Applications of isoparametric three-dimensional hybrid-stress finite elements with least-order stress fields

This paper investigates the factors relating to element stability, coordinate invariance and optimality in 8- and 20-noded three-dimensional brick elements in the context of hybrid-stress formulations with compatible boundary displacements and both a priori and a posteriori equilibrated assumed stresses. Symmetry group theory is used to guarantee the essential non-orthogonality of the stress and strain fields, resulting in a set of least-order selections of stable invariant stress polynomials. The performance of these elements is examined in numerical examples providing a broad range of analytical stress distributions, and the results are favourably compared to those of the displacement formulation and a stress-function based complete stress approach with regard to displacements, stresses, sampling, convergence and distortion sensitivity.