Error estimation for plate structures: Application using the DKT element

A method for controlling the quality of finite element analyses for plate structures is proposed herein. It is based on the concept of error in the constitutive relation as well as on associated techniques for constructing admissible displacement‐stress fields with respect to a reference model. In this study, the chosen model is either 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 model. Once these error estimators have been identified, techniques of adaptive meshing developed in 2D are applied and several examples are presented.