Analytical and meshless numerical approaches to unified gradient elasticity theory

• Examination of unified gradient theory with application to nano-mechanics of torsion. • Introducing an efficient numerical approach based on Reissner variational functional. • Proposing independent series solutions of the kinematic and kinetic field variables. • Realizing excellent agreement between meshless method and exact analytical solution. • Fast convergence rate and admissible convergence region of proposed meshless method. The unified...