Application of the three-dimensional triangular-prism hpq adaptive finite element to plate and shell analysis

Abstract The paper presents some non-standard information on the algorithm of a three-dimensional hpq triangular-prism finite element as applied in the presented research, including the shape functions definition, definitions of the geometry and displacement field, and a description of the numerical integration. The main part of the paper describes methodology and results of the numerical research on application of the element to plate and shell analysis. It contains justification of three plate and shell examples as well as the results of numerical tests, including such aspects as limits of the solution, locking phenomena, h-, p- and q-convergence, influence of mesh anisotrophy, numerical stability, etc.