A quadratic assumed natural strain triangular element for plate bending analysis

In this paper, a six-node triangular C 0 plate bending element is developed by the assumed natural strain method. In the element, all the sampled natural transverse shear strains are chosen such that the latter has a favourable constraint index and the strains are optimized with respect to a linear pure moment field. The element passes the patch tests, yields satisfactory accuracy and shows no sign of shear locking in all the problems considered. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.link_to_subscribed_fulltex