MIXED FINITE ELEMENT METHODS FOR ONE-DIMENSIONAL PROBLEMS: A SURVEY

Abstract

Mixed variational methods are surveyed within the context of problems arising in the analysis of one-dimensional structures such as beams and arches. Some care is taken in showing how mixed and standard variational methods are related to each other, and subsequently the question of finite element approximations based on each of these formulations is explored. The reasons why mixed finite element approximations work, and standard approximations sometimes do not, are discussed.