A stabilization matrix for the bilinear mindlin plate element

Abstract The reduced integration of the four node quadrilateral plate element based on Mindlin theory results in zero energy modes other than the rigid body modes. These modes present difficulties in certain situations. In this paper we suggest a method to remove these zero-energy (kinematic) modes by perturbing the stiffness by a stabilization matrix. This approach eliminates the element's kinematic modes without inducing locking and thus does not affect its convergence.