Error estimation for plate structures - Application using the DKT element

A method for controlling the quality of finite element analyses for plate s tructures is proposed herein. It is based on the concept of error in the, c onstitutive relation as well as on associated techniques for constructing a dmissible displacement-stress fields with respect to a reference model In t his study, the chosen model is tither Reissner-Mindlin's or Kirchhoff-Love' s model The finite element used is the DKT element; these error estimators allow us to determine that this element converges for Kirchhoff-Love's mode l Once these error estimators have been identified, techniques of adaptive meshing developed in 2D are applied and several examples are Presented