A potential-hybrid/mixed finite element scheme for analysis of plates and cylindrical shells

Based on the potential-hybrid/mixed finite element scheme, 4-node quadrilateral plate-bending elements MP4, MP4a and cylindrical shell element MCS4 are derived with, the inclusion of splitting rotations. All these elements demonstrate favorable convergence behavior over the existing counterparts, free from spurious kinematic mode's and do not exhibit locking phenomenon in thin platef shell limit. Inter-connections between the existing modified variational functionals for the use of formulating C0-and C1-continuous elements are also indicated. Important particularizations of the present scheme include Prathop's consistent field formulation, the RIT/SRIT-compatible displacement model and so on.