1.

The displacement models must be continuous within the

elements and the displacements must be compatible between the
adjacent elements. This implies that the adjacent elements must
deform without causing openings, overlaps or discontinuities
between the elements. This requirement is called ‘compatibility
requirement’.

According to Felippa and Clough this requirement is satisfied, if

the displacement and its partial derivatives up to one order less
than the highest order derivative appearing in strain energy
function is continuous.

2. The displacement model should include the rigid body

displacements of the element. It means in displacement model
there should be a term which permit all points on the element to
experience the same displacement. It is obvious, if such term do
not exists, shifting of the origin of the coordinate system will
cause additional stresses and strains, which should not occur. In
the displacement model,
u = α1 + α2 x + α 3 y
The term α1 provides for the rigid body displacement. Hence to
satisfy the requirement of rigid body displacement, there should
be constant term in the shape function selected.