New mixed plate-bending elements with shear strain interpolations

This paper is concerned with two mixed plate-bending elements with shear strain interpolations, a quadrilateral element and an 8-node serendipity-type element based on discussions on the element proposed in Ref.[1]. The shear strains and inner-forces in the natural coordinates are interpolated in an element and then transformed into Cartesian coordinates in accordance with covariant and contravariant tensor transformations, respectively. The quadrilateral element coincides with the element in Ref.[1] when it is rectangular. Numerical examples show that the two new elements are free from shear locking and spurious kinematic modes under regular and irregular meshes and have the advantages of being insensitive to element distortion and able to give fairly accurate results.The Project supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China.     

基于高阶剪切变形理论的四边形求积元板单元及其应用

近年来由各类新型复合材料或功能梯度材料构成的板结构在工程领域得到了广泛应用,其显著特点是材料性能沿板厚变化.为合理考虑横向剪切应变,许多学者基于Reddy高阶剪切变形理论,构建了不同的有限元单元对该类板结构进行分析,但其中满足$C^{1}$连续条件的单元相对较少.本文基于Reddy高阶剪切变形理论,采用求积元方法,建立了$C^{1}$连续的四边形板单元.利用该单元对均质材料、复合材料、功能梯度材料构成的等厚度矩形板、变厚度矩形板及等厚度斜板的线弹性弯曲和自由振动问题进行了计算分析,并与现有文献中的相应计算结果进行了对比.研究表明:基于高阶剪切变形理论的四边形求积元板单元具有较高的计算效率和良好的适应性,文中各类材料构成的等变厚度矩形板及等厚度斜板均只需1个单元即可得到理想的计算结果.对于等/变厚度矩形板,可仅使用9$\times$9个积分点,而对于等厚度斜板,随着斜角的增大,所需积分点的数目逐渐增多至15$\times $15.该四边形求积元板单元可进一步用于新型复合材料板的非线性分析.      

A potential-hybrid/mixed finite element scheme for analysis of plates and cylindrical shells

Based on the potential-hybrid/mixed finite element scheme,4-node quadrilateralplate-bending elements MP4,MP4a and cylindrical shell element MCS4 are derived with,the inclusion of splitting rotations.All these elements demonstrate favorable convergencebehavior over the existing counterparts,free from spurious kinematic modes and do notexhibit locking phenomenon in thin plate/shell limit.Inter-connections between the existingmodified variational functionals for the use of formulating C~0-and C~1-continuous elementsare also indicated.Important particularizations of the present scheme include Prathap’sconsistent field formulation,the RIT/SRIT-compatible displacement model and so on.     

一种新的全四边形网格快速生成方法─—模板法

本文提出了一种正方形亲单元上实现网格在二个坐标方向均能过渡的全四边形单元生成方法．该方法允许正方形周边节点任意分布，并可以对单元密度进行控制，将该方法和映射法结合解决了用映射单元法对结构进行四边形单元划分时存在的网格过渡的这一关键问题。该方法计算量少，运算速度快，生成单元的形状良好。     

Dynamic crushing behavior of honeycomb structures with irregular cell shapes and non-uniform cell wall thickness

Dynamic crushing responses of honeycomb structures having irregular cell shapes and non-uniform cell wall thickness are studied using the Voronoi tessellation technique and the finite element (FE) method. FE models are constructed for such honeycomb structures based on Voronoi diagrams with different degrees of cell shape irregularity and cell wall thickness non-uniformity. The plateau stress, the densification strain energy and the initiation strain are determined using the FE models. Simulation results reveal that the “X” and “V” shaped deformation modes evident in a perfectly ordered honeycomb at low or moderate impact velocities are disrupted as cell shapes become irregular and/or cell wall thickness gets non-uniform. The “I” shaped deformation mode is clearly seen in all honeycomb structures at high impact velocities. Both the plateau stress and the densification strain energy are found to decrease as the degree of cell shape irregularity or the degree of cell wall thickness non-uniformity increases, with the weakening effect induced by the presence of non-uniform cell wall thickness being more significant. When the two types of imperfections co-exist in a honeycomb structure, the interaction between them is seen to exhibit a complicated pattern and to have a nonlinear effect on both the plateau stress and the densification strain energy. It is also found that stress waves propagate faster in a honeycomb structure having irregular cell shapes and slower in a honeycomb structure having non-uniform cell wall thickness than in a perfectly ordered honeycomb. Finally, the strain hardening of the cell wall material is seen to have a strengthening effect on the plateau stress, which is more significant for perfectly ordered honeycombs than for imperfect honeycomb structures.     

A generalized conforming isoparametric element

Based on the generalized compatibility condition under constant and linear stress field, a quadrilateral generalized conforming isoparametric element, GC-Q6, for plane stress analysis, is developed. The element GC-Q6 can be regarded as an improved form of Wilson’s non-conforming isoparametric element Q6. GC-Q6 can pass the patch test for arbitrary irregular mesh while Q6 can not. GC-Q6 degenerates to Q6 when it is a parallelogram. Numerical examples show that the GC-Q6 element gives more accurate stress solution than the existing non-conforming elements and is less sensitive to geometric distortion.     

Effect of the order of the finite element and selection of the constrained modes in deformable body dynamics

Finite elements with different orders can be used in the analysis of constrained deformable bodies that undergo large rigid body displacements. The constrained mode shapes resulting from the use of finite elements with different orders differ in the way the stiffness of the body bending and extension are defined. The constrained modes also depend on the selection of the boundary conditions. Using the same type of finite element, different sets of boundary conditions lead to different sets of constrained modes. In this investigation, the effect of the order of the element as well as the selection of the constrained mode shapes is examined numerically. To this end, the constant strain three node triangular element and the quadratic six node triangular element are used. The results obtained using the three node triangular element are compared with the higher order six node triangular element. The equations of motion for the three and six node triangular elements are formulated from assumed linear and quadratic displacement fields, respectively. Both assumed displacement fields can describe large rigid body translational and rotational displacements. Consequently, the dynamic formulation presented in this investigation can also be used in the large deformation analysis. Using the finite element displacement field, the mass, stiffness, and inertia invariants of the three and six-node triangular elements are formulated. Standard finite element assembly techniques are used to formulate the differential equations of motion for mechanical systems consisting of interconnected deformable bodies. Using a multibody four bar mechanism, numerical results of the different elements and their respective performance are presented. These results indicate that the three node triangular element does not perform well in bending modes of deformation.     

Two 8-node quadrilateral spline elements by B-net method

Isoparametric quadrilateral elements are widely used in the finite element method, but the accuracy of the isoparametric quadrilateral elements will drop obviously deteriorate due to mesh distortions. Spline functions have some properties of simplicity and conformality. Two 8-node quadrilateral elements have been developed using the triangular area coordinates and the B-net method, which can exactly model the quadratic field for both convex and concave quadrangles. Some appropriate examples are employed to evaluate the performance of the proposed elements. The numerical results show that the two spline elements can obtain solutions which are highly accurate and insensitive to mesh distortions.     

弹塑性力学问题的虚单元法

具有有限差分法特征的虚单元法,可视为是有限元法向任意多边形单元的扩展。在材料细观力学性能表征、非均质材料力学分析等非线性问题方面,传统的弹塑性有限元法具有网格数目多、效率低下等不足之处,而虚单元法使网格划分更加灵活,为材料的弹塑性力学分析等非线性问题提供了新的思路。基于增量法弹塑性力学原理和双线性投影算子,建立了弹塑性力学问题的虚单元法求解技术,提出了弹塑性力学问题虚单元法的应力更新方案,研究了弹性力学问题虚单元法的精度和收敛性,讨论了虚单元法求解弹塑性力学问题的网格依赖性。同时,开展了任意多边形和凹多边形单元的数值试验研究,结果表明,虚单元法无须分割多边形,仅需节点自由度便可求得单元刚度矩阵和应力等效荷载,程序实现简单,计算精度高,改善了传统有限元的网格依赖性和塑性区的网格奇异性。     

Development of quadrilateral spline thin plate elements using the B-net method

The quadrilateral discrete Kirchhoff thin plate bending element DKQ is based on the isoparametric element Q8, however, the accuracy of the isoparametric quadrilateral elements will drop significantly due to mesh distortions. In a previous work, we constructed an 8-node quadrilateral spline element L8 using the triangular area coordinates and the Bnet method, which can be insensitive to mesh distortions and possess the second order completeness in the Cartesian coordinates. In this paper, a thin plate spline element is developed based on the spline element L8 and the refined technique. Numerical examples show that the present element indeed possesses higher accuracy than the DKQ element for distorted meshes.     

非结构混合网格在气动热标模模拟中的应用

非结构混合网格消除了结构网格节点的结构性限制,可以较好地处理边界,同时兼顾了粘性边界层模拟的需求,具有灵活性大、对复杂外形适应能力强和生成耗时短等优点,在飞行器气动特性模拟中得到广泛应用.本文针对非结构混合网格的特点,把前期针对非结构混合网格气动力高精度模拟发展改进的梯度计算方法和Roe格式熵修正方法推广应用到气动热流的数值模拟.以典型钝锥标模外形的高超声速绕流为研究对象,开展了不同网格形式和第一层网格不同间距的影响研究.结果 表明,热流计算时,头部物面网格最好采用四边形或四边形交叉剖分得到的三角形网格,物面法向的网格雷诺数取20左右,为热流计算时非结构混合网格的生成提供了指导,同时验证了计算方法的有效性和可靠性.     

Nonlocal microplane model with strain-softening yield limits

The paper deals with the problem of nonlocal generalization of constitutive models such as microplane model M4 for concrete, in which the yield limits, called stress–strain boundaries, are softening functions of the total strain. Such constitutive models call for a different nonlocal generalization than those for continuum damage mechanics, in which the total strain is reversible, or for plasticity, in which there is no memory of the initial state. In the proposed nonlocal formulation, the softening yield limit is a function of the spatially averaged nonlocal strains rather than the local strains, while the elastic strains are local. It is demonstrated analytically as well numerically that, with the proposed nonlocal model, the tensile stress across the strain localization band at very large strain does soften to zero and the cracking band retains a finite width even at very large tensile strain across the band only if one adopts an “over-nonlocal” generalization of the type proposed by Vermeer and Brinkgreve [In: Chambon, R., Desrues, J., Vardoulakis, I. (Eds.), Localisation and Bifurcation Theory for Soils and Rocks, Balkema, Rotterdam, 1994, p. 89] (and also used by Planas et al. [Basic issue of nonlocal models: uniaxial modeling, Tecnical Report 96-jp03, Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, 1996], and by Strömberg and Ristinmaa [Comput. Meth. Appl. Mech. Eng. 136 (1996) 127]). Numerical finite element studies document the avoidance of spurious mesh sensitivity and mesh orientation bias, and demonstrate objectivity and size effect.     

基于面积坐标与B网方法的四边形样条单元

传统等参元方法中, S型等参元完备阶较低,对网格畸变敏感, L型等参元具有高阶完备性但需要使用内部节点. 另外,由于引入等参变换, 采用数值积分可能导致总刚度矩阵出现奇异性.利用三角形面积坐标与B网方法建立了一类平面四边形的样条单元函数,它们的特点是满足协调条件, 克服网格畸变敏感性.其中8节点和12节点单元分别为2次和3次样条函数,对直角坐标分别具有二阶和三阶完备性, 高于相同节点的S型等参元.通过算例测试了这些样条单元, 并与等参元和其它四边形单元比较,数值结果显示了它们的高精度和有效性.      

A novel four-node quadrilateral element with continuous nodal stress

Formulation and numerical evaluation of a novel four-node quadrilateral element with continuous nodal stress（Q4-CNS）are presented.Q4-CNS can be regarded as an improved hybrid FE-meshless four-node quadrilateral element（FE-LSPIM QUAD4）, which is a hybrid FE-meshless method.Derivatives of Q4-CNS are continuous at nodes, so the continuous nodal stress can be obtained without any smoothing operation.It is found that,compared with the standard four-node quadrilateral element（QUAD4）,Q4- CNS can achieve significantly better accuracy and higher convergence rate.It is also found that Q4-CNS exhibits high tolerance to mesh distortion.Moreover,since derivatives of Q4-CNS shape functions are continuous at nodes,Q4-CNS is potentially useful for the problem of bending plate and shell models.     

Size effect and localization in J2 plasticity

This paper studies the phenomenon of structural size effect and strain localization in J2 plasticity. Size effect is here understood as the change in the response of a given structure when the spatial dimensions are scaled up or down while the geometry and other relevant properties of the structure are preserved. The work exploits the advantages of the mixed displacement–pressure formulation in incompressible or quasi-incompressible situations. Elasto-J2-plastic constitutive behaviour with regularized softening is considered. Stability issues are discussed to ensure existence and uniqueness of the solution of the corresponding discrete finite element formulation. Numerical examples show that the formulation derived is able to solve a wide range of structural scales, including real life engineering applications. The results obtained do not suffer from spurious mesh dependence. Furthermore, the formulation includes the classical theories of perfect plasticity and linear fracture mechanics as limit cases.     

多边形有限元研究进展

有限元法是数值求解偏微分方程边值问题的重要方法,采用不规则多边形单元网格, 可以方便有效地模拟材料的力学性能, 又使得区域网格剖分变得灵活方便. 特别是对于复杂的几何形状, 多边形单元网格具有更大的优势. 本文对国内外有关多边形有限元法的最新进展作了初步的总结和评述, 主要以基于位移法的多边形有限元为主.论述了多边形有限元的发展历史, 给出了多边形单元上的Wachspress插值、Laplace插值和重心坐标的一些最新研究成果. 与经典有限元法形函数为多项式形式不同, 多边形单元的形函数为有理函数或者无理函数形式. 多边形单元插值形函数满足线性完备性, 可以再现线性位移场, 像经典有限元法一样直接施加本质边界条件; 插值函数在多边形的边界上是线性的,确保不同单元间的自动协调. 不同单元的插值形函数表达公式形式统一, 方便混合单元网格计算的程序编写. 提出了多边形有限元法今后需要研究的问题.      

A cubic quadrilateral spline element with concave shapes

Basic requirement for applying isoparametric element is that the element has to be convex and no violent distortion is allowed. In this paper, a cubic quadrilateral spline element with 12 nodes has been developed using the triangular area coordinates and the B-net method, which can exactly model the cubic field for quadrilateral element with both convex and concave shapes. Neither mapping nor coordinate transformation is required and the spline element can obtain high accuracy solutions and insensitive to mesh distortions.     

一个不闭锁和抗畸变的四边形厚板元

构造一个彻底消除剪切闭锁现象并且对网格畸变不敏感的四边形厚薄板通用单元RPAQ。在方法上有三个特点：第一,在厚板挠度和转角的试函数中,采用了合理匹配方案,从而在源头上彻底消除了剪切闭锁现象;第二,采用四边形面积坐标,以代替通常的等参坐标,从而使网格畸变时仍然保持高精度;第三,采用广义协调元做法,使协调条件的采用灵活多样,并保证单元的收敛性。进行了一系列数值例题测试,表明单元RPAQ能自动消除闭锁现象,在由薄板到厚板的不同情况下,在各种网格畸变的情况下,都能体现出良好的精度和数值稳定性。     

Orthogonal basic deformation mode method for zero-energy mode suppression of hybrid stress elements

A set of basic deformation modes for hybrid stress finite elements are directly derived from the element displacement field. Subsequently, by employing the so-called united orthogonal conditions, a new orthogonalization method is proposed. The resulting orthogonal basic deformation modes exhibit simple and clear physical meanings. In addition, they do not involve any material parameters, and thus can be efficiently used to examine the element performance and serve as a unified tool to assess different hybrid elements. Thereafter, a convenient approach for the identification of spurious zero-energy modes is presented using the positive definiteness property of a flexibility matrix. Moreover, based on the orthogonality relationship between the given initial stress modes and the orthogonal basic deformation modes, an alternative method of assumed stress modes to formulate a hybrid element free of spurious modes is discussed. It is found that the orthogonality of the basic deformation modes is the sufficient and necessary condition for the suppression of spurious zero-energy modes. Numerical examples of 2D 4-node quadrilateral elements and 3D 8-node hexahedral elements are illustrated in detail to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed orthogonal basic deformation mode method.     

复合材料层合板的摄动随机Cell-Based光滑有限元

随机性是实际工程结构的固有特性,如何更真实地描述含随机参数结构的随机响应及统计特性,对工程结构的可靠性设计具有非常重要的意义。本文基于Cell-Based光滑有限元,采用四边形单元,推导了基于一阶剪切变形理论的复合材料层合板的光滑有限元公式,降低了网格划分要求,适应不规则网格,并采用离散剪切间隙有效地消除了剪切自锁;结合摄动法和随机场理论,导出了复合材料层合板的摄动随机光滑有限元平衡方程,并给出了结构随机响应数字特征的计算公式,求解了材料属性含随机性的复合材料层合板的随机响应问题,数值算例结果表明了本方法的有效性和准确性。