A Mindlin plate triangular element with improved interpolation based on Timoshenko's beam theory.

A triangular plate bending element, based on the generalized conforming element theory, has been formulated. The variations of the rotation and shear strain along each side are determined based on Timoshenko's beam theory. The rotation and shear strain fields within the element are then obtained using interpolation. As the plate becomes progressively thinner, the shear strain field approaches zero automatically, and thus the proposed element type is free of shear locking. The excellent performance of the proposed element type in the analysis of both thick and thin plates has been clearly illustrated in the numerical examples presented. Moreover, the formulation method presented in this paper is general, and thus can be used to develop quadrilateral elements. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]