Microplane modeling of cyclic behavior of concrete: a gradient plasticity-damage formulation

A microplane model is developed to simulate the behavior of concrete under cyclic loading conditions. Pure damage mechanics or pure plasticity models yield satisfactory results for concrete under monotonic loading but cannot capture correctly the unloading and reloading response. Therefore, coupling damage and plasticity is necessary for accurate constitutive modeling of concrete. The microplane model offers a straightforward approach to simulate induced anisotropy by formulating the material laws on many randomly oriented planes. Distinguishing between compression and tension response using the proper plastic yield function and damage laws is considered. Furthermore, gradient enhancement is employed to handle the pathological mesh sensitivity related to strain softening. The new formulation is implemented within a 3D finite element code and a numerical example is simulated and compared to experiments in order to evaluate the capabilities of the model. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Investigation of gradient-enhanced damage evolution in viscoplastic plates under propagating disturbance

This work investigates gradient-enhanced damage evolution by performing a parameter study for the authors's finite element shell model [1], in which the free energy function is enhanced phenomenologically in terms of a non-local damage variable and its gradient on the mid-surface of shell structures. This enhancement gives rise to an introduction of gradient parameters in terms of a substructure-related intrisic length-scale and a relationship between non-local and local damage variable. Based on the global displacement-force curves obtained from shock-tube tests on aluminium plate specimens, the gradient parameters are determined to validate the proposed shell model. The influence of spatial gradient of loading on the material behaviour within a macroscopic continuum element will be discussed through several examples. (© 2012 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Error estimation,adaptivity and data transfer in enriched plasticity continua to analysis of shear band localization

In this paper, an adaptive FE analysis is presented based on error estimation, adaptive mesh refinement and data transfer for enriched plasticity continua in the modelling of strain localization. As the classical continuum models suffer from pathological mesh-dependence in the strain softening models, the governing equations are regularized by adding rotational degrees-of-freedom to the conventional degrees-of-freedom. Adaptive strategy using element elongation is applied to compute the distribution of required element size using the estimated error distribution. Once a new mesh is generated, state variables and history-dependent variables are mapped from the old finite element mesh to the new one. In order to transfer the history-dependent variables from the old to new mesh, the values of internal variables available at Gauss point are first projected at nodes of old mesh, then the values of the old nodes are transferred to the nodes of new mesh and finally, the values at Gauss points of new elements are determined with respect to nodal values of the new mesh. Finally, the efficiency of the proposed model and computational algorithms is demonstrated by several numerical examples.     

A variational coupled damage-plasticity model via gradient enhancement of the free energy function

We present a coupled damage-plasticity model, whose regularization is achieved through gradient enhancement of the free energy function by introducing new variables. They serve to transport the values of the inelastic variables across the element boundaries, and their gradients play regularisation role in the model. Variational formulation results in a pure minimisation problem, leading to model non-local in nature and preserving C⁰ interpolation order of the variables. Numerical examples illustrating the performance of the proposed model are presented. It is shown that the pathological mesh dependence is efficiently removed, together with the difficulties of numerical calculations in the softening range. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

伪双曲方程的新混合有限元方法

构造分析一类二阶伪双曲方程的H1-Galerkin扩展混合有限元方法,该方法采用了扩展混合有限元方法和H1-Galerkin混合有限元方法相结合的技巧.新的格式同时保持了扩展混合有限元方法和H1-Galerkin混合有限元方法的优点.该混合格式与标准的混合格式相比能同时逼近三个变量:未知函数、梯度和流量(系数乘以梯度),并且不必满足LBB相容性条件.     

A non-local damage approach for the boundary element method

The conventional (local) constitutive modelling of materials exhibiting strain softening behaviour is susceptive to a spurious mesh dependence caused by numerically induced strain localization. Also, for refined meshes, numerical instabilities may be verified, mainly if the simulations are performed by the boundary element method. An alternative to overcome such difficulties is the adoption of the so called non-local constitutive models. In these approaches, some internal variables of the constitutive model in a single point are averaged considering its values of the neighbouring points. In this paper, the implicit formulation of the boundary element method for physically non-linear problems in solid mechanics is used with a non-local isotropic damage model and a very simple averaging scheme, over internal cells, is introduced. It is shown that the analysis become more stable in comparison to the case of a local application of the same model and that the results recover the desired objectiveness to mesh refinement.     

Locally Embedded Strong Discontinuities at finite strains – Numerical Implementation

In this paper, a geometrically nonlinear finite element approximation for highly localized deformation in structures undergoing material failure in the form of strain softening, is developed. The basis for its numerical implementation in this class of problems is defined through the elaboration of Strong Discontinuity Approach-fundamentals. Proposed numerical model uses an Enhanced Assumed Strain Concept for the additive decomposition of the displacement gradient into a conforming and an enhanced part. The discontinuous component of the displacement field which is associated with the failure in the modeled structure is isolated in the enhanced part of the deformation gradient. In contrast to previous works, this part of the deformation mapping is condensed out at the material level, without the application of static condensation technique. The resulting set of constitutive equations is formally identical to that of standard plasticity and therefore, can be solved using the return-mapping algorithm. No assumptions regarding the interface law connecting the displacement discontinuity with the conjugate traction vector are made. As a result, the proposed numerical solution can be applied to a broad range of different mechanical problems including mode-I fracture in brittle materials or the analysis of shear bands. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Finite strain inelasticity for isotropy,a simple and efficient finite element formulation

We consider a formulation of associative isotropic J₂‐elastoplasticity at finite inelastic strains and aspects of its numerical implementation. The essential ingredients include the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient in elastic and inelastic parts, the definition of a convex elastic domain in stress space and a material representation of the constitutive equations for general non‐Cartesian coordinate charts. On the numerical side we propose a stress update algorithm for elasto‐plastic response, including isotropic hardening. The finite element formulation is based on assumed strain and enhanced strain variational principles, for a complete outline see [3]. Remarkably the formulation is very similar to the case of infinitesimal plasticity: (i) The scheme of linear return mapping algorithm takes the form of standard return mapping of the infinitesimal theory for the case of isotropic elastic response. (ii) The algorithmic elastoplastic moduli have a similar structure as in the linear case. Together with an exact fulfillment of plastic incompressibility by means of a simple correction one achieves an advantageously efficient finite element formulation. Its performance is documented by a numerical example.     

A mixed finite element method for the Stokes equations

A new mixed finite element for the Stokes equations is considered. This new finite element is based on a mixed formulation of the Stokes problem in which the gradient of the velocity is introduced and the velocity is approximated by the Raviart-Thomas element [1]. Optimal error estimates are derived. The number of degrees of freedom, for this element, is the lowest possible, and the local conservation of the mass is assured. A hybrid version of the mixed method is also considered. Finally, some numerical results for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are presented. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Pseudoelasticity of Shape Memory Alloys - a 1D Material Model and Finite Element Implementation

This contribution is concerned with the formulation of a 1D-constitutive model accounting for the pseudoelastic behavior of shape memory alloys. The stress-strain-relationship is idealized by a hysteresis both in the compression as in the tension loading range. It is characterized by an upper loading path, which is to be ascribed to the transformation of the lattice to a martensitic structure. Unloading the material, a lower path is described, because of the reverse transformation into austenitic lattice. The constitutive model is based on a switching criterion which serves as a potential function for the evolution of the internal state variables. The model distinguishes between local and global variables to describe the hysteresis effects for the compression and tension range. A strain driven algorithm which captures the complete nonlinear material behavior is presented. The boundary value problem is solved for a truss element applying the finite element method. A consistent linearization of the nonlinear equations is derived. Simple examples will demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model. For future developments the usage of shape memory alloys within civil engineering structures is aimed. The advantage of the material is the very good damping behavior and the potential to overcome great strains. Both properties are distinguished to be of engineering interest. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Finite-element formulations of shear localization in granular materials

Displacement and mixed finite element formulations of shear localization in granular materials are presented. The formulations are based on hypoplastic constitutive laws for soils and the mixed-enhanced treatment involving displacement, strain and stress rates as independently varied fields. Included in these formulations are the standard displacement method, the three-field mixed formulation, the method of incompatible modes, the enhanced assumed strain method and the mixed enhanced strain method. Several numerical examples demonstrating the capability and performance of the different finite element formulations are presented. The numerical results are compared with available experimental data of Hostun RF sand and numerical results of Karlsruhe sand on biaxial tests. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Alternative positional FEM applied to thermomechanical impact of truss structures

This paper presents a formulation to deal with dynamic thermomechanical problems by the finite element method. The proposed methodology is based on the minimum potential energy theorem written regarding nodal positions, not displacements, to solve the mechanical problem. The thermal problem is solved by a regular finite element method. Such formulation has the advantage of being simple and accurate. As a solution strategy, it has been used as a natural split of the thermomechanical problem, usually called isothermal split or isothermal staggered algorithm. Usual internal variables and the additive decomposition of the strain tensor have been adopted to model the plastic behavior. Four examples are presented to show the applicability of the technique. The results are compared with other authors’ numerical solutions and experimental results.     

Analysis of two frictional viscoplastic contact problems with damage

In this work we study two quasistatic frictional contact problems arising in viscoplasticity including the mechanical damage of the material, caused by excessive stress or strain and modelled by an inclusion of parabolic type. The variational formulation is provided for both problems and the existence of a unique solution is proved for each of them. Then a fully discrete scheme is introduced using the finite element method to approximate the spatial domain and the Euler scheme to discretize the time derivatives. Error estimates are derived and, under suitable regularity assumptions, the linear convergence of the algorithm is deduced. Finally, some numerical examples are presented to show the performance of the method.     

On dynamic finite element analysis of viscoplastic thin-walled structures with non-local damage

In this article we propose a non-local damage model for dynamic finite element computation of viscoplastic thin-shell structures. To take void nucleation and growth into account, the free energy function is enhanced phenomenologically in terms of a non-local damage variable and its gradient on the mid-surface of shell structures. The dynamic thin-shell elastic theory including large rotations proposed by Simo and Tarnow (1994) is used to capture finite deformation. Local constitutive laws considering viscoplastic behaviour, isotropic hardening and isotropic ductile damage leading to softening in Velde et al. (2009) are employed. The performance of the proposed approach is demonstrated through the preliminary numerical simulations of shock-wave loaded structures, which are validated by comparision with the experimental results. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

FE‐formulation for plate and beam elements to simulate onset and propagation of discrete cracks in solid structures

The aim of this paper is to present some numerical aspects related to the modeling both the formation and the propagation of discrete cracks in solid structures. The presented formulation corresponds to the concept of embedded discontinuities [1], and will be applied to a plate and to a beam element. The failure of solid structures is often triggered by a highly localized pattern of inelastic deformation in the form of narrow bands. Characteristic examples are shear bands in metals and soils, or localized bands of cracking in brittle materials, like concrete or rocks. A well known difficulty associated with classical (local, rate‐independent) continuum theories with strain softening attributes is that numerical solutions are found to lack invariance with respect to the choice of spatial discretization. For quasi‐static boundary problems, this mathematical inconsistency causes the loss of ellipticity for the governing equations (material instability). To regularize this inconsistency, several strategies have been applied. In the presented formulation, additional degrees of freedom are considered. Within the concept of embedded discontinuities, the regular displacements are enriched by discontinuities. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A finite element framework for the numerical implementation of boundary potentials

This contribution deals with the implications of boundary potential energies on deformational mechanics in the framework of the finite element method at finite strains. The common material models in continuum mechanics are taking the bulk into account, nevertheless, neglecting the boundary. However, boundary effects sometimes play a dominant role in the material behavior, e.g. surface tension in fluids. The boundary potentials, in general, are allowed to depend not only on the boundary deformation gradient but also on the spatial surface–normal / curve–tangent, as well. For the finite element implementation, a suitable curvilinear coordinate system attached to the boundary is defined and corresponding geometrical and kinematical derivations are carried out. Afterwards, the discretization of the generalized weak formulation, including boundary potentials, is carried out and finally numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the boundary effects due to the different proposed material behavior. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Energy driven crack propagation at finite strains based on the embedded strong discontinuity approach

New advances in three-dimensional finite element modeling of crack propagation at finite strains are presented. The proposed numerical model is based on the Enhanced Assumed Strain concept. The enhanced part of the deformation gradient is associated with a displacement discontinuity. In contrast to previous works, a new, energy based criterion for crack propagation is presented. The necessity for a tracking algorithm for the crack path is avoided by using more than one discontinuity within each finite element. This leads to a strictly local formulation, i.e., no information about the neighboring elements are required. Further advantages of such a formulation are a symmetric tangent stiffness matrix and the reduction of locking effects. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

可压缩Navier-Stokes方程的压力梯度局部投影间断有限元法

将压力梯度投影与间断有限元法相结合,对可压缩线性化N-S方程提出了一种稳定化间断有限元格式．证明了此格式在速度和压力有限元空间无需满足B-B型条件的情况下,解的存在性和唯一性,以及相应的误差估计．     

Configurational–Force–Based Adaptive Methods in Nonlocal Gradient-Type Inelastic Solids

We propose a configurational-force-based framework for h-adaptive finite element discretizations of solids with nonlocal, gradient-type constitutive response. Typical applications are related to gradient-type damage mechanics, strain gradient plasticity and regularized brittle fracture. On the theoretical side, we outline a general incremental variational framework for the multifield problem of gradient-type dissipative solids, where generalized internal variable fields account for the current state of evolving microstructures. The Euler equations of the multifield variational principle define the macroscopic balance of momentum along with balance-type evolution equations for the generalized internal variables in the physical space as well as the balance of configurational forces in the material space. We propose a staggered computational scheme for satisfying those balances in both the physical as well as the material space. The coupled micro- and macro-structural balances of momentum and internal variables provide a solution in the physical space for a given finite element mesh. The balance in the material space is then used to provide an indicator for the quality of the finite element mesh and accounts for a subsequent h-type mesh refinement. Such a configurational-force-based approach provides in a natural and unified format mesh refinement indicators for a broad class of complex nonlocal problems. This framework is applied to damage-type regularized brittle fracture. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)