Geometrically exact beam theory without Euler angles

In modeling highly flexible beams undergoing arbitrary rigid–elastic deformations, difficulties exist in describing large rotations using rotational variables, including three Euler angles, two Euler angles, one principal rotation angle plus three direction cosines of the principal rotation axis, four Euler parameters, three Rodrigues parameters, and three modified Rodrigues parameters. The main problem is that such rotational variables are either sequence-dependent and/or spatially discontinuous because they are not mechanics-based variables. Hence, they are not appropriate for use as nodal degrees of freedom in total-Lagrangian finite-element modeling. Moreover, it is difficult to apply boundary conditions on such discontinuous and/or sequence-dependent rotational variables. This paper presents a new geometrically exact beam theory that uses no rotation variables and has no singular points in the spatial domain. The theory fully accounts for geometric nonlinearities and initial curvatures by using Jaumann strains, exact coordinate transformations, and orthogonal virtual rotations. The derivations are presented in detail, fully nonlinear governing equations and boundary conditions are presented, a finite element formulation is included, and the corresponding governing equations for numerically exact analysis using a multiple shooting method is also derived. Numerical examples are used to illustrate the problems of using rotational variables and to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed geometrically exact displacement-based beam theory.     

基于共旋列式的空间梁的稳定性分析

基于独立于单元的共旋列式(EICR),将一种几何线性的无剪切锁死的Timoshenko梁单元扩展用于空间梁结构的几何非线性分析。考虑到三维分析中发生大转动时转动顺序的不可交换性,也即转动自由度不能作为向量采用加法规则更新,采用了四元变量来存储和更新转动自由度,使得共旋列式适用于位移任意大和转动任意大但应变很小的几何非线性分析。同时改进了Riks弧长法使之适用于带有大转动的三维几何非线性分析。给出了几个数值算例,结果表明本文方法具有较高的计算精度和效率。     

Elastodynamic analysis of low tension cables using a new curved beam element

In this paper, we address and overcome the difficulties associated with the use of the classic cable theory to treat low tension cables by developing a new three-noded locking-free nonlinear curved beam element. Based upon nonlinear generalized curved beam theory, large deformations and rotations in the new element are formulated in terms of Updated Lagrangian framework. Consistently coupled polynomial displacement fields are used to satisfy the membrane locking-free condition and the requirement of being able to recover the inextensible bending modes. Quintic transverse displacement interpolation functions are used to represent the bending deformation of the beam, while the axial and torsional displacement fields are derived by integration of the presumably linear membrane and torsional shear strain fields, which are coupled with the transverse displacement fields. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the superior accuracy and the high convergence rate of the newly developed curved beam element. The stability and accuracy of the new element are further validated by experiments of an instrumented free-swinging steel cable experiencing slack and low tension. Good agreements in cable position and tension are observed between the experimental results and the finite element predictions.     

Weak form quadrature element analysis of planar slender beams based on geometrically exact beam theory

This paper is devoted to the modeling of planar slender beams undergoing large displacements and finite rotations. Transverse shear deformation of beams that is trivial for most slender beams is neglected in the present model, though within the framework of the geometrically exact beam theory proposed by Reissner. A weak form quadrature element formulation is proposed which is characterized by highly efficient numerical integration and differentiation, thus minimizing the number of elements as well as the total degrees-of-freedom. Several typical examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the beam model and the weak form quadrature element formulation.     

大变形柔性多体系统非线性动力学数值仿真与实验研究

提出了一种作大范围运动柔性梁的非接触动态测试技术.在基于位移的柔性多体系统几何精确建模及非线性有限元分析技术的基础上,利用EAGLE-500运动分析系统及其相应的分析软件对作大范围运动钛合金柔性梁作了实验研究,并且利用之前提出的几何精确梁理论进行数值仿真.数值仿真结果与实验结果完全吻合,验证了作者所提的几何精确梁理论及...     

两类基于局部标架梁单元的闭锁缓解方法

对于大转动、大变形柔性体的刚柔耦合动力学问题,基于李群SE(3)局部标架(local frame formulation, LFF)的建模方法能够规避刚体运动带来的几何非线性问题,离散数值模型中广义质量矩阵与切线刚度矩阵满足刚体变换的不变性,可明显地提高柔性多体系统动力学问题的计算效率. 有限元方法中,闭锁问题是导致单元收敛性能低下的主要原因, 例如梁单元的剪切以及泊松闭锁.多变量变分原理是缓解梁、板/壳单元闭锁的有效手段. 该方法不仅离散位移场,同时离散应力场或应变场, 可提高应力与应变的计算精度. 本文基于上述局部标架,研究几类梁单元的闭锁处理方法, 包括几何精确梁(geometrically exact beam formulation, GEBF)与绝对节点坐标(absolute nodal coordinate formulation, ANCF)梁单元. 其中, 采用Hu-Washizu三场变分原理缓解几何精确梁单元中的剪切闭锁,采用应变分解法缓解基于局部标架的ANCF全参数梁单元中的泊松闭锁. 数值算例表明,局部标架的梁单元在描述高转速或大变形柔性多体系统时,可消除刚体运动带来的几何非线性, 极大地减少系统质量矩阵和刚度矩阵的更新次数.缓解闭锁后的几类局部标架梁单元收敛性均得到了明显提升.      

An improved dynamic model for a silicone material beam with large deformation

Dynamic modeling for incompressible hyperelastic materials with large deformation is an important issue in biomimetic applications. The previously proposed lower-order fully parameterized absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) beam element employs cubic interpolation in the longitudinal direction and linear interpolation in the transverse direction, whereas it cannot accurately describe the large bending deformation. On this account, a novel modeling method for studying the dynamic behavior of nonlinear materials is proposed in this paper. In this formulation, a higher-order beam element characterized by quadratic interpolation in the transverse directions is used in this investigation. Based on the Yeoh model and volumetric energy penalty function, the nonlinear elastic force matrices are derived within the ANCF framework. The feasibility and availability of the Yeoh model are verified through static experiment of nonlinear incompressible materials. Furthermore, dynamic simulation of a silicone cantilever beam under the gravity force is implemented to validate the superiority of the higher-order beam element. The simulation results obtained based on the Yeoh model by employing three different ANCF beam elements are compared with the result achieved from a commercial finite element package as the reference result. It is found that the results acquired utilizing a higher-order beam element are in good agreement with the reference results, while the results obtained using a lower-order beam element are different from the reference results. In addition, the stiffening problem caused by volumetric locking can be resolved effectively by applying a higher-order beam element. It is concluded that the proposed higher-order beam element formulation has satisfying accuracy in simulating dynamic motion process of the silicone beam.     

Semiclosed-form solution for static nonlinear analysis of extensible cables

The analysis of a cable deforming under statically applied body forces leads to a series of differential equations that are inherently nonlinear due to coupling of geometry and loading. These equations have been solved by nonlinear finite element technique, finite difference formulation, or a two-step shooting method. However, a semiclosed-form solution is presented herein in which the governing differential equations are integrated to yield exact expressions for the unknown cable forces and the parameters defining the geometry of the loaded cable. The formulation presented herein is capable of taking care of the large sag and deformation in the cable without employing any numerical solution procedure.     

A unified nonlinear formulation for plate and shell theories

A general geometrically exact nonlinear theory for the dynamics of laminated plates and shells under-going large-rotation and small-strain vibrations in three-dimensional space is presented. The theory fully accounts for geometric nonlinearities by using the new concepts of local displacements and local engineering stress and strain measures, a new interpretation and manipulation of the virtual local rotations, an exact coordinate transformation, and the extended Hamilton principle. Moreover, the model accounts for shear coupling effects, continuity of interlaminar shear stresses, free shear-stress conditions on the bonding surfaces, and extensionality. Because the only differences among different plates and shells are the initial curvatures of the coordinates used in the modeling and all possible initial curvatures are included in the formulation, the theory is valid for any plate or shell geometry and contains most of the existing nonlinear and shear-deformable plate and shell theories as special cases. Five fully nonlinear partial-differential equations and corresponding boundary and corner conditions are obtained, which describe the extension-extension-bending-shear-shear vibrations of general laminated two-dimensional structures and display linear elastic and nonlinear geometric coupling among all motions. Moreover, the energy and Newtonian formulations are completely correlated in the theory.     

降落伞膜索非线性有限元模拟

用膜单元和索单元模拟降落伞织物绳索系统,基于完全拉格朗日格式的非线性有限元方法编程计算降落伞的结构动力学特性。采用增量与迭代混合方法改善非线性计算的收敛特性并结合HHT隐式时间推进方法减小整体迭代计算量。使用修正应力应变张量导数的方法模拟膜单元单向应力状态并针对膜单元和索单元分别进行了非线性有限元计算验证。最后针对C-9型降落伞建立三维有限元模型,根据设定流速对伞衣施加均匀压强载荷,将模拟展开的结果与使用相同模型、不同方法商业软件的文献进行对比,显示了隐式非线性有限元方法模拟降落伞膜索系统大变形动力学的能力。     

弹性曲梁在机械和热载荷共同作用下的几何非线性模型及其数值解

基于Euler-Bernoulli梁的几何非线性理论,建立了弹性曲梁在任意分布机械载荷和热载荷共同作用下的几何非线性静平衡控制方程。该模型不仅计及了轴线伸长,同时也精确地考虑了梁的初始曲率对变形的影响以及轴向变形与弯曲变形之间的相互耦合效应。应用打靶法数值求解了半圆形曲梁在横向均匀升温作用下的非线性弯曲问题,数值比较了轴向伸长对曲梁变形的影响。     

非保守功能梯度弹性组合曲梁的精确模型及其数值解

基于直法线假设,采用可伸长梁的几何非线性理论,建立了功能梯度材料弹性组合曲梁受切线均布随从力作用下的静态大变形数学模型。该模型不仅计及了轴线伸长,同时也精确地考虑了梁的初始曲率对变形的影响以及轴向变形与弯曲变形之间的耦合效应。用打靶法数值求解了由金属和陶瓷两相材料所构成的一种FGM组合曲梁在沿轴线均布切向随动载荷作用下的非线性平面弯曲问题,给出了不同梯度指标下FGM弹性曲梁随载荷参数大范围变化的平衡路径,并与金属和陶瓷两种单相材料曲梁的相应特性进行了比较。     

A coupling cross-section finite element model for torsion analysis of prismatic bars

A general finite element model has been developed for the analysis of prismatic bars subject to torsional loading by modelling only a small slice of the bar. Exact analytical coupling deformation relationships between the artificial cross-sections, which are independent of the position of axis of rotation, have been formulated. Three examples from the range of analyses that have been evaluated have been selected to demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of the method. Analyses for an orthotropic elastic square cross-section bar, an elastic–plastic circular cross-section shaft containing a radial crack, and geometrically nonlinear deformation of a thin-walled I-section beam are presented and compared with previous results, where available.     

Nonlinear dynamics of three-dimensional belt drives using the finite-element method

In this paper, new nonlinear dynamic formulations for belt drives based on the three-dimensional absolute nodal coordinate formulation are developed. Two large deformation three-dimensional finite elements are used to develop two different belt-drive models that have different numbers of degrees of freedom and different modes of deformation. Both three-dimensional finite elements are based on a nonlinear elasticity theory that accounts for geometric nonlinearities due to large deformation and rotations. The first element is a thin-plate element that is based on the Kirchhoff plate assumptions and captures both membrane and bending stiffness effects. The other three-dimensional element used in this investigation is a cable element obtained from a more general three-dimensional beam element by eliminating degrees of freedom which are not significant in some cable and belt applications. Both finite elements used in this investigation allow for systematic inclusion or exclusion of the bending stiffness, thereby enabling systematic examination of the effect of bending on the nonlinear dynamics of belt drives. The finite-element formulations developed in this paper are implemented in a general purpose three-dimensional flexible multibody algorithm that allows for developing more detailed models of mechanical systems that include belt drives subject to general loading conditions, nonlinear algebraic constraints, and arbitrary large displacements. The use of the formulations developed in this investigation is demonstrated using two-roller belt-drive system. The results obtained using the two finite-element formulations are compared and the convergence of the two finite-element solutions is examined.     

A nonlinear composite beam theory

Presented here is a general theory for the three-dimensional nonlinear dynamics of elastic anisotropic initially straight beams undergoing moderate displacements and rotations. The theory fully accounts for geometric nonlinearities (large rotations and displacements) by using local stress and strain measures and an exact coordinate transformation, which result in nonlinear curvature and strain-displacement expressions that contain the von Karman strains as a special case. Extensionality is included in the formulation, and transverse shear deformations are accounted for by using a third-order theory. Six third-order nonlinear partial-differential equations are derived for describing one extension, two bending, one torsion, and two shearing vibrations of composite beams. They show that laminated beams display linear elastic and nonlinear geometric couplings among all motions. The theory contains, as special cases, the Euler-Bernoulli theory, Timoshenko's beam theory, the third-order shear theory, and the von Karman type nonlinear theory.     

双层纤维压电智能薄板几何非线性建模与分析

纤维压电MFC(Micro-Fiber Composite)的强致动力和高柔性等特点具有广泛的应用前景,但是材料组成结构复杂给建模带来了难处。基于Reissner-Mindlin假设,采用冯卡门非线性、中等转角及大转角几何非线性等理论,建立了MFC压电智能结构的多种几何非线性有限元模型。同时该模型考虑了压电纤维角度变化对结构形变的影响。分别对两种不同结构的MFC进行了建模与仿真,分别是MFC-d31和MFC-d33,前一种主要利用压电d31效应,而后一种主要利用压电d33效应。随后,通过一压电悬臂梁结构实验数据验证了模型的准确性。最后,利用所建模型对一种双层纤维压电智能薄板结构进行了几何非线性的计算与仿真。     

Geometrical nonlinear analysis of thin-walled composite beams using finite element method based on first order shear deformation theory

Based on a seven-degree-of-freedom shear deformable beam model, a geometrical nonlinear analysis of thin-walled composite beams with arbitrary lay-ups under various types of loads is presented. This model accounts for all the structural coupling coming from both material anisotropy and geometric nonlinearity. The general nonlinear governing equations are derived and solved by means of an incremental Newton–Raphson method. A displacement-based one-dimensional finite element model that accounts for the geometric nonlinearity in the von Kármán sense is developed to solve the problem. Numerical results are obtained for thin-walled composite beam under vertical load to investigate the effects of fiber orientation, geometric nonlinearity, and shear deformation on the axial–flexural–torsional response.     

Geometric nonlinear dynamic analysis of curved beams using curved beam element

Instead of using the previous straight beam element to approximate the curved beam,in this paper,a curvilinear coordinate is employed to describe the deformations,and a new curved beam element is proposed to model the curved beam.Based on exact nonlinear strain-displacement relation,virtual work principle is used to derive dynamic equations for a rotating curved beam,with the effects of axial extensibility,shear deformation and rotary inertia taken into account.The constant matrices are solved numerically utilizing the Gauss quadrature integration method.Newmark and Newton-Raphson iteration methods are adopted to solve the differential equations of the rigid-flexible coupling system.The present results are compared with those obtained by commercial programs to validate the present finite method.In order to further illustrate the convergence and efficiency characteristics of the present modeling and computation formulation,comparison of the results of the present formulation with those of the ADAMS software are made.Furthermore,the present results obtained from linear formulation are compared with those from nonlinear formulation,and the special dynamic characteristics of the curved beam are concluded by comparison with those of the straight beam.