Study about finite element plates based on the Reissner-Mindlin theory

This paper is intended as a numerical quali-quantitative study of convergence, spurious modes and computing time for thin and thick plate elements, under full and reduced integration, with basis on Reissner-Mindlin plate theory. Simulations have been run using the INSANE system. From the convergence results, a good performance of reduced integration in the thin plate is noticed, especially when a Q4 element is introduced, along with a new way to solve the shear locking in this case of thickness, by using full integration with elements of higher order and small dimensions. In the thick plate, reduced integration with refined mesh and lower order elements, such as Q4 and Q9, is also an alternative in cases in which higher order elements with full integration are not possible. Each one of these different possibilities of carrying out the same convergence analysis performs differently, in terms of spurious modes and time. It is possible to conclude that there is no ideal path in the analysis of plate finite elements. Therefore, a good balance between the two last parameters in the study becomes useful in making the best choice in every single simulation to be run.