In finite-element-analysis, a new generation of programs is arrising, helping the engineer to obtain solutions with higher accuracy. The aim of these programs is to reduce the approximation error automatically. Thus it becomes necessary to get aposteriori information on the magnitude of the error and its distribution over the mesh. Among the two different types of adaptive procedures (h- and p- version), the variation of the polynomial order (p-version) for plate problems is discussed in this paper. In particular the behavior of the hierarchical elements noticeably deviating from the rectangular shape is examined.     «

In finite-element-analysis, a new generation of programs is arrising, helping the engineer to obtain solutions with higher accuracy. The aim of these programs is to reduce the approximation error automatically. Thus it becomes necessary to get aposteriori information on the magnitude of the error and its distribution over the mesh. Among the two different types of adaptive procedures (h- and p- version), the variation of the polynomial order (p-version) for plate problems is discussed in this pa...     »