An isogeometric method for the Reissner-Mindlin plate bending problem
  We present a new isogeometric method for the discretization of the Reissner-Mindlin plate bending problem. The proposed scheme follows a recent theoretical framework that makes possible to construct a space of smooth discrete deflections $W_h$ and a space of smooth discrete rotations $\Rots_h$ such that the Kirchhoff contstraint is exactly satisfied at the limit. Therefore we obtain a formulation which is natural from the theoretical/mechanical viewpoint and locking free by construction. 
L. Beir\~ao da Veiga, A. Buffa, C. Lovadina, M. Martinelli, G.   Sangalli
math.NA