Three-field mixed finite element methods for nonlinear elasticity

Abstract

In this paper, we extend the tangential-displacement normal-normal-stress continuous (TDNNS) method from Pechstein and Schöberl (2011) to nonlinear elasticity. By means of the Hu-Washizu principle, the distributional derivatives of the displacement vector are lifted to a regular strain tensor. We introduce three different methods, where either the deformation gradient, the Cauchy-Green strain tensor, or both of them are used as independent variables. Within the linear sub-problems, all stress and strain variables can be locally eliminated leading to an equation system in displacement variables, only. The good performance and accuracy of the presented methods are demonstrated by means of several numerical examples.