An adaptive non-conformingnite-element method for Reissner-Mindlin plates

SUMMARY Adaptive algorithms are important tools for ecientnite-element mesh design. In this paper, an error controlled adaptive mesh-rening algorithm is proposed for a non-conforming low-ordernite-element method for the Reissner-Mindlin plate model. The algorithm is controlled by a reliable and ecient residual-based a posteriori error estimate, which is robust with respect to the plate's thickness. Numerical evidence for this and the eciency of the new algorithm is provided in the sense that non-optimal convergence rates are optimally improved in our numerical experiments. Copyright ? 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.