Finite element method in plane Cosserat elasticity

Abstract

A displacement and rotation based finite element method for the solution of boundary value problems in linear isotropic Cosserat elasticity is proposed. The field equations for the problem of plane strain are derived from the three-dimensional theory and expressed in oblique rectilinear coordinates. Three fundamental triangular finite elements are presented. A patch test for validating Cosserat finite element formulations is also introduced. (C) 2002 Civil-Comp Ltd. and Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.