A parallel mixed finite element implementation of fourth-order plate bending problems in distributed memory environments

The paper deals with a parallel implementation of a mixed finite element method of solution of general fourth-order elliptic partial differential equations which in the case of aniso-/ortho-/isotropic plate bending problems simultaneously approximates the bending moment tensor field Ψ=(ψij)1⩽i,j⩽2 and the displacement field u. The experiments on the performance of this method have been done in two parallel environments namely, Silicon Graphics Origin 3800 and Cray T3E. The details of the parallel computer implementation procedures for this mixed method with time, speed-up comparisons for a few illustrative examples are given.