Reissner-Mindlin plate VS Kirchhoff–Love plate

[RED14]

Hello everyone,
What is the difference between Reissner-Mindlin plate and Kirchhoff–Love plate in Abaqus?
and how can I choose the Reissner-Mindlin plate theory in Abaqus?

 

[rb1957]

IDK what you've done, but googling got me (from wiki) "The Reissner-Mindlin theory is used to calculate the deformations and stresses in a plate whose thickness is of the order of one tenth the planar dimensions while the Kirchhoff–Love theory is applicable to thinner plates."

IDK ABAQUS but it sounds like you have membranes, thin plates, medium thick plates, and thick plates.

 

[FEA way]

In Abaqus, shell elements are divided into:
- thin shells - based on Kirchhoff-Love theory
- general-purpose and thick shells - shear flexible - based on Mindlin-Reissner theory

Check the following chapter in the documentation:
- Theory --> Elements -> Shell elements --> About the Abaqus shell element library
- Elements --> Structural Elements --> Shell Elements --> Choosing a Shell Element (especially paragraph “Thick” Versus “Thin” Conventional Shell Elements)
- Elements --> Structural Elements --> Shell Elements --> Three-Dimensional Conventional Shell Element Library