Convergence of an equilibrium finite element model for plane elastostatics
An equilibrium triangular block-element, proposed by Watwood and Hartz, is subjected to an analysis and its approximability property is proved. If the solution is regular enough, a quasi-optimal error estimate follows for the dual approximation to the mixed boundary value problem of elasticity (based on Castigliano's principle). The convergence is proved even in a general case, when the solution is not regular.