A nine node Lagrangian Mindlin plate element with enhanced shear interpolation

Abstract

This paper presents an improved nine node Mindlin plate element. An enhanced interpolation of the transverse shear strains is used in this formulation of the new element which has the requisite number of zero energy modes, does not lock and passes the appropriate patch tests exactly. Some examples are included to illustrate the accuracy of the proposed element. The new 9‐node element is compared with the Lagrangian and heterosis elements and the general performance of the new element is much better than the other quadratic elements especially for shear force distributions.