty-one degree of
freedom element having mid-side nodes and using a
complete quintic polynomial displacement function
was developed simultaneously by Argyris [ 121,
Bell [ 131, Irons [ 141 and Visser [ 151. Constraining the
variation of normal slope to be cubic along the
element boundary eliminates the need for the three
mid-side nodes. The resulting eighteen degree of
freedom element was developed simultaneously also
by three different groups: Argyris[l2], Be11[13] and
Cowper et al.[16].
Conforming plate elements were not only difficult
to obtain, but with the exception of the higher order
elements, they were found to be too stiff. There was
considerable scepticism about the need to meet the C’
continuity requirement and many researchers looked
for alternate formulations. The subsequent research
followed several different paths.
A significant improvement to Bazeley’s approach
was presented by Irons and Razzaque[l7] through
the use of “substitute shape functions” and the
“smoothed derivative technique”. The substitute
shape functions replace certain terms in the original
functions. The degree of the highest complete poly-
nomial is not changed and the derivatives in the
energy functional are approximated in a least squares
sense[lO]. The resulting elements are not conforming
except in the limit as the element size is decreased.
Other researchers experimented with a complete
quadratic polynomial and obtained the “constant
moment triangle”. The counterpart of this element in
plane elasticity is the “constant strain triangle”.
Still other researchers sought elements based on
alternative variational principles. One logical choice
is the principle of minimum complementary potential
energy resulting in an “equilibrium formulation”. In
principle it would appear that all that is required is
to choose interpolation functions for the stresses or
moments within the element. The chosen functions
would be required to satisfy equilibrium at every
point in the structure and the stress conditions on
the boundaries. However, as described by
Zienkiewicz[lO], “despite many trials of horrifying
complexity” seldom has this been achieved directly
with stresses as variables. One of the major difficulties
arises in satisfying the kinematic boundary condi-
tions.
Initial work in this field was done by de
Veubeke [ 181.To avoid a redundant force analysis, de
Veubeke formed element flexibility matrices directly,
inverted them to get stiffness matrices and then
proceeded with a displacment type of solution. Prob-
lems arose with this approach when the assembled
stiffness matrix was found to be positive semi-
definite, indicating a kinematically unstable structure.
Another means of using the complementary energy
principle is to use the “flexibility” or “force” ap-
proach where a set of redundant self-equilibrating
forces is chosen as the unknowns. In finite element
analysis, difficulties with automating the selection of
the redundant force system have caused this ap-
proach to be all but abandoned.
Considerable clarification and simplification in the
use of the equilibrium method can be attributed to
Morley[l9,20] and Elias[21], who implemented the
use of element stress functions. Stresses are calculated
from the second derivatives of these functions and
therefore the stress functions must still possess C’
continuity. However choosing these functions is
made easier by “the principle of duality”. These
analogies have been discussed extensively in the
literature by Southwell[22], de Veubeke and
Zienkiewicz [23], Morley[l9], Elias [21] and
Sander[24]. In spite of the contributions of Morley
and Elias, difficulties still exist with choosing the
stress functions, defining the applied load state and
specifying the boundary conditions for the stress
functions. As well, the displacements do not possess
unique values because they are obtained from inte-
grating the strains. More detailed discussions on
obtaining solutions using the principle of minimum
complementary energy are given in the texts by
Gallagher [25] and by Zienkiewicz [ lo].
Some other formulations that followed made use
of Lagangian multipliers to allow relaxation of the
continuity requirements along interelement bound-
aries thereby reducing the conformity requirement to
C? continuity. The use of these modified functionals
led to the hybrid methods and the generalised mixed
methods. The term “hybrid” is used here to refer to
formulations where one set of unknowns can be
eliminated at the element level. The term “generalised
mixed methods” refers to formulations where both
sets of unknowns appear in the global set of equa-
tions.
The tirst hybrid method developed was the stress
hybrid method of Pian[26,271. Using a modified
complementary potential energy principle, Pian chose
stress polynomials for the interior of the element and
displacements around the perimeter of the element.
The latter play the role of Lagrangian multipliers to
force interelement equilibrium. This method is known
as the hybrid stress method.
Other researchers, such as Tong[28] and Kikuchi
and Ando[29], developed various displacement hy-
brid approaches based on modified forms of the
principle of minimum potential energy.
Another alternative to the displacement method
was presented by Herrmann[30] in 1965. It is a mixed
method and is based on a modified Reissner vari-
ational principle. Using this method, different combi-
nations of displacements and stresses can be assumed
on the interior as well as on the boundaries of the
element. Herrmann relaxed the continuity require-
ments for displacements but imposed continuity con-
ditions on the stress field. The result was that Co
continuity was required of both sets of trial functions.
Computations for the element stiffness are reduced
because lower order polynomials can be used, but
 Table 1. Classification of finite element methods
Assumed Functions Along Inter-element Unknown5 in REFERENCES
inside the element Boundaries Final Equations

Continuous Dlsplacement Noda 1 Courant[62]

Displacements Compatlbllity Displacements Melosh[63]

Mlnlmum Continuous and Equlllbrium a) Generalized a) de Veubeke[64]

EPUILIBRIUM Complementar Equlllbrating Boundary Displacements
Energy Stresses Tract ions b) Stress bl Worley~19l.[201
Parameters Ellas[21]

HYBRID Modlffed Continuous and Assumed Noda 1

H STRESS Complementary Equillbratlng Compatlble Displacements P1an[261,[651
V I METHOD I Energy I Stresses I Displacements I I
R HYBRID Wodlf led Continuous Assumed Nods 1
I DISPLACEMENT Potential Displacements Compatible Displacements Tong[26]
D METHOD( 11 Energy Displacements Kikuchi & Ando[29]

HYBRID Modif led Continuous Assumed Nodal displacements

DISPLACEMENT Potent la1 Displacements Equilibrating and GallagherI25)
METHOD(P) Energy Boundary Tractlons Boundary Forces

i REISSNER’s Relssner Method Continuous Stre5s Combinations of Combinations of Herrmann[30],[661

PRINCIPLE I a5 modified bv I and Disolacement I Boundarv Tractions I Dlsolacements I Pian 6 Tow1271
_-
Herrmann _ Fun& Ions and Displacements and’ Tract Ions

Modif led Continuous Lagranglan Nodal Displacements Greene et a11321

DISPLACEMENT Potential Displacements multipliers and Lagranglan Anderheggen(33)
Energy (stresses) multlpllers Harvey6 Kelsey[34]

Modlf led Continuous and Lagranglan Nodal Displacements Anderheggen(351

EGUILIBRIUN Complementary Equlllbratlng multlpllers and Lagranglan
Energy Stresses (dlsplacements1 multipliers
482 M. M. HRABOK and T. M. HRUDEY

Table 2. Existing plate elements

ELEMENT DESCRIPTION

1) 12 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
P - Nodaldof= <w w,. w,* ’
- References:
Papenfuss1671, Clough and Tocher[Z]
Bogner,Fox, and Schmit[6]
n - used crossing-beam functions: twist term
’ xy.’ omitted, erroneous convergence.
2) 12 dof Displacement Type (Nonconforming)
- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
ACM -Nodaldof=<w w,. w.* ’
- References:
Adini and Clough[31, Melosh[63],
Zienkiewicz and Cheung[681,Dawe[691
I - 12 term polynomial(cubic and x’y + xy’)
- Dawe also forms a consistent mass matrix.

3) 12 dof Displacement Type (Nonconforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
M - Nodal dof= < w w,~ w.y >
- References:
Melosh[L]
- cubic beam functions along edges with a
I linear variation to the opposite side.

4) 12 dof Hybrid Stress Type

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w wrx w.y ‘0
- References:
Pian -also stress-free edges,
Severn and Taylor[701,
n Henshell and co-workers[71,72]
- various combinations of w and M .

5) 16 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
BFS-16 - Nodal dof- < w w,. w,* w,.y ’
- References.:
Bogner,Fox and Schmit[Cl
Butlin and Leckie[731, Hansteen[741,
n Mason[751.

6) 24 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof=< w w,. w,~ w,.. w,.y w.*)r ’
- References:
Bogner et a1[6]- Hermitian functions,
Popplewell and MacDonald[761,
IX Gopalachar ulu [771- quartic polynomial.

W,..Y
wrxlv*
Watkins178 v , 1791 - blended Hermitians,

Wf.YY
7) 36 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

n
- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w,. w,~ w... w..* w.*)r
’
- References:
Bogner,Fox and Schmit[Cl.

8) 12 dof Displacement Type (Nonconforming)

n
- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w,~ w,~ >
- References:
Dawe[80] - modified the ACM polynomial
to reduce the coefficients which were
causing the wrn discontinuity.

9) 12 dof Mixed TypetGeneralized Displacement Method1

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w,. w,v ’
- References:
Greene,Jones,McLa and Stromet811,
Harvey and Kelsey v 341; (triangles).
i - Lagrangian multipliers are used at a
global level to restore continuity.

10) 16 dof Hybrid Stress Type

n
- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w,. w,Y wrlv ’
- References:
Pian and Tong[821, Piant
- spurious energy modes may appear for thir
and other elements if assumed moments arc
linear - Pian & Mau1841, HolandI851.
 A review and catalogue of plate bending finite elements 483

Table 2. (Contd)

EL~NT DESCRIPTION

1) 36 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

- Love’s Moderately Thick Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w wtx w,,. W,XX wrrr w,*y
w*.xv wIxIY w,x.,y ’
- References:
Smith[86], Smith and Duncant
n - also form a 24 dof rectangle by ignoring
the last 3 nodal dof.

2) 24 dof Displacement Type (Ronconforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof=< w w,. w,y w,.. w,x* w,ry ’
- References:
Wegmuller and Kostem[883
WegmullerC89,901
i - complete quintic polynomial and the terms
r’y, x’y’, and xyl.

131 12 dof Hybrid Displacement TypeiSimplified Method:

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w If,* w.” ’
- References:
Kikuchi and Andof
- derived 4 rectangles and 4 triangles by
I using.various displacement combinations,
<‘corrective’ matrix enforces continuity’

14) 8 dof Hybrid Displacement Type

CMR - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
-Nodeldof=< w >
Node2 dof= < w,. or 34. z-
- References:
Kikuchi and Ando[291: (as above)
n Poceski[Sll -mixed method,
1 2 - this is the ‘Constant Woment Rectangle’.

15) 16 dof Displacement Type (Discrete Kitchhofff

- Mindlin Plate Theory
- Node1 dof= < w 0. 6” >
Node2 dof= <
- References: fa1si.a p&lelogramf
Razzaque[92j, Baldwin[49F, Irond511.
~ - reduced 24 dof to 16 by using 8 discrete
1 2 conditions at the Gauss points.,

161 16 dof Displacement Type (Discrete Kitchhofff

- Mindlin Plate Theory
- Node1 dof= < w 6. 8, >
Node2 dof= <
- References: (a1st.a qua&ilateral)
Baldwin,Razzaque and Irons[49]
r% - reduced 25 dof to 16 by using constraint
1 2 at 8 Loof nodes and s perimeter integral

17) 16 dof Displacement Type (Discrete Kirchhoff)

Semi-Loof - Mindlin Plate Theory
- Bode1 dof= < w >
Node2 dof- -z 8, z , (Loof nodes)
- References:
Irons[511, Martins and Owens[931
- reduced 27 dof to 16 by using constraint
1 2 at 8 Loof nodes and 3 area integrals.

18) 12 dof Displacement Type (Selective Integration)

- Mindlin Plate Theory
Bi .MPT - Nodal dof- ( W 8. 0, >
- References:
Pughl941, Pugh et al I44l,
Hughes,Taylor and Kanoknukulchai[Qlf
II - bilinear displacement functions,
- two spurious energy modes.

19) 24 dof Displacement Type (Selective Integration)

QSR - Mindlin Plate Theory
- Nodal dof- < w 8. e, >
-.References:(Quadratic Serendipity Reduce1
PughL941, Pugh et el 1441
- basically the same as Ahmad’s reduced
pi integration plate element; may diverge
or converge.erratically [44].

20) 27 dof Displacement Type (Selective Integration1

QLR - Windlin Plate Theory
- Nodal dof- < w 8. e, ?
- References: (Quadratic La range Reduced)
Pugh[941, Pugh et al [44 s
-- four spurious energy modes for S2x2
reduced integration,
z can be mappad into a quadrilateral.
 M. M. HRABOKand T. M. HRULW

Table 2. (Cod)

2) 48 dof

reduced integration.

- Nodal dof= < v

- References:

nodes and 3 shear integrals.

Node2 dof= <

- Ref erencts:

- Node2 dof= <

lso 44 and 66 dof elments)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory

- Nodal dof= < w w,x w,.y ’
- References:
AdiniK81, Clough and Tocher[Zl
- constant twist term ‘xy’ omitted:
erroneous convergence (too stiff).

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory

- Nodal dof= < w w,. w,y ’
- References:

- Node1 dof= < Y

Node2 dof= < Y
- References:
 A review and catalogue of plate bending finite elements 485

Table 2. (Conki)

ELEMENT DESCRIPTION

\;_--
11) 9 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)
HCT - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof- < w w,.

D
- References: (Hsieh-C1~~~hzTocher element)
Clough and Tocher[Z]
/’ - beginning of the ‘subdomain approach’,
- ‘geometric isotropy’ preserved by special
choice of axes; linear w,” enforced.

32) 9 dof Displacement Type (Nonconforming)

B C I Z(nc) - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof- < w w,. w#I ’

P
- References:
Bazeley,Cheung,Irons and Zienkiewicz191
- introduced the use of ‘area coordinates’
to retain geometric isotropy: also begin
the ‘substitute shape function’ approach.

33) 9 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

B C I Z(c) - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w,. w,), ’

P
- References:
Bazeley,Cheung,Irons and Zienkiewiczlgl
- as above, but corrective shape functions
used to obtain conformity (very stiff),
- requires very high order of integration.

34) 12 dof Mixed Type (modified Reissner Principle)

- Reissner Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w M. M, W., ’

P
- References:
Herrmann[30]
Chattcrjee and Setlurr971
- assumed linear variation of w and M
- trial functions need only C’ continuit;.

35) 9 dof Displacement Type (Discrete Kirchhoff)

- Mindlin Theory or (Thick Plate Theory -
displacement functions for u, v, and w).

D
- References:
Melosh[9S], Utku[991,[1001, Martin[lOl
Wempner et a1[471, Dhatt[102,1031,
Stricklin et a1[48], Fried[50,104],
Hinton et al[lOS], Batoz et al [106].
36) 9 dof Equilibrium Type(Argyris’ Natural Approach1
- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof- < w w,. w,y ’

P
- References:
Argyris[l07]
- obtained a 6x6 flexibility matrix by
using the Unit Load method.

37) 9 dof Hybrid Stress Type

- Kirchhoff Plate Theorv
- Nodal dof= -z w w,. ;.y ’

I\. - References:
Severn and Taylort701
- assumed quadratic M and cubic w .

38) 21 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

T-21 - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Node1 dof=< w w,. wP,* w... w,x* wry* ’

Q
- Node2 dof= < w,.
- References: Felip [:OS] Withum[lOSl
Argyris[l2], Bell p”1101, Bosshard[llll
2 Visser[llZl, Irons11131
1 - used a complete quintic polynomial.

39) 6 dof Methods : CONSTANTMOMENTTRIANGLE

CUT Displacement ; Horley[ll41
Eouilibrium : Allman[ll51
Hybrid Stress: Yoshida[ll61
Hybrid Disp. - Kikuchi and Andor
Mixed iHerrmannr661, Hellan[ll71
D 2 - Node1 dof= < w or Q>
1 Node2 dof- < w,* Or M. >

40) 12 dof Equilibrium Type (Duality Approach)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof- < er, 4r >
- References:
Morley[19,201, SanderL241
- quadratic moment functions,
- nodal parameters are the Southwell
stress functions.
486 M. M. HRABOK and T. M. HRUDEY

Table 2. (Co&)

ELEMENT DESCRIPTION

41) 9 dof Hybrid Stress Type

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w,. w,y ’
- References
Dungar,Severn and Taylor[llB],
Allman[llS],
p Neale,Henshell and Edwards[ll91,
Yoshida[lZOl, Batoz, Bathe and Ho[1061.

42) 12 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

Lcct-12 - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w,. W.” ’
\ - Node2 dof- < w.. >
,>___ - References:
Clough and Felippa[l21]
D’ 2 -improved the subdomain approach by using i
1 complete cubic and reducing 30 dof to 12.

43) 15 dof Displacement Type (Nonconforming)

T-15 - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof- < w w,. w,y ’
- Node2 dof= < w w,. >
- References:
Be11[13,1101,
D 2 Chu and Schnobrichfl221
1 - used complete quartic shape functions.

44) 9 dof Displacement Type (Non-Conforming in w)

CPT - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w,. W,I ’
\ - References:
\\ Connor and Wi11[123]
- discarded the x’y term, conforming in w,,
p but not in w along one of the sides,
- used in the STRUDLZ computer program.

45) 12 dof Equilibrium Type

LI.lT - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w >
- Side dof- < averaged integral value of w
and 2 weighted edge rotations >
- References: (Linear Moment Triangle)
p de Veubeke and Sander11241,
Somervaille[lES] -also presented Q M T,

46) 9 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof- < w w,. w,* ’
\ - References:
&_-- Shieh, Lee, and Parmelee[l261
/’ - used a quadratic function and reduced
p 18 dof to 9 dof, element cannot satisfy
interior displacement comptability.

47) 18 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

T-18 - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof=< w wrx wev w,.. we.” w.y* ’
- References:
Cowper et a1[16,127], Argyris[lZl,
Butlin and Ford[128], Be11[13,1101.
p - derived from T-21 triangle by imposing a
a cubic variation of w.. .

48) 21 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

TUBA-6 - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Node1 dof= < w w,. w,* w,.. w,x). w,YY ’
Node2 dof= < w,. ’
- References:
Argyris[lZ]- identical to T-21,
D 2 -complete quintic displacement polynomial,
1 element has 6 nodes and 21 dof.

49) 28 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

TUBA-13 - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Node1 dof= < w w,. w,), w,.. w,.r w,** ’
Nodei dof- various dof at remaining nodet
. - References:
Argyrisr121
p -complete sextic displacement polynomial,
1 element has 13 nodes and 28 dof.

50) 36 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

TUBA-15 - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Node1 dof- < w w,. w,” w... W,X” wtv)r ’
Nodei dof= various dof at remaining nodet
. . - References:
ArgyrisLl21, Zenisek11291
B -complete septic displacement polynomial,
1 element has 15 nodes and 36 dof.
 A review and catalogue of plate bending finite elements 487

Table 2. (Con@

ELEMBNT DESCRIPTION

51) 6 dof Equilibrium Type

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < @., 0, >
- References:
Elias[Zl], Sanderr
- nodal parameters are Southwell functions
- assumed linear moment functions.

52) 12 dof Mixed Type (Herrmann’s Method)

- Reissner Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w M. M, M.” ’
- References:
Visser[lSl, BootIl301
- 9 dof obtainable by static condensation,
- parabolic variation of w and
a linear variation of M .

53) 18 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theorv
- Node1 dof= < w w,. G,, >

D
Node2 dof= < w w,. w,.t ’
- References:
Irons1141
2 - used all 15 terms of a quartic plus 3
basic or ‘singularity’ functions.

54) 24 dof Mixed Type(Generalised Equilibrium Method)

- Linear Stress Variation across thickness
- Nodal dof= i M. M, M., ’

P
- Side dof= < 2 Lagrange multipliers to
restore shear continuity >
- ‘References:
Anderheggenf351, Meek[l311

55) 9 dof Hybrid Stress Type

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w .w,. w,* ’
- References:
Dungar and Severn[l32],
- various combinations of M and w,
- variable thickness, also triangles with
stress-free edges, and hybrid beams.

56) 9 dof Hybrid Displacement Type

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof- < w w,, “,* ’
- References:
Hansteen[l33], Yoshida[l161, Allman[1341
- Allman’s-cubic w for interior and edges
is identical to a stress hybrid with
cubic w and linear M .

57) 12 dof Mixed Type(Generalized Displacement Method)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w,. w,* ’
- Side dof= < weighted average of M. fused
to restore interelement continuity)>
- References:
Anderheggen1331
- complete cubic, one dof is integral of w

58) 12 dof Hybrid Stress Type

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Node1 dof= < w wri “I” ’
>

P
Node2 dof= < w,.
- References:
Allman[ll5], Bartholomew[1351
2 - element with linear M and cubic w is
identical to Razxaque’s ‘A-12’.

59) 9,lO dof Mixed Tgpe(Generalized Displacement Method)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Node1 dof= < w w,. w,r ’

D
- Node2 dof= < w >, can be condensed out.
02 - References:
Harvey and Kelsdy[34], Meek[l311
- Lagrangian multipliers restore continuity
at a global level, similar to Anderheggen

60) 12 dof Mixed Type (Herrmann’s Method)

- Reissner Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w M. M, M,, >

P
- References:
Tahiani[l36],
Bran and Dhatt[ 1371
488 M. M. HRABOKand T. M. HRUDEY

Table 2. (Co&)

ELEMENT DESCRIPTION

61) 24 dof Mixed Type (Herrmann’s Method)

- Reissner Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w M, M, M., ’
- References:
TahianiLl361,
Bron and DhattI1371

Displacement Type (Nonconforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w,, w.), ’
- References:
Irons and Raziaque[l7,92,138,1391
- used ‘derivative smoothing’ and
‘substitute shape functions’,
- identical results to Allman[ll51 hybrid.

63) 12 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Node1 dof= < w w,. w.y ’
Node2 dof= < w,. >
- References:
Irons and Razzaque[17,92,138,1391
p 2 - used ‘derivative smoothin ’ but element
1 identical to Allman’s[ll5 s stress hybrid

Hybrid Displacement Type(Simplified Method)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w,. w,r ’
- References:
Kikuchi and And01291
- used a complete cubic and a ‘corrective
matrix’ to derive 4 rectangles and 4
triangles.

Displacement Type (Conforming)

- similar to TUBA-15 but reduced to 33 dof,

- 10 node element used for contact problems

66) 9 dof Hybrid Stress Type

- Love’s Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w,. w,* ’
- References:
Cook[141,1421
- various aspects of the hybrid stress
method; emphasis on transverse shear,
- also formed quadrilaterals from triangles

67) 9 dof ‘Direct Approach’

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w.. w,* ’
- References:
Bergan and HanssenL561
- not based on any variational principle
but must satisfy constant strain states
and pass the ‘patch test’.

68) 8 dof Mixed Type (modified Herrmann’s method)

2 - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Node1 dof= < w M. H; ‘,
Node2 dof= < w M.
Node3 dof= < w > ,(lineZr M along 2-21
- References: (constant M along l-2)
Poceski[911
- stress polys. partly dependent on disps.

Displacement Type (Conforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Node1 dof- < w w,x w.y ’

D
Node2 dof= < w w.. w., w.., ’
- References:
Caramanlian, Selby and Wi11[1431
2
1

70) 9 dof Displacement Type (Selective Integration)

- Mindlin Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w 8. 8, >
- References:
Batos,Bathe and Ho[1061
- a study of 9 dof triangles which included
conventional disp., hybrid stress, and
discrete Kirchhoff elements.
 A review and catalogue of plate bending finite elements 489

Table 2. (Contd)
ELEMENT DESCRIPTION

711 12 dof Methods:

Rhombics Displacement ; SandtrL241
Equilibrium ; Sander1241
Hybrid Stress; Wolf[l44]
- Nodal dof= < w wII w,* ’
- References:
0 Pian[831

72) 12 dof Displacement Type(Argyris’ Natural Method)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dofw < w w,. w,y ’
- References:
Argyris[l071
- derived 9x9 ‘natural flexibility matrix’
D from which the 12x12 stiffness matrix
was obtained.

73) 12 dof Displacement Type (Nonconforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w v,. w,* ’
- References:
Dawe[ 1451,
Ramstad and Holand[l461, Ramstad[lQIl
/T7 - Dawe utts the ACM polynomial in an
oblique coordinate system.

74) 16 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof- < w w,. WI* w,.* ’
- References:
Granheim[l48]
/7

75) 12,24,36 Equilibrium Type (Duality Approach)

dof - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof- < 9., aY >
- References:
Sander1241
- derived a family of equilibrium linear,
0 quadratic, and cubic paralltlograms and
triangles (also sub- and hyptr- elements

76) 16 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
CQ-16 - Node1 dof= < w w,. w,), ’
Node2 dof= < w,. >
A./- - References:
cc \ Sanderrl491, de Veubeke[l8,1501
1 \ - 12 dof quad. may be obtained by imposing
q 2 a linear variation of normal slopes.

77) 12 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w wrr w,* ’
*.. *s - References:
---- \ Clough and Felippa[lZl]
\
\ - the quadrilateral used in the SAP4
q computer program.

78) 24 dof Displacement Type (Conforming)

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof=< w w,# w,” w,.. w,.), wIY* ’
. . , - References:
_-- y\ Clough and Ftlippa[lZl]
\
\
q

79) 16 dof Mixed TypetGeneralised Displacement Method

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w,. wSry >
- References:
Gretne,Jonts,McLay and Strome[32,811
- used Lagrangian multipliers to restore
q continuity at a global level.

SO) Polygons Hybrid Stress Type

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= c w w,. w,y ’
- References:
Allwood and Cornts[l511
- reported results for work done on
polygons with 3 to 9 sides.
490 M. M. HRABOKand T. M. HRUDEY

Table 2. (CO&)
I ELEMENT DESCRIPTION
Displacement Type ‘(C” Conformity)
- Ahmad’s quadratic thick shell element.
- Nodal dof= < w 0. 0, >
- References:
Ahmad,Irons and Zienkiewicz[40,1521
- a plate element obtained from a
degenerated solid, found to be too stiff
for thin plates.

Displacement Type (Selective Integration)

- Ahmad’s shell element underintegrated.
- Nodal dof- < w 6. 6” >
- References:
Pawsey and Clough[39]
Zienkiewicz,Taylor and Too[38]
- both ‘selective’ and ‘uniform’ reduced
integration used to soften the element.

83) 12,24,36 Mapping of Rectangles to Quadrilaterals.

dof - Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < Y w,. v,” ’
- References:
Henshell.Walters and Warburton
- a quadrilateral can be obtained from a
rectangle by a transformation of
coordinates, but the constant curvature
states may be destroyed.

84) 16 dof Mixed Type (Herrmann’s Method)

- Reissner Plate Theory
- Nodal dof- < w M. M, I&Y ’
- References:
Bran and DhattL1371
- linear w and linear M.

85) 24 dof Mixed Type (Herrmann’s Method)

- Reissner Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w M. M, M., ’
- References:
Bron and Dhatt[1371
- quadratic w and quadratic M.

86) 12 dof Hybrid Stress Type

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w w,. v,y ’
- References:
Torbe and Church[l53]
- also derived the in-plane matrices.

87) 24 dof Hybrid Displacement - Trefftz’s Principle

- Kirchhoff Plate Theory
- Nodal dof=< w *,. v.y v,., W,.” u,** >
- References:
Jirousek and Leon[1541
- independent disp. functions for interior
and perimeter; attempt to satisfy the
differential equations of equilibrium.

Hybrid Stress Type (Selective Integration)

- Mindlin Plate Theory
- Nodal dof= < w 8. 6, >
- References:
SpilkerL541
- derived a series of 4-node quadrilaterals
- also derived Serendipity quadratic and
cubic elements for thick plates.

both equilibrium and compatibility are satisfied only
approximately [1I].
In the “generalised displacement method”, non-
conforming elements are used in conjunction with
interelement Lagrangian multipliers. The Lagrangian
multipliers are present in the global equations and
can be identified as forces. This approach appears to
have been initiated by Jones[31], Greene et al.[32],
Anderheggen[33] and Harvey and Kelsey[34].
Similarly, in the “generalised equilibrium method”,
the Lagrangian multipliers are applied to the global
set of equations and are identified as displacements.
Such a solution was used in 1969 by Anderheggen[35]
and later by Sander[24]. With these two mixed meth-
 A review and catalogue of plate bending finite elements
ods, as with Herrmann’s formulation, Lagrangian
multipliers are included in the final equations. These
equations are positive semi-definite and therefore
special care must be taken during the solution
phase[25, lo].
An overview of the different element categories
based on their variational formulation is presented in
Table 1. This table is essentially the same as that
published in 1969 by Pian and Tong[27] except for
the addition of the generalised displacement and the
generalised equilibrium methods to the mixed cate-
gory.
The decade of the 1970s saw a reduction in the rate
at which new elements were derived. Nevertheless,
research continued, resulting in the introduction of
techniques such as reduced integraton and penalty
number formulations, substitute shape functions and
derivative smoothing, and discrete Kirchhoff con-
straints. One of the most significant developments
which emerged from this decade was the use of the
displacement formulation based on Mindlin plate
theory and reduced integration schemes.
The motivation for using Mindlin plate theory is
that only first derivatives appear in the energy func-
tional and therefore only Co continuity is required of
the shape functions. As well, the shape functions
from plane elasticity elements can be used for the
plate bending and the elements can be mapped
isoparametrically.
This approach works well for thick plates. How-
ever as the plate thickness is decreased, the shear
terms dominate in the stiffness matrix and the so-
called “locking” phenomenon occurs. In the limit as
the thickness decreases, the deflections go to zero [36].
In this case it becomes necessary to either impose the
Rirchhoff normality conditions directly as con-
straints or else make the strain matrix rank deficient
by using reduced integration. The latter had been
used with some success in 1969 by Doherty et al. [37]
for overly stiff plane stress elements. For plate ben-
ding, it was introduced simultaneously in 1971 by
Zienkiewicz et al. [38] and by Pawsey and Clough[39].
In both publications, its use was demonstrated on
Ahmad’s eight-node serendipity shell element[40]. In
evaluating the shear strain energy, both research
groups purposely underintegrated the shear strain
terms while intergrating the flexural terms exactly.
This procedure is now known as “selective reduced
integration”. Zienkiewicz et al. also tried under-
integrating all terms by one order of integration. This
is now referred to as “uniform reduced integration”.
Both methods gave much improved results and led to
the method of selective reduced integration with
Mindlin plate theory. This was to dominate the plate
bending research field from the mid 1970s to the
present. The main contributions to this area have
come from research groups associated with
Hughes[41-43] and Hinton[44,45].
One alternative to using selective reduced integra-
tion for Mindlin plate elements is to impose, at the
element level, the Kirchhoff constraints of normality
at discrete locations such as the Gauss integration
points or the Loof nodes[46]. This idea was intro-
duced in 1968 by Wempner et al.[47] and has been
used for plates by researchers such as Stricklin[48],
Baldwin[49], Fried[50], Irons[Sl] and Lyons[52]. It is
491
not always successful and C’ continuity is not always
preserved[lO].
A second alternative is to impose the Kirchhoff
constraints in a weighted integral sense by using
Lagrangian multipliers that are interpolated over the
element. This method has been tested by Hrabok[53].
Neither of the last two methods is as simple or
effective as the selective reduced integration tech-
nique. Recently the use of the selective reduced
integration scheme has been extended to hybrid stress
formulations[54].
The many formulations discussed thus far are not
all independent and a more comprehensive treatment
of these topics and the equivalences between certain
methods are discussed in the texts by Zienkiewicz [ lo]
and by Gallagher[25]. As well, Malkus and
Hughes[55] and Spiker[54] have shown the equiv-
alence of selective reduced integration and some
mixed methods.
A radically different and promising approach is the
direct method introduced in 1975 by Bergan and
Hanssen[56]. This method is not based on a vari-
ational principle. Instead, a triangular element is
derived directly from the conditions that it satisfy the
patch test and the rigid body motion and constant
strain requirements. The computations required are
not as involved as those of some of the previous
methods, and the resulting element has been found to
be quite accurate.
Also requiring mention is the so called “p con-
vergent” or constraint method[57-61). With this
method, refinement is achieved by increasing the
order of the displacement polynomial within each
element while the gridwork remains unchanged. The
polynomial coefficients for the assembly of elements
are constrained in order to satisfy nodal interelement
compatibility.
Table 2 shows all the elements discussed above as
well as many others. In general the elements appear
in chronological order with rectangles first followed
by triangles and then quadrilaterals. Accompanying
this table is an extensive bibliography.
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