A three-dimensional Hellinger-Reissner Virtual Element Method for linear elasticity problems

Abstract: We present a Virtual Element Method for the 3D linear elasticity problems, based on Hellinger-Reissner variational principle. In the framework of the small strain theory, we propose a low-order scheme with a-priori symmetric stresses and continuous tractions across element interfaces. A convergence and stability analysis is developed and we confirm the theoretical predictions via some numerical tests.