| Abstract: | An accurate and variationally consistent 4‐node quadrilateral element is introduced where high coarse mesh accuracy and low mesh distortion sensitivity are characteristic qualities, even when incompressibility is approached for plane strain. One‐point quadrature integration procedure is adopted and a new improved stabilization technique is developed. Orthogonality conditions are utilized so that the patch test is satisfied for arbitrary quadrilaterals. Several numerical examples including a convergence rate study are presented which confirm the excellent performance of this element. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
