An error estimation procedure for plate bending elements

Procedures for identifying and eliminating errors inherent in individual finite elements and those due to the discretization of the continuum are presented. The elemental errors are identified through the use of an element formulation procedure based on physically interpretable strain gradient interpolation functions. The use of physically interpretable notation allows these errors to be eliminated using rational arguments. The discretization errors are identified by comparing the finite-element solution with a smoothed superconvergent solution. The errors thus identified are used to guide an adaptive mesh refinement procedure which produces improved results.