A finite deformation brick element with inhomogeneous mode enhancement

In this paper we describe a new enhanced assumed strain finite element for finite deformations. The element is based on the split of the deformation of an element into a homogeneous and inhomogeneous part. The enhancement is applied to the inhomogeneous part only. For the homogeneous part a compressible Neo-Hooke material is used, while for the inhomogeneous part linear elasticity is assumed. In several examples it is shown that the element is locking and hourglassing free as well as insensitive to initial element distortion. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.