A new locking-free brick element technique for large deformation problems in elasticity

In the present contribution, an innovative brick element formulation for large deformation problems in finite elasticity is discussed. The new formulation can be considered as a reduced integration plus stabilization concept with the stabilization factors being computed on the basis of the enhanced strain method. Such an idea has not been applied yet in the context of large deformation 3D problems and leads to a surprisingly well-behaved locking-free element formulation. Crucial to the method is the notion of the so-called equivalent parallelepiped. The major advantages of this element technology are its simplicity and robustness. Since the element quantities are evaluated only in the center of the element, the approach is also very efficient from the numerical point of view.