Eight-node incompatible solid-plate element

A solid-plate finite element formulation,which takes account of the transverse shear deformation,is developed directly from the ordinary eight-node solid element.To avoid locking phenomena,we use the incompatible displacement methods.The formulation has only translational displacement degrees of freedom and the geometry in the thickness direction is correctly displayed.One important advantage of the element is the fact that a fully three-dimensional stress state can be modelled without any modification of the constitutive law.Additionally,the explicit treatment of incompatible shape functions satisfying patch test condition is given.Numerical results show that the element has no spurious zero energy modes and gives satisfactory precision for moderately thick plates.