A symmetric nonlocal damage theory

The paper presents a thermodynamically consistent formulation for nonlocal damage models. Nonlocal models have been recognized as a theoretically clean and computationally efficient approach to overcome the shortcomings arising in continuum media with softening. The main features of the presented formulation are: (i) relations derived by the free energy potential fully complying with nonlocal thermodynamic principles; (ii) nonlocal integral operator which is self-adjoint at every point of the solid, including zones near to the solid’s boundary; (iii) capacity of regularizing the softening ill-posed continuum problem, restoring a meaningful nonlocal boundary value problem. In the present approach the nonlocal integral operator is applied consistently to the damage variable and to its thermodynamic conjugate force, i.e. nonlocality is restricted to internal variables only. The present model, when associative nonlocal damage flow rules are assumed, allows the derivation of the continuum tangent moduli tensor and the consistent tangent stiffness matrix which are symmetric. The formulation has been compared with other available nonlocal damage theories.Finally, the theory has been implemented in a finite element program and the numerical results obtained for 1-D and 2-D problems show its capability to reproduce in every circumstance a physical meaningful solution and fully mesh independent results.     

INTERACTION OF THREE PARALLEL CRACKS IN RECTANGULAR PLATE UNDER CYCLIC LOADS

This paper presents a numerical approach for modeling the interaction between multiple cracks in a rectangular plate under cyclic loads. It involves the formulation of fatigue growth of multiple crack tips under ruixed-mode loading and an extension of a hybrid displacement discontinuity method （a boundary element method） to fatigue crack growth analyses. Because of an intrinsic feature of the boundary element method, a general growth problem of multiple cracks can be solved in a single-region formulation. In the numerical simulation, remeshing of existing boundaries is not necessary for each increment of crack extension. Crack extension is conveniently modeled by adding new boundary elements on the incremental crack extension to the previous crack boundaries. As an example, the numerical approach is used to analyze the fatigue growth of three parallel cracks in a rectangular plate. The numerical results illustrate the validation of the numerical approach and can reveal the effect of the geometry of the cracked plate on the fatigue growth.     

Boundary element approach to creep deformation of edge notched and cracked specimens

A direct formulation of the boundary element method using a complex variable numerical approach is presented for the time-dependent inelastic stresses in edge notched and cracked creeping metallic structural components subject to high temperature gradients. Particular attention is focused on the numerical evaluation of energy rate contour integrals in single edge cracked specimens in tension. The constitutive models used in the numerical calculation are internal state variable creep–plasticity or elastic power law creep model. Numerical results are compared with solution obtained from other methods for different loading rates.     

A relaxation-based approach to damage modeling

Material models, including softening effects due to, for example, damage and localizations, share the problem of ill-posed boundary value problems that yield mesh-dependent finite element results. It is thus necessary to apply regularization techniques that couple local behavior described, for example, by internal variables, at a spatial level. This can take account of the gradient of the internal variable to yield mesh-independent finite element results. In this paper, we present a new approach to damage modeling that does not use common field functions, inclusion of gradients or complex integration techniques: Appropriate modifications of the relaxed (condensed) energy hold the same advantage as other methods, but with much less numerical effort. We start with the theoretical derivation and then discuss the numerical treatment. Finally, we present finite element results that prove empirically how the new approach works.     

Continuum damage models with non-conventional finite element formulations

In recent years, some research effort has been devoted to the development of non-conventional finite element models for the analysis of concrete structures. These models use continuum damage mechanics to represent the physically non-linear behavior of this quasi-brittle material. Two alternative approaches proved to be robust and computationally competitive when compared with the classical displacement finite element implementations. The first corresponds to the hybrid-mixed stress model where both the effective stress and the displacement fields are independently modeled in the domain of each finite element and the displacements are approximated along the static boundary, which is considered to include the inter-element edges. The second approach corresponds to a hybrid-displacement model. In this case, the displacements in the domain of each element and the tractions along the kinematic boundary are independently approximated. Since it is a displacement model, the inter-element boundaries are now included in the kinematic boundary. In both models, complete sets of orthonormal Legendre polynomials are used to define all approximations required, so very effective p-refinement procedures can be implemented. This paper illustrates the numerical performance of these two alternative approaches and compares their efficiency and accuracy with the classical finite element models. For this purpose, a set of numerical tests is presented and discussed.     

A generalized variational formulation for convective heat transfer

The Scope of this paper is to develop the basic equations for a variational formulation which can be used to solve problems related to convection and/or diffusion dominated flows. The formulation is based on the introduction of a generalized quantity defined as the hear displacement. The governing equation is expressed in terms of this quantity and a variational formulation is developed which leads to a system of equations similar in form to Lagrange's equations of mechanics. These equations can be used for obtaining approximate solutions, though they are of particular interest for application of the finite element method. As an example of the formulation two finite element models are derived for solving convectiondiffusion boundary value problems. The performance of the two models is investigated and numerical results are given for different cases of convection and diffusion with two types of boundary conditions. The applications of the developed formulations are not limited to convection-diffusion problems but can also be applied to other types of problems such as mass transfer, hydrodynamics and wave propagation.     

Development of plasticity and damage in vibrating structural elements performing guided rigid-body motions

Summary  A numerical algorithm for studying the development of plastic and damaged zones in a vibrating structural element with a large, guided rigid-body motion is presented. Beam-type elements vibrating in the small-strain regime are considered. A machine element performing rotatory motions, similar to an element of a slider-crank mechanism, is treated as a benchmark problem. Microstructural changes in the deforming material are described by the mesolevel variables of plastic strain and damage, which are consistently included into a macroscopic analysis of the overall beam motion. The method is based on an eigenstrain formulation, considering plastic strain and damage to contribute to an eigenstrain loading of a linear elastic background structure. Rigid-body coordinates are incorporated into this beam-type structural formulation, and an implicit numerical scheme is presented for iterative computation of the eigenstrains from the mesolevel constitutive behavior. Owing to the eigenstrain formulation, any of the existing constitutive models with internal variables could in principle be implemented. Linear elastic/perfectly plastic behavior is exemplarily treated in a numerical study, where plastic strain is connected to the Kachanov damage parameter by a simple damage law. Inelastic effects like plastic shakedown and damage-induced low-cycle rupture are shown to occur in the examplary problems. Received 1 September 1999; accepted for publication 9 March 2000     

巴西圆盘试样中心斜裂纹疲劳扩展轨迹的边界元模拟

提出了一个平面弹性体多裂纹疲劳扩展模型. 它主要涉及到复合型加载情况下多裂纹尖端疲劳扩展的数学模型及杂交位移不连续法(一种边界元法). 在数值模拟中, 对每一裂纹扩展增量分析时,在其先前的边界上增添裂纹扩展增量, 且只对新增添的裂纹扩展增量划分单元, 同时, 按照这种边界元法的实施方法对一些单元特征进行调整, 就可以方便地模拟裂纹扩展. 用这种数值方法模拟了巴西圆盘试样中心斜裂纹疲劳扩展轨迹,数值结果说明了预报模型的有效性, 揭示了裂纹体几何对疲劳扩展的影响.      

Fatigue growth modeling of cracks emanating from a circular hole in infinite plate

This paper presents a numerical approach of fatigue growth analysis of cracks emanating from a hole in infinite elastic plate subjected to remote loads. It involves a generation of Bueckner’s principle and a hybrid displacement discontinuity method (a boundary element method) proposed recently by the senior author of the paper. Because of an intrinsic feature of the boundary element method, a general crack growth problem can be solved in a single region formulation. In the numerical simulation, for each increment of crack extension, remeshing of existing boundaries is not necessary. Crack extension is modeled conveniently by adding new boundary elements on the incremental crack extension to the previous crack boundaries. As an example, fatigue growth process of an inclined crack in an infinite plate under uniaxial cycle load is modeled to illustrate the effectiveness of the numerical approach. In addition, fatigue growth of cracks emanating from a circular hole in infinite elastic plate subjected to remote loads is investigated by using the numerical approach. Many numerical results are given     

A VARIATIONAL INEQUALITY APPROACH FOR NON-STEADY SEEPAGE FLOW THROUGH THREE-DIMENSIONAL FRACTURE NETWORK

为了求解裂隙岩体有自由面非稳定渗流问题,将Darcy定律延拓至整个研究区域,使得潜在溢出边界条件满足Signorini型边界条件,建立了三维裂隙网络非稳定渗流问题的抛物型变分不等式（parabolic variational inequality,PVI）提法,并证明其与偏微分方程（partial differential equation,PDE）提法的等价性,从而将自由面上的流量条件以及潜在溢出边界上的互补条件转化成自然边界条件,降低该问题求解难度。同时给出了基于PVI提法的有限元数值求解方法,通过与交叉裂隙模型理论解的对比分析,证明了该方法的正确性。最后将该方法对含复杂三维裂隙网络的边坡进行非稳定渗流分析,计算结果表明该方法对于复杂裂隙网络求解具有较强的可靠性和适应性。     

Trefftz有限元法的研究进展

Trefftz有限元法(Trefftz finite element method,TFEM)是一种高效的数值计算方法,兼有传统有限元法和边界元法的诸多优点.基于双独立插值模式,结合杂交泛函和高斯散度定理,推得仅含边界积分的有限元格式.简述了过去10年间(2007—2016)Trefftz有限元法在单元域内插值函数、源项处理、特殊功能单元以及非各向同性材料等方面的研究进展,并对未来的发展趋势给出了几点展望.     

Hybrid finite element formulations for elastodynamic analysis in the frequency domain

Three alternative sets of hybrid formulations to solve linear elastodynamic problems by the finite element method are presented. They are termed hybrid–mixed, hybrid and hybrid–Trefftz and differ essentially on the field conditions that the approximation functions are constrained to satisfy locally. Two models, namely the displacement and the stress models, are obtained for each formulation depending on whether the tractions or the boundary displacements are the field chosen to implement interelement continuity. A Fourier time discretization is used to uncouple the solving system in the frequency domain. The basic space discretization criterion is implemented directly on the fundamental relations of elastodynamics and used to derive the stress and displacement models of the hybrid–mixed formulation. The hybrid and hybrid–Trefftz formulations are presented in sequence as the variants of the hybrid–mixed formulation obtained by progressively increasing the constraints on the approximation bases. Numerical implementation aspects are briefly discussed and the performance of the finite element models is illustrated with numerical applications.     

Axisymmetric viscoplastic deformation by the boundary element method

This paper presents a boundary element formulation and numerical implementation of the problem of small axisymmetric deformation of viscoplastic bodies. While the extension from planar to axisymmetric problems can be carried out fairly simply for the finite element method (FEM), this is far from true for the boundary element method (BEM). The primary reason for this fact is that the axisymmetric kernels in the integral equations of the BEM contain elliptic functions which cannot be integrated analytically even over boundary elements and internal cells of simple shape. Thus, special methods have to be developed for the efficient and accurate numerical integration of these singular and sensitive kernels over discrete elements. The accurate determination of stress rates by differentiation of the displacement rates presents another formidable challenge.A successful numerical implementation of the boundary element method with elementwise (called the Mixed approach) or pointwise (called the pure BEM or BEM approach) determination of stress rates has been carried out. A computer program has been developed for the solution of general axisymmetric viscoplasticity problems. Comparisons of numerical results from the BEM and FEM, for several illustrative problems, are presented and discussed in the paper. It is possible to get direct solutions for the simpler class of problems for cylinders of uniform cross-section, and these solutions are also compared with the BEM and FEM results for such cases.     

Two-dimensional modeling of heterogeneous structures using graded finite element and boundary element methods

In the present work, graded finite element and boundary element methods capable of modeling behaviors of structures made of nonhomogeneous functionally graded materials (FGMs) composed of two constituent phases are presented. A numerical implementation of Somigliana’s identity in two-dimensional displacement fields of the isotropic nonhomogeneous problems is presented using the graded elements. Based on the constitutive and governing equations and the weighted residual technique, effective boundary element formulations are implemented for elastic nonhomogeneous isotropic solid models. Results of the finite element method are derived based on a Rayleigh–Ritz energy formulation. The heterogeneous structures are made of combined ceramic–metal materials, in which the material properties vary continuously along the in-plane or thickness directions according to a power law. To verify the present work, three numerical examples are provided in the paper.     

VIBRO-ACOUSTIC BEHAVIOR OF SUBMERGED CYLINDRICAL SHELLS: ANALYTICAL FORMULATION AND NUMERICAL MODEL

We propose both an analytical formulation and a numerical model to study the hydroelastic or vibroacoustic behaviour of cylindrical thin shells immersed in an unbounded, inviscid and heavy fluid. The analytical solution allows us to calculate the dynamic response and the pressure radiated in the far field by a baffled cylinder. This formulation uses the truncated modal basis of the dry structure to expand the displacements of the submerged shell. The analytical model is used as a reference in order to validate a numerical model which couples the finite element method (FEM) to the boundary element method (BEM). As opposed to the analytical formulation which is dedicated to baffled circular cylinders only, the numerical model allows us to treat any axisymmetric shell, such as cylindrical and spherical shells, or more complex shells of revolution. The structure is idealized by two-node ring finite elements and the boundary equation is solved using the method of singularities.     

A nonlocal model with strain-based damage

A thermodynamically consistent formulation of nonlocal damage in the framework of the internal variable theories of inelastic behaviours of associative type is presented. The damage behaviour is defined in the strain space and the effective stress turns out to be additively splitted in the actual stress and in the nonlocal counterpart of the relaxation stress related to damage phenomena. An important advantage of models with strain-based loading functions and explicit damage evolution laws is that the stress corresponding to a given strain can be evaluated directly without any need for solving a nonlinear system of equations. A mixed nonlocal variational formulation in the complete set of state variables is presented and is specialized to a mixed two-field variational formulation. Hence a finite element procedure for the analysis of the elastic model with nonlocal damage is established on the basis of the proposed two-field variational formulation. Two examples concerning a one-dimensional bar in simple tension and a two-dimensional notched plate are addressed. No mesh dependence or boundary effects are apparent.     

弹性薄板弯曲问题的边界轮廓法

导出了弹性薄板弯曲问题边界积分方程的另一种形式,基于这种方程,提出了平板弯曲问题的边界轮廓法,讨论了三次边界单元边界轮廓法的计算列式,并给出了计算内力的边界轮廓法方程。该法无需进行数值积分计算,完全避免了角点问题和奇异积分计算。给出的算例,与解析解相比较,证实该方法的有效性。     

Boundary element method for thermoelastic analysis of three-dimensional transversely isotropic solids

Thermal effects are well known to manifest themselves as additional volume integral terms in the direct formulation of the boundary integral equation (BIE) for linear elastic solids when using the boundary element method (BEM). This domain integral has been successfully transformed in an exact manner to surface ones only in isotropy and in 2D anisotropy, thereby restoring the BEM as a truly boundary solution technique. The difficulties with extending it to 3D general anisotropic solids lie in the mathematical complexity of the Green’s function and its derivatives for such materials. These quantities are required items in the BEM formulation. In this paper, the exact, analytical transformation of the volume integral associated with thermal effects to surface ones is achieved for a transversely isotropic material using a similar approach which the authors have previously employed for the same task in BEM for 2D general anisotropy. A numerical scheme, however, needs to be employed to evaluate some of the new terms introduced in the surface integrals that arise from this process here. The mathematical soundness of the formulation is demonstrated by a few examples; the numerical results obtained are checked by alternative means, including those obtained from the commercial FEM code, ANSYS.