The development and use of a piece-wise continuous finite element for plate and shell analysis

The implementation of general purpose programs for the numerical analysis of plate and shell structures calls for the adoption of finite element stiffness expressions which take into account of both lateral distortion and membrane action. It is important that design-oriented programs of the above kind be perfectly general. In particular the element behaviour must be independent of the choice of base axes, and not prone either to singularities or to doubts over convergence with successive mesh refinement. The basic elements should also be mathematically isotropic and the imposition of rigid body displacements should not cause self-straining. Ideally the program should allow the assembly of a wide variety of elements, oriented in any conceivable way and of a freely chosen shape. The present paper documents a procedure for synthesising the latter from a three node primary element which satisfies the above requirements. (Auth.)