Static analysis of two-dimensional elastic structures using global collocation

Based on previous findings concerning the numerical solution of one-dimensional elastodynamical problems [Provatidis in Arch Appl Mech 78(4):241-250, 2008] this paper extends the methodology to the static analysis of two-dimensional problems in quadrilateral domains. This target is achieved by replacing the Galerkin/Ritz procedure involved in Lagrangian (or Gordon-Coons) type finite elements by a global collocation scheme. In brief, the boundary conditions are fulfilled at all boundary nodes, while the governing equation is fulfilled at internal points. The theory is supported by four test cases concerning rectangular and curvilinear structures under plane-stress or plane-strain conditions, where the convergence rate is successfully compared with that of conventional bilinear finite elements with the same mesh density.