An implementation of the hp‐version of the finite element method for Reissner‐Mindlin plate problems

Reissner‐Mindlin plate theory is still a topic of research in finite element analysis. One reason for the continuous development of new plate elements is that it is still difficult to construct elements which are accurate and stable against the well‐known shear locking effect. In this paper we suggest an approach which allows high order polynomial degrees of the shape functions for deflection and rotations. A balanced adaptive mesh‐refinement and increase of the polynomial degree in an hp‐version finite element program is presented and it is shown in numerical examples that the results are highly accurate and that high order elements show virtually no shear locking even for very small plate thickness.