Some notes on the early history of hybrid stress finite element method

The first remark of this paper is to disclose a historical fact that the as sumed stress hybrid finite element method pioneered by Plan [1] in 1964 was actually developed originally based on the Hellinger-Reissner principle an d not on the complementary energy principle as indicated, in the published paper. The other remark is that Dick Gallagher was the first person to prov e the fact that the rectangular plane stress elements by Plan is identical to the Turner element presented in 1956. Finally, through a formulation by Hellinger-Reissner principle a formal proof is given of the fact that the P lan element is also identical to Wilson's incompatible element. Copyright ( C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.