Dynamic finite element formulation for Cosserat elastic plates

A displacement and rotation-based dynamic finite element formulation for Cosserat plates is discussed in detail in this paper. Special attention is given to the validation of the element through adequate benchmarks and patch tests. The choice of the interpolation functions and the order of integration of the stiffness and the mass matrices are extensively argued. The possibility of local system deficiencies is explored, and a shear locking investigation specifically elaborated for Cosserat plates is carried out. It is shown how the present formulation has interesting computational properties as compared to a classical continuum-based formulation and how it can provide suitable results despite the use of reduced integration. An example of application of the finite element is given, in which the natural frequencies of a masonry panel modelled by means of discrete elements are computed and compared with the finite elements solution. Copyright (c) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.