Local Petrov-Galerkin method for a thin plate

The meshless local Petrov_Galerkin (MLPG) method for solving the bending problem of the thin plate were presented and discussed. The method used the moving least_squares approximation to interpolate the solution variables, and employed a local symmetric weak form. The present method was a truly meshless one as it did not need a finite element or boundary element mesh, either for purpose of interpolation of the solution, or for the integration of the energy. All integrals could be easily evaluated over regularly shaped domains (in general, spheres in three_dimensional problems) and their boundaries. The essential boundary conditions were enforced by the penalty method. Several numerical examples were presented to illustrate the implementation and performance of the present method. The numerical examples presented show that high accuracy can be achieved for arbitrary grid geometries for clamped and simply_supported edge conditions. No post processing procedure is required to computer the strain and stress, since the original solution from the present method, using the moving least squares approximation, is already smooth enough.