Continuous/Discontinuous Finite Element Modelling of Kirchhoff Plate Structures in $\mathbb{R}^3$ Using Tangential Differential Calculus

Abstract

We employ surface differential calculus to derive models for Kirchhoff plates including in-plane membrane deformations. We also extend our formulation to structures of plates. For solving the resulting set of partial differential equations, we employ a finite element method based on elements that are continuous for the displacements and discontinuous for the rotations, using $C^0$-elements for the discretisation of the plate as well as for the membrane deformations. Key to the formulation of the method is a convenient definition of jumps and averages of forms that are $d$-linear in terms of the element edge normals.