On the evaluation of the stresses in the BEM for Reissner plate-bending problems (Q1364656)

We evaluate the boundary and internal stresses in the boundary element method (BEM) for plate-bending analysis. The Reissner plate theory is employed as the general plate-bending theory for modelling both thin and thick plates. Two methods are discussed for the evaluation of boundary stresses. The first is based on the local boundary tractions and strains, and the other is based on the direct evaluation of the stress tensor using the stress integral equation. The proposed methods can be used as postprocessing procedures for the BEM solution.