Computers and Structures 173 (2016) 139–149

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Computers and Structures

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/compstruc

Quadrilateral membrane finite elements with rotational DOFs

for the analysis of geometrically linear and nonlinear plane problems
Wajdi Zouari a,⇑, Fodil Hammadi b, Rezak Ayad c
a
University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Laboratory of Engineering and Material Sciences (LISM, EA4695), IUT de Troyes, 9 rue de Québec, 10026 Troyes, France
b
Laboratory of Mechanics, Modeling and Experimentation L2ME, University of Bechar, 08000 Bechar, Algeria
c
University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Laboratory of Engineering and Material Sciences (LISM, EA4695), UFR SEN, Moulin de la Housse, 51687 Reims, France

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: In this paper, we present the formulations of two four-node quadrilateral membrane finite elements with
Received 1 February 2016 rotational degrees of freedom to analyze geometric linear and nonlinear plane problems. They are based
Accepted 10 June 2016 on a plane adaptation of the space fiber rotation concept that considers virtual rotations of a nodal fiber
Available online 1 July 2016
within the element enhancing the displacement vector approximation of low-order elements. An
updated Lagrangian approach is chosen to describe large displacement with small strain kinematics.
Keywords: Several geometric linear and nonlinear benchmarks are presented to assess the performance of the
Membrane element
proposed membrane elements and the obtained results demonstrate their efficiency.
Rotational degrees of freedom
Geometric nonlinearity
Ó 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction with nine degrees of freedom using the assumed-stress hybrid

In recent years, there has been a revival of interest in elements
possessing in-plane rotational degrees of freedom (DOFs) called
also drilling rotations. Membrane elements with rotational DOFs
possess practical advantages in the analysis of shell structures,
folded plates and stiffened panels. In fact, when they are combined
with a bending element, shell structures can be solved without
having the problem of singularity in the stiffness matrix [1–6]. This
singularity could clearly be avoided if drilling DOFs are included in
the variational statement or the finite element approximations.
The idea of using drilling DOFs for membrane was introduced in
the mid-1960s. So far, many elements with drilling rotations have
been suggested. The first successful element with drilling variables
is due to Allman [7]. The basic idea is to add rotational DOFs to a
CST-triangle (linear triangle or Turner triangle) by applying quad-
ratic normal displacement and linear tangential displacement
along each element side. At about the same time, Bergan and Fel-
lipa [8] developed a membrane triangular element with rotational
DOFs using the free formulation method of Bergan and Nygard [9]
related to a standard potential energy. Cook [10] has extended the
Allman’s concept to the four-node quadrilateral membrane ele-
ment by adopting a projection matrix between the linear and the
equivalent quadratic finite element. Soon after this work, the same
author proposed a simple formulation of a plane triangle element
⇑ Corresponding author.
E-mail address: wajdi.zouari@univ-reims.fr (W. Zouari).
approach [11]. To point out certain deficiencies of the Cook’s con-
cept, MacNeal and Harder [12] have introduced some modifica-
tions like least square smoothing of the displacement-based
strains to improve the formulation. In 1988, Allman [13] derived
a low-order quadrilateral membrane finite element with drilling
rotations by superposing four triangles with out-plane rotations.
Hughes and Brezzi [14] have presented a variational formulation
in which the out-plane rotation field is independently interpolated.
Ibrahimbegovic et al. [15] have extended the variational principle
of Hughes and Brezzi [14] and developed a quadrilateral mem-
brane finite element with drilling variables. They have used inde-
pendent interpolation fields for rotations and Allman-type shape
functions for the in-plane displacements. Using the original func-
tional of Atluri [16], Iura and Atluri [17] have developed a four-
node membrane element with rotational DOFs. Other attempts to
develop linear membrane elements with drilling DOFs have been
done by Cazzani and Atluri [18], Long and Xu [19,20], Piltner and
Taylor [21], Groenwold et al. [22], and recently Kugler et al. [23],
Cen et al. [24] and Rezaiee-Pajand and Karkon [25], to cite only a
few.
On the other hand, three-dimensional solid elements with rota-
tional DOFs have been also proposed [26–30]. Recently, Ayad et al.
[31] have presented two eight-node hexahedral elements, named
SFR8 and SFR8I, based on the so-called Space Fiber Rotation (SFR)
concept introduced by Ayad [32]. This concept considers 3D virtual
rotations of a nodal space fiber within the element that enriches
the displacement vector approximation of low-order elements. In

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruc.2016.06.004
0045-7949/Ó 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
140 W. Zouari et al. / Computers and Structures 173 (2016) 139–149

Fig. 1. Reference and deformed configurations of a 2D elastic body.

(a) (b)
Fig. 2. (a) Virtual out-of-plane rotation of the nodal fiber iq inducing an additional displacement hi z ^ iq. (b) The four-node membrane element PFR4 and its nodal DOFs.

this paper, we adapt the SFR concept to plane problems and we
develop two four-node membrane elements in order to analyze
linear and nonlinear geometric problems. The use of the SFR con-
cept in plane problems results in a simpler and more concise for-
mulation than the previous developed membrane elements with
rotational DOFs. To analyze nonlinear geometric plane problems,
we adopt an updated Lagrangian approach to describe large dis-
placement and small strain kinematics. This choice is motivated
by the results of the hexahedral elements SFR8 and SFR8I in non-
linear geometric beam and shell problems recently reported by
Meftah et al. [33]. In this latter contribution, a total Lagrangian
framework has been used and the response of the conforming ele-
ment SFR8 has been found too stiff and that of the nonconforming
element SFR8I not sufficiently accurate in some shell problems.
Meftah et al. [33] have related this problem of inaccuracy to the
adopted total Lagrangian description (because the added nodal
rotational variables remain small). Accordingly, an updated
Lagrangian approach is adopted in this paper. Moreover, it is
important to note that although membrane elements with rota-
tional DOFs have been extensively developed to analyze linear
plane problems as previously discussed, only a few have been
proposed for the analysis of nonlinear material and geometric
problems. These include the works of Ibrahimbegovic [34],
Ibrahimbegovic and Frey [35,36] and Rebiai and Belounar [37]. This
relative lack of nonlinear membrane elements with rotational
DOFs has further motivated this work.
The present paper is structured as follows. In Section 2, we
recall the variational formulation of a nonlinear geometric problem
within an updated Lagrangian framework. Section 3 is devoted to
the formulation of the proposed quadrilateral membrane elements.
Finally, the performance of these elements is investigated by
studying several linear and nonlinear geometric benchmarks in
Section 4.
2. Updated Lagrangian formulation
We consider a 2D deformable body undergoing large displace-
ments as shown in Fig. 1. Suppose that the total load subjected
to this body is applied in several increments so that it occupies
intermediate configurations before converging to the final configu-
ration C f . Consider the loading interval ½t n ; t nþ1  and denote with
the indexes n and n þ 1 all quantities at t n and tnþ1 , respectively.
 W. Zouari et al. / Computers and Structures 173 (2016) 139–149 141

Table 1
The Cook’s plate problem. Normalized vertical displacement at point C and maximum
and minimum principal stresses at points A and B, respectively
(v ref ref ref
C ¼ 23:9; rA ¼ 0:236 and rB ¼ 0:201 [8].)

Mesh Element Vertical Max. principal Min. principal

displacement stress stress
22 CPS4 0.495 0.436 0.420
CPS8 0.950 1.044 1.133
HTD 0.972 0.728 1.149
PFR4 0.894 0.767 0.890
PFR4I 0.921 0.790 0.937
QE2 0.893 0.828 0.720
44 CPS4 0.765 0.756 0.712
CPS8 0.991 1.025 0.998
HTD 0.989 0.923 0.935
PFR4 0.965 0.936 0.969
PFR4I 0.974 0.964 0.960
QE2 0.964 0.958 0.924
88 CPS4 0.923 0.939 0.916
CPS8 0.999 1.012 1.015
HTD 0.997 0.974 0.960
PFR4 0.989 0.981 0.999
PFR4I 0.992 0.992 0.995
Fig. 3. Cook’s plate modeled with 2  2 quadrilateral elements. QE2 – – –

The increment of the Green–Lagrange strain tensor Mn E can be

We assume that the body is in equilibrium at t ¼ tn and hence the
configuration C n is known. An updated Lagrangian approach is decomposed into linear Mn Elin and non linear Mn Enl strain tensors
adopted to describe the body motion and in this case the last in term of the displacement vector Mu:
known deformed configuration C n is fixed as the reference config-  
1 @Mui @Muj
uration C R (Fig. 1). An increment of the external load leads to an Mn Eij ¼ Mn Elin nl
ij þ Mn Eij ; MElin
ij ¼ þ ;
2 @xj @xi
increment of the displacement vector between the configurations  
ðkÞ 1 @Muk @Muk
C n and C nþ1 . We denote by C nþ1 the last known configuration MEnl
ij ¼  ð6Þ
2 @xi @xj
between C n and C nþ1 that does not verify the body equilibrium. A
correction of the displacement vector dMu should be determined where xi , i = 1, 2 are the cartesian coordinates of the reference con-
ðkþ1Þ
to reach the next configuration C nþ1 . The weak form of the equilib- figuration C n .
rium at configuration C 1  C nþ1 reads [38]:
ðkÞ Substituting Eqs. (5) and (6) into Eq. (3) leads to the following
expression of the weak form of equilibrium at C 1 :
Z
nþ1 ðkÞ nþ1 ðkÞ Z  
W¼ n Sij dðn Eij Þ d V
n
nV W¼ 1
0 Sij dðMn Elin nl
ij Þ þ dðMn Eij Þ d V  n W ext
n nþ1
ð7Þ
2 3 nV
Z Z |fflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflffl{zfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflffl}
nþ1 v
4 n 5 1W
nþ1 n
n T i dui d S þ n f i dui d V ð1Þ n int
nS nV
|fflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflffl{zfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflffl
ffl} In the next section, we present the finite element approximation of
nþ1
n W ext
Eq. (7) by formulating two four-node quadrilateral plane elements
v with rotational DOFs.
where nþ1 nþ1
n T and n f are, respectively, the boundary traction forces
and the body forces applied to C nþ1 and referred to the reference
configuration C n ; S and E are, respectively, the second Piola–Kir- 3. Finite element approximation based on the SFR concept
choff stress tensor and the Green–Lagrange strain tensor, and
nþ1 3.1. Formulation of the conforming membrane element PFR4
n W ext denotes the virtual work done by the external loads.
To simplify, we adopt the following notation
The finite element approximation of Eq. (7) is constructed by
nþ1 ðkÞ nþ1 ðkÞ ðkÞ dividing the deformable body into elementary domains or finite
n Sij ¼ n Sij ;
1
n Eij ¼ n Eij ;
1
Mu ¼ Mu ð2Þ
elements. In order to analyze geometrically nonlinear plane prob-
which leads to a simplified expression of the weak form (1): lems, we formulate in this section two four-node quadrilateral
Z membrane elements presenting displacement and rotational DOFs.
They are based on a plane adaptation of the Space Fiber Rotation
W¼ n Sij dðn Eij Þ d V  n W ext
1 1 n nþ1
ð3Þ
nV (SFR) concept introduced by Ayad [32]. To simplify discussion, this
|fflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflffl{zfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflffl}
1W plane adaptation will be called Plane Fiber Rotation (PFR) in the
n int
following and the proposed membrane elements are named PFR4
By remarking that (a conforming element) and PFR4I (a non conforming element).
As depicted in Fig. 2 for the four-node quadrilateral membrane ele-
1
n Eij ¼ nn Eij þ Mn Eij and 1
n Sij ¼ nn Sij þ Mn Sij ; ð4Þ ment, the PFR approximation considers the out-of-plane virtual
the internal virtual work is rewritten as: rotation of the nodal fiber iq within the element that enhances
Z the displacement vector approximation of the low-order quadrilat-
1
¼ 1
dðMn Eij Þ d n V ð5Þ eral element. The PFR approximation of the displacement vector of
n W int n Sij
nV
q is then given by [31,32]:
142 W. Zouari et al. / Computers and Structures 173 (2016) 139–149

X
4  
uðn; gÞ ¼ Ni ðn; gÞ ui þ hi z ^ iq )
i¼1
    ð8Þ
u X
4
ui  ðy  yi Þhi
¼ Ni ðn; gÞ
v i¼1
v i þ ðx  xi Þhi
where Ni ðn; gÞ are the classical bilinear Lagrange interpolation func-
tions associated with the four-node quadrilateral element, x and y
are the cartesian coordinates of q; xi and yi , i = 1, 4 are the nodal
coordinates, ui ; v i and hi , i = 1, 4 are the nodal DOFs (two displace-
ments and one virtual rotation per node).
The approximations (8) can be rewritten in a matrix form as:
  " #
u fNu gT
¼ ½Nfuen g; ½N ¼
v fNv gT
2 3
Ni 0 Ni ðy  yi Þ ð9Þ
6 7
¼ 4    i ¼ 1; 4 5
0 Ni Ni ðx  xi Þ
(a)
where fuen g ¼ f   jui v i hi j    i ¼ 1; 4g is the elementary nodal DOFs
T

vector containing the nodal displacements and virtual rotations.

We introduce at this stage the following notation
Mu1 ¼ Mu; Mu2 ¼ Mv ; x1 ¼ x; x2 ¼ y ð10Þ
1
At the element level, the internal virtual work n W int is rewritten
in the alternate matrix form
Z  
T T
1
n W int ¼ fdMn Elin g þ fdMn Enl g f1n Sg d n V ð11Þ
nV

where fMn Eg ¼ fMn Exx Mn Eyy 2Mn Exy g and f1n Sg ¼ f1n Sxx 1n Syy 1n Sxy g.
Using Eq. (6) and approximations (9), it is possible to show that
fdMn Elin g and fdMn Enl g are related to fdMuen g through two ð3  12Þ-
sized matrices ½BL  and ½BNL , respectively, as:

fdMn Elin g ¼ ½BL fdMuen g; fdMn Enl g ¼ ½BNL fdMuen g ð12Þ

with
2 3
Ni;x 0 Ni;x ðy  yi Þ
6 7
(b) ½BL  ¼ 4    0 Ni;y Ni;y ðx  xi Þ    i ¼ 1; 4 5;
Ni;y Ni;x Ni;x ðx  xi Þ  Ni;y ðy  yi Þ
@Ni
Ni;a ¼ ; a ¼ x; y
@a
ð13Þ
and
2 3
Mu;x 0 Mv ;x 0
6 7
½BNL  ¼ ½B/ ½Br ; ½B/  ¼ 4 0 Mu;y 0 Mv ;y 5;
Mu;y Mu;x Mv ;y Mv ;x
2 3
fNu;x gT ð14Þ
6 7
6 fNu;y gT 7
½Br  ¼ 6
6
7
T 7
4 fNv ;x g 5
fNv ;y gT
Accordingly, the residual vector of the conforming element
PFR4 at configuration C 1 is given by:

fRe g ¼ f1n F eint g  fnþ1 e

n F ext g with f1n F eint g
Z  
(c) ¼ ½BL T þ ½BNL T f1n Sg d n V ð15Þ
nV

Fig. 4. The Cook’s plate problem. (a) Convergence of the normalized vertical
displacement at point C, (b) Convergence of the maximum principal stress at point The elementary tangent stiffness matrix of PFR4 is found by
A and (c) Convergence of the minimum principal stress at point B. performing a variation of the internal virtual work:
 W. Zouari et al. / Computers and Structures 173 (2016) 139–149 143

Fig. 5. Cantilever beam modeled with two distorted elements.

Table 2
The cantilever beam modeled with two distorted elements. Normalized vertical
displacement at point A (v ref
A ¼ 100).

e CPS4 CPS8 HTD HT AQ PFR4 PFR4I

0 0.280 0.984 1.000 0.315 0.938 0.937 1.000
0.5 0.205 0.987 0.992 0.245 0.950 0.928 0.975
1 0.137 0.989 0.996 0.175 0.907 0.890 0.914
2 0.096 0.783 1.009 0.136 0.567 0.724 0.744
3 0.083 0.417 0.836 0.137 0.318 0.536 0.549
4 0.071 0.274 0.578 0.145 0.179 0.395 0.404
4.9 0.062 0.173 0.414 0.142 0.112 0.310 0.318

Fig. 7. Thin circular beam modeled with 6  1 quadrilateral elements.

Table 3
The thin curved beam. Normalized vertical displacement at point A (v ref
A ¼ 0:08734).

Mesh CPS4 CPS8 HTD HT AQ PFR4 PFR4I

61 0.073 0.881 0.964 0.075 0.888 0.936 0.998
12  2 0.247 1.006 1.008 0.251 1.000 0.993 1.009
24  4 0.572 1.013 1.012 0.555 1.008 1.008 1.012

Fig. 6. Cantilever beam modeled with two distorted elements. Convergence of the
normalized vertical displacement at point A in term of the eccentricity e.

Z
1
n W int ¼ fdMn EgT f1n Sg d n V )
nV
Z Z
T
dW int ¼ fdMn EgT fdMSg d n V þ fddMn Enl g f1n Sg d n V ð16Þ
nV nV

By remarking that fdMSg ¼ ½HfdMEg where ½H is the ð3  3Þ-

sized plane elasticity matrix, the first term of dW int gives the linear
and nonlinear stiffness matrices of PFR4:
Z
½K eL  ¼ ½BL T ½H½BL  d n V ð17Þ
nV

Z 
½K eNL  ¼ ½BL T ½H½BNL  þ ½BNL T ½H½BL  þ ½BNL T ½H½BNL dn V ð18Þ
nV

The geometric stiffness matrix of PFR4 is obtained from the

second term of dW int : Fig. 8. Thick circular beam modeled with 4  1 quadrilateral elements.
144 W. Zouari et al. / Computers and Structures 173 (2016) 139–149

Table 4 Table 5
The thick curved beam. Normalized vertical displacement at point A (v ref
A ¼ 90:1). The thin cantilever beam. The numbers of increments NINC and iterations NITER
required to reach the ultimate solution with the automatic load incrementation
Mesh CPS4 CPS8 HS-A7 QACM4 PFR4 PFR4I scheme.
21 0.251 0.857 0.987 – 0.936 0.936
CPE4 CPE8 PFR4 PFR4I
41 0.643 0.982 0.994 0.938 0.987 0.987
61 0.811 0.991 – 0.979 0.995 0.995 NINC 10 10 16 17
81 0.887 0.992 – 0.991 0.998 0.998 NITER 11 53 72 82

21 1 3 fEg ¼ fEu g þ fEa g; fEa g ¼ ½Ma fag ð22Þ

n Sxx n Sxy 0 0
Z 61 7
6 n Sxy 1
n Syy 0 0 7 u a
where fE g and fE g are, respectively, the conforming and non con-
½K egeom  ¼ ½Br T ½1n S½Br d n V with ½1n S ¼ 6
6 0 1 1
7
7 forming strain vectors, fag is the vector of incompatible modes and
nV 4 0 n Sxx n Sxy 5
1 1 ½Ma  the matrix relating fEa g to fag (see [31] for more details).
0 0 n Sxy n Syy After introducing the enhanced strain vector in the equilibrium
ð19Þ weak form (3) at the element level instead of the compatible strain
vector, we obtain the following system of equations:
Finally, the following finite element model is solved to deter-
" # 
mine the correction fdMuen g between configurations C 1 and C 2 : ½K eL  þ ½K eNL  þ ½K egeom  ½K eua  fdMuen g
!
½K eau  ½K eaa  fdMag
½K eL  þ ½K eNL  þ ½K egeom  fdMuen g ¼ fRe g ð20Þ 8 R   9 ð23Þ
|fflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflffl{zfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflfflffl} < f F g  n ½BL  þ ½BNL T f1 Sgdn V =
nþ1 e T
n ext V n
½K eT  ¼
: R T ;
 n V ½M a  f1n Sgdn V
where ½K eT  is the elementary tangent stiffness matrix of PFR4.
where
3.2. Formulation of the non conforming membrane element PFR4I Z  
T
½K eua  ¼ ½BL T þ ½BNL T ½H½M a dn V; ½K eau  ¼ ½K eua  ;
nV
As explained in [26,31], displacement-based finite elements Z
T
with rotational DOFs suffer from the Poisson’s ratio locking. ½K eaa  ¼ ½M a  ½H½Ma dn V ð24Þ
nV
To avoid this numerical problem present within the conforming
element PFR4, two incompatible displacement modes au and av The vector of internal variables fdMag can be eliminated at the
are introduced in its natural space and the resulting membrane element level by using a static condensation. We obtain
element is named PFR4I. The natural space extra modes are  Z 
1 T
given as: fdMag ¼ ½K eaa  ½K eau fdMuen g þ ½Ma  f1n Sgdn V ð25Þ
( nV

ua ¼ ð1  n2 Þau Finally, the following system of equations should be solved to

ð21Þ
v a ¼ ð1  g2 Þav determine the correction fdMuen g for the non conforming element
PFR4I:
In this case, we obtain an enhanced Green–Lagrange strain
vector: ½K eT fdMuen g ¼ fRe g ð26Þ

Fig. 9. Thin cantilever beam subjected to an end shear force modeled with 10  1 quadrilateral elements.
 W. Zouari et al. / Computers and Structures 173 (2016) 139–149 145

(a) (a)

(b) (b)
Fig. 10. The thin cantilever beam. (a) Load versus horizontal displacement curve Fig. 12. The L-shaped beam. (a) Load versus horizontal displacement curve and (b)
and (b) load versus vertical displacement. load versus vertical displacement.

Fig. 11. L-shaped beam meshed with seven plane stress quadrilateral elements.
146 W. Zouari et al. / Computers and Structures 173 (2016) 139–149

Table 6 Table 8
The L-shaped beam. Horizontal and vertical displacements at point A obtained with The thin ring. Load level and vertical displacement at point A obtained with 100  4
304 CPS8 elements mesh. CPS8 elements mesh.

F=10; 000 uA vA F=F max v A F=F max v A F=F max v A F=F max v A
0.4 1.649 0.786 3.055 0.932 10.295 9.060 7.969 17.635 4.744 24.716
0.8 2.982 1.671 4.256 1.426 10.304 10.403 7.411 18.720 4.565 25.647
1.2 3.999 2.530 5.715 2.178 10.149 11.705 6.858 19.777 4.506 26.562
1.6 4.761 3.304 7.330 3.318 9.866 12.965 6.327 20.809 4.588 27.464
2 5.333 3.975 8.727 4.798 9.483 14.187 5.834 21.816 4.831 28.352
2.4 5.775 4.557 9.587 6.254 9.024 15.371 5.395 22.802 5.262 29.229
2.8 6.120 5.054 10.077 7.676 8.513 16.519 5.027 23.768 5.911 30.095
3.2 6.395 5.482
3.6 6.618 5.851
4 6.803 6.172

Table 7
The L-shaped beam. The numbers of increments NINC and iterations NITER required
to reach the ultimate solution with the automatic load incrementation scheme.

CPS4 CPS8 PFR4 PFR4I

NINC 10 10 10 10
NITER 16 33 37 41

with
1
½K eT  ¼ ½K eL  þ ½K eNL  þ ½K egeom   ½K eua ½K eaa  ½K eau  ð27Þ
Z  
fRe g ¼ fnþ1 e
n F ext g  ½BL T þ ½BNL T f1n Sgdn V
nV
Z
1 T
þ ½K eua ½K eaa  ½M a  f1n Sgdn V ð28Þ
nV

Fig. 14. The thin ring. Load versus vertical displacement at point A curve.

4. Numerical validation
The proposed four-node quadrilateral membrane elements
PFR4 and PFR4I were implemented in ABAQUS Standard via the
user element subroutine (UEL) [39] (see also [33] for more details
about the implementation for nonlinear geometric problems). It is
worthy to note that a 2  2 Gauss points numerical integration
scheme was considered to calculate all terms of their formulations.
From a careful study of their stiffness matrices, we found that they
exhibit two spurious zero-energy modes (two zero eigenvalues in
addition to those associated with rigid body modes): a first mode
is related to equal rotations and a second spurious mode is associ-
ated with the reduced integration of the quadratic part related to
the added rotational DOFs (Hourglass mode). To avoid the rank
deficiency of their stiffness matrices, we used the same stabiliza-
tion techniques as in Ayad et al. [31].
The performances of PFR4 and PFR4I are evaluated with several
geometrically linear and nonlinear plane problems. The obtained
results are compared with some advanced membrane elements
from the literature and ABAQUS plane stress/strain elements
CPS4, CPS8, CPE4 and CPE8 [39]:

Fig. 13. Thin ring meshed with 20  1 plane stress quadrilateral elements.
 W. Zouari et al. / Computers and Structures 173 (2016) 139–149
Fig. 15. Lee’s frame meshed with 25 plane stress quadrilateral elements.
 CPS4: the classical plane stress four-node quadrilateral element
with a full numerical integration scheme.
 CPS8: the classical plane stress eight-node quadrilateral ele-
ment with a full numerical integration scheme.
 CPE4 and CPE8: are the classical plane strain four-node and
eight-node membrane elements with full numerical integration.
Fig. 16. The Lee’s frame. Load versus vertical displacement at point A curve.
Fig. 17. Deformed states of the Lee’s frame.
147
The nonlinear solution procedure adopted to solve the follow-
ing nonlinear geometric problems is the full Newton–Raphson
method and the default automatic load incrementation scheme
in ABAQUS is used. The maximum applied load is automatically
subdivided into NINC load increments that are not necessarily uni-
form. Besides, it is worthy to note that constraints on the rotational
DOFs should be added to the classical displacement ones as
explained in [31].
4.1. Geometrically linear problems
4.1.1. Cook’s membrane problem
We consider the well known Cook’s membrane benchmark pro-
posed by Cook [40]. Fig. 3 shows the geometric and material prop-
erties of the Cook’s trapezoidal plate clamped to the left and
subjected to a uniformly distributed shear load F ¼ 1 on its right
end side. In particular, the vertical displacement at point C, the
maximum principal stress at point A and the minimum principal
stress at point B are determined. Reference solutions have been
reported by Bergan and Felippa in [8]: v ref
C ¼ 23:9; rref
A ¼ 0:236
ref
and r ¼ 0:201. Three regular meshes 2  2 (Fig. 3), 4  4 and
B
8  8 are considered and the results of PFR4, PFR4I, CPS4, CPS8,
HTD and QE2 are summarized in Table 1 and the convergence
curves are depicted in Fig. 4 (HTD is a four-node quadrilateral
plane element with rotational DOFs based on the so-called hybrid
148 W. Zouari et al. / Computers and Structures 173 (2016) 139–149
Trefftz method [41] and QE2 is a quadrilateral mixed four-node
membrane element with seven strain and stress terms and two
enhanced strain modes [42]).
We remark that PFR4 and PFR4I clearly enhance the results of
the first-order quadrilateral element CPS4 and converge to the ref-
erence solutions with mesh refinement. They are also found to be
more accurate than the element HTD in the estimation of the max-
imum and minimum principal stresses at A and B.
4.1.2. Cantilever beam under in-plane bending load
In this test, a cantilever beam under pure bending is analyzed
with only two quadrilateral plane stress elements as shown in
Fig. 5. To assess the sensitivity of quadrilateral membrane ele-
ments to mesh distortion, an eccentricity e 2 ½0; 4:9 is added to
the mesh as suggested by Piltner and Taylor [42]. The normalized
vertical displacement at point A, belonging to the right end side,
is determined and the obtained results are summarized in Table 2
(AQ is the Allman’s quadrilateral four-node plane element and its
results are taken from [41], HT is a four-node quadrilateral plane
element based on the so-called hybrid Trefftz method [43]). We
show also in Fig. 6 the convergence of the normalized vertical dis-
placement at A in term of the eccentricity e.
We remark that PFR4 and PFR4I are less sensitive to mesh
distortion than AQ and become more accurate than the quadratic
element CPS8 for severe distortion.
4.1.3. Thin circular beam under in-plane shear load
Fig. 7 depicts a thin circular beam subjected to a unit load at its
free end. This curved beam is modeled with three regular meshes
6  1 (Fig. 7), 12  2 and 24  4 plane stress quadrilateral elements
and the vertical displacement at point A, belonging to the loaded
tip, is determined. The normalized vertical displacements to the
exact solution v ref
A ¼ 0:08734 are summarized in Table 3.
Once again, the proposed membrane elements present good
accuracy when compared with the other plane stress elements.
The non conforming element PFR4I is found to be the most accu-
rate element in this benchmark and it converges to the reference
solution from the first coarse mesh 6  1.
4.1.4. Thick circular beam under in-plane shear load
The last linear assessment test concerns the thick circular beam
of Fig. 8 subjected to a shear force F ¼ 600 at its free end. This thick
curved beam is modeled with four regular meshes 2  1; 4  1
(Fig. 8), 6  1 and 8  1 plane stress quadrilateral elements and
the vertical displacement at point A is determined. We summarize
in Table 4 the normalized vertical displacement at point A (HS-A7
is a four-node plane element based on an analytic solution [25] and
QACM4 is a four-node membrane element formulated by the
quadrilateral area coordinate method [44]).
PFR4 and PFR4I give the same results as the Poisson’s ratio is
equal to zero. They are also found to be more accurate than the
quadratic element CPS8.
4.2. Geometrically nonlinear problems
4.2.1. Cantilever thin beam subjected to transverse bending
A thin cantilever beam of length 100, thickness 0.1 and width 1
subjected to a shear force at its free end is considered in this exam-
ple (Fig. 9). Reference solutions of the tip horizontal and vertical
displacements have been reported by Sze et al. in [45]. As depicted
in Fig. 9, this cantilever beam is modeled with 10  1 plane strain
quadrilateral elements and the automatic incrementation scheme
is adopted. We summarize in Table 5 the total numbers of incre-
ments NINC and iterations NITER required to obtain the ultimate
solution and show in Fig. 10 the load–displacement curves of
PFR4 and PFR4I compared with CPE4 and CPE8.
We remark that as for linear problems, PFR4 and PFR4I largely
enhance the result of the first-order element CPE4 and agree well
with the reference curves of Sze et al. [45]. Besides, PFR4I is found
to be more accurate than the quadratic element CPE8.
4.2.2. L-shaped beam
We consider an L-shaped beam structure clamped to the left
and subjected to a uniformly distributed horizontal load F that is
increased up to 40,000 (Fig. 11). This example has been proposed
by Battini [46] and no tabulated values of the loaded end displace-
ment have been given. To obtain reference results, we used the
quadratic plane stress element CPS8 with a converged fine mesh
(304 elements) and the obtained horizontal and vertical displace-
ments at point A are summarized in Table 6. As depicted in
Fig. 11, the L-shaped beam is modeled with seven plane stress
quadrilateral elements and the automatic incrementation scheme
is always adopted. We summarize in Table 7 the total numbers
of increments NINC and iterations NITER required to reach the ulti-
mate solution and show in Fig. 12 the load–displacement curves.
Once again, PFR4 and PFR4I yield good predictions of the loaded
tip displacements and agree very well with the reference curves.
4.2.3. Thin ring
This example was also proposed by Battini [46]. A half thin ring,
clamped at its two ends, is loaded by a concentrated force 2F.
Owing to symmetry, only one half of the structure is modeled with
20  1 plane stress quadrilateral elements as depicted in Fig. 13.
This example involves buckling and the load–displacement curve
shows a negative stiffness. Accordingly, we chose to solve it with
the arc-length method which is available in ABAQUS [39]. As no
tabulated values were given in [46], we show in Table 8 reference
load levels and displacements obtained by a sufficiently fine mesh
of the quadratic plane stress element CPS8 (100 elements along the
circumference and four elements across the thickness were used).
We depict in Fig. 14 the load–displacement curves of PFR4 and
PFR4I compared with CPS4, CPS8 and CPS4I (CPS4I is a quadrilat-
eral four-node plane stress element of ABAQUS with four incom-
patible modes [39]).
We remark first, that PFR4 and PFR4I predict correctly the
unstable behavior of the thin ring. Second, they are found to be lar-
gely more accurate than the first-order element CPS4 and agree
well with the reference curve. In addition, the incompatible modes
of CPS4I allow to largely improve the accuracy of CPS4 and obtain
an accuracy very close to that of CPS8.
4.2.4. Lee’s frame buckling problem
This example is one of the NAFEMS (National Agency for Finite
Element Methods and Standards) proposed benchmarks known as
Lee’s frame buckling problem [47]. We consider the pinned frame
of Fig. 15 subjected to a concentrated load F and modeled with 25
plane stress quadrilateral elements. In particular, we will investi-
gate the post-buckling nonlinear behavior of the frame at the
applied load location A. The arc-length method is used and a refer-
ence curve was obtained using a mesh of 60 B22 elements (B22 is a
three-node quadratic plane beam element of ABAQUS [39]). We
show in Fig. 16 the obtained load–displacement curves of PFR4,
PFR4I, CPS4, CPS4I and CPS8 and depict in Fig. 17 three deformed
states of the frame corresponding to points B, C and D in Fig. 16.
The response of the first-order element CPS4 is found to be
completely erroneous. PFR4 and PFR4I predict correctly the snap-
back instability of the frame and are in good agreement with the
reference solution. Moreover, the nonconforming element PFR4I
presents a more accurate response than CPS8 and CPS4I.
 W. Zouari et al. / Computers and Structures 173 (2016) 139–149
5. Conclusion
In this paper, we presented the formulations of two four-node
membrane finite elements, named PFR4 and PFR4I, presenting dis-
placement and rotational DOFs to analyze linear and nonlinear
geometric plane problems. They are based on a plane adaptation
of the space fiber rotation concept that considers the out-of-
plane virtual rotation of a nodal fiber within the low-order quadri-
lateral element enriching its displacement vector approximation.
The geometric nonlinear formulation was developed within an
updated Lagrangian framework and the proposed quadrilateral
plane elements were implemented in ABAQUS via the user element
subroutine. Several linear and nonlinear geometric benchmarks
were considered to assess the performance of the proposed mem-
brane elements and their results were compared principally with
the classical first-order and second-order quadrilateral plane ele-
ments of ABAQUS.
The proposed membrane elements were shown to clearly
enhance the response of the first-order quadrilateral plane element
both in linear and nonlinear geometric problems. The accuracy of
the nonconforming element PFR4I was often close to the second-
order quadrilateral plane element with less sensitivity to mesh dis-
tortion. Accordingly, it can seriously compete with it to analyze lin-
ear and nonlinear plane problems.
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