Numerical analysis of some mixed finite element methods for Reissner-Mindlin plates

A class of mixed finite element methods for Reissner-Mindlin plates proposed by Arnold and Brezzi is considered. In these methods the shear energy term is split into two terms, leading to a partial selective reduced integration scheme. A parameter is involved in the splitting. In this paper an analysis of the behaviour of the approximate solution is performed in dependence of the parameter. Suggestions for a good choice of the parameter are also provided.