The p and hp finite element method for problems on thin
domains
Manil Suri
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
suri@math.umbc.edu
The p and hp versions of the finite element method allow the user
to change the polynomial degree to increase accuracy. We survey
these methods and show how
this flexibility can be exploited to counter four difficulties that
occur in the approximation of problems over thin domains, such
as plates, beams and shells. These difficulties are: (1) control of
modeling error, (2) approximation of corner singularities,
(3) resolution of boundary layers, and (4) control
of locking. Our guidelines
enable the efficient resolution of these difficulties when a p/hp
code is available.
