Hexahedral finite elements with enhanced fixed‐pole interpolation for linear static and vibration analysis of 3D micropolar continuum

Abstract

The spotlight of this research is on the application of the fixed‐pole interpolation, sometimes used in the analysis of three‐dimensional (3D) geometrically non‐linear beams, but for which no attempts have been made to apply it to linear analysis so far. Particular attention is given to the correlation between the linearised forms of the fixed‐pole and helicoidal interpolation with the linked interpolation. Knowledge of this interdependence is crucial for identifying paths for possible enhancement and extension from the Timoshenko beam of arbitrary order to the new hexahedral finite element of arbitrary order for linear analysis of 3D micropolar continuum. After ensuring the convergence of the newly developed micropolar element through a set of patch tests, three numerical examples of a 3D micropolar continuum in static equilibrium and free vibration of 3D micropolar plates with different geometric properties and boundary conditions have been analysed. Based on these results, the newly proposed finite elements have been critically assessed against the conventional elements.