Finite elements

LIRA-FEM 2026 R1 Last updated: Jun 09, 2026 11:43:58

Modified the operation of thick plate and shell FEs. MITC3 and MITC4 are plate elements with enhanced accuracy for the analysis of thin and thick structures.

Thanks to the Mixed Interpolation of Tensorial Components (MITC) technology, such finite elements reduce the effects of shear locking and membrane locking, providing more reliable displacements, forces, and stresses even on coarse and irregular meshes.
Expanded functionality for defining plate stiffness: detailed assignment of coefficients (modifiers) for membrane stiffness (X, Y, XY), bending stiffness (X, Y, XY), and shear stiffness (XZ, YZ) with automatic recalculation of the stiffness matrix, including for orthotropic forms.
Refined consideration of shear in the geometric stiffness matrix of the bar element.