A moving Kriging interpolation-based meshless method for numerical simulation of Kirchhoff plate problems

This paper mainly proposes an alternative way for numerical implementation of thin plates bending based on a new improvement of meshless method, which is combined between the standard element-free Galerkin method and one different shape functions building technique. The moving Kriging (MK) interpolation is applied instead of the traditional moving least-square approximation in order to overcome Kronecker's delta property where the standard method does not satisfy. Obviously, the deflection of the thin plates is approximated via the MK interpolation. To illustrate this approach, numerical analysis is examined in both regular and irregular systems. Three examples with different geometric shapes of thin plates undergoing a simply supported boundary are performed. In addition, two important parameters of the present method are also analyzed. A good agreement can be found among the proposed, analytical and finite element methods. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.