An isogeometric method for the ReissnerMindlin plate bending problem
We present a new isogeometric method for the discretization of the ReissnerMindlin plate bending problem. The proposed scheme follows a recent theoretical framework that makes possible the construction of a space of smooth discrete deflections Wh and a space of smooth discrete rotations ?h such that the Kirchhoff constraint is exactly satisfied at the limit. Therefore we obtain a formulation which is natural from the theoretical/mechanical viewpoint and locking-free by construction. We prove that the method is uniformly stable and satisfies optimal convergence estimates. Finally, the theoretical results are fully supported by numerical tests.
isogeometric analysis reissner mindlin plates de rham diagram