A Stable Finite Element Formulation for the Reissner–Mindlin Plate–Bending Model

Abstract . A new stabilized finite element formulation for the Reissner-Mindlin plate bending model is presented. It is a simplification of a formulation given by Hughes and Franca [4] and a generalization of a method by Pitkiiranta [6] . We prove the optimal convergence of the method. The formulation is also shown to be consistent and stable independent of the choice of finite element spaces . Numerical results are given.