An unsymmetric stress formulation for Reissner-Mindlin plates: a simple and locking free four node element

In the present paper a simple mixed-hybrid element for the linear analysis of Reissner-Mindlin plates is discussed. The element is derived from a modified Reissner functional and standard bilinear (isoparametric) interpolation for displacement and rotations is assumed whereas local stresses (rather than stress resultants and moments) are explicitly modelled. It is assumed that in plane shear stresses are not a priori symmetric. This choice allows to decouple the equilibrium equations, and involves introducing an in-plane infinitesimal rotation field, corresponding to drilling degrees of freedom. Out-of-plane shear stresses are then obtained such that equilibrium equations are exactly satisfied. The proposed element does not exhibit locking effects at all: i.e. the shear deformation energy is zero in the thin plate limit. Details of the formulation are provided, and the performances of the element are assessed with reference to well-established benchmark problems.