Node-based uniform strain elements for three-node triangular and four-node tetrahedral meshes

Node‐based uniform strain elements for three‐node triangular and four‐node tetrahedral meshes are presented. The elements use the linear interpolation functions of the original mesh, but each element is associated with a single node. As a result, a favourable constraint ratio for the volumetric response is obtained for problems in solid mechanics. The uniform strain elements do not require the introduction of additional degrees of freedom and their performance is shown to be significantly better than that of three‐node triangular or four‐node tetrahedral elements. In addition, nodes inside the boundary of the mesh are observed to exhibit superconvergent behaviour for a set of example problems. Published in 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.