Design principles and error analysis for reduced-shear plate-bending finite elements

Summary. In this paper, we consider the problem of designing plate-bending elements which are free of shear locking. This phenomenon is known to afflict several elements for the Reissner-Mindlin plate model when the thickness of the plate is small, due to the inability of the approximating subspaces to satisfy the Kirchhoff constraint. To avoid locking, a “reduction operator” is often applied to the stress, to modify the variational formulation and reduce the effect of this constraint. We investigate the conditions required on such reduction operators to ensure that the approximability and consistency errors are of the right order. A set of sufficient conditions is presented, under which optimal errors can be obtained – these are derived directly, without transforming the problem via a Hemholtz decomposition, or considering it as a mixed method. Our analysis explicitly takes into account boundary layers and their resolution, and we prove, via an asymptotic analysis, that convergence of the finite element approximations will occur uniformly as , even on quasiuniform meshes. The analysis is carried out in the case of a free boundary, where the boundary layer is known to be strong. We also propose and analyze a simple post-processing scheme for the shear stress. Our general theory is used to analyze the well-known MITC elements for the Reissner-Mindlin plate. As we show, the theory makes it possible to analyze both straight and curved elements. We also analyze some other elements. Received June 19, 1995     

A comparison of the plate theories in the sense of Kirchhoff–Love and Reissner–Mindlin

In this article we compare the two plate theories in the sense of Kirchhoff–Love and Reissner–Mindlin for several different settings of the physical system. We establish existence, uniqueness and regularity of solutions to the respective boundary and initial boundary value problems. Moreover, we give asymptotic expansions of the solutions in the limit of a vanishing plate thickness, ϵ→0, whenever this is possible. Finally, we compare the solutions in the sense of Kirchhoff–Love and Reissner–Mindlin in that very limit. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

en

The case of a linearly elastic plate with free boundary conditions on the lateral side is investigated as the half-thickness ɛ tends to zero. As in hard clamped plates, the generic leading term of the asymptotic expansion of the scaled displacement is a Kirchhoff-Love field with in-plane generating functions satisfying classical bending and membrane problems of Neumann type (compare with [1]). The first boundary layer profile is of bending type, so that in the case of a membrane load the convergence of the three-dimensional solution to the two-dimensional limit one is of improved accuracy. Conditions under which the asymptotic expansion ‘starts later’ are given and the structure of the first non-vanishing term is studied.     

Hinged and supported plates with corners

We consider the Kirchhoff–Love model for the supported plate, that is, the fourth-order differential equation Δ² u?=?f with appropriate boundary conditions. Due to the expectation that a downwardly directed force f will imply that the plate, which is supported at its boundary, touches that support everywhere, one commonly identifies those boundary conditions with the ones for the so-called hinged plate: u?=?0?=?Δu ? (1 ? σ ) κ u _n . Structural engineers however are usually aware that rectangular roofs tend to bend upwards near the corners, and this would mean that u?=?0 is not appropriate. We will confirm this behavior and show the difference of the supported and the hinged plates in case of domains with corners.     

The longtime behavior of a nonlinear Reissner-Mindlin plate with exponentially decreasing memory kernels

In this paper we investigate the longtime behavior of the mathematical model of a homogeneous viscoelastic plate based on Reissner-Mindlin deformation shear assumptions. According to the approximation procedure due to Lagnese for the Kirchhoff viscoelastic plate, the resulting motion equations for the vertical displacement and the angle deflection of vertical fibers are derived in the framework of the theory of linear viscoelasticity. Assuming that in general both Lame's functions, λ and μ, depend on time, the coupling terms between the equations of displacement and deflection depend on hereditary contributions. We associate to the model a nonlinear semigroup and show the behavior of the energy when time goes on. In particular, assuming that the kernels λ and μ decay exponentially, and not too weakly with respect to the physical properties considered in the model, then the energy decays uniformly with respect to the initial conditions; i.e., we prove the existence of an absorbing set for the semigroup associated to the model.     

Justification de la théorie non linéaire de Kirchhoff–Love,comme application d'une nouvelle méthode d'inversion singulièreJustification of the nonlinear Kirchhoff–Love theory,as the application of a new singular inverse method

In the framework of nonlinear elasticity, we consider a three-dimensional plate made of a St Venant–Kirchhoff isotropic and homogeneous material of thickness 2ε and periodic in the two other directions. By a change of scales, the problem can be mapped on a fixed open set, and seen as a nonlinear singular perturbation problem. We introduce a new singular inverse method. Applying this method, we prove that for fixed and small enough exterior forces, the three-dimensional displacement converges to the solution of the nonlinear Kirchhoff–Love theory of plate as the thickness 2ε tends to zero. The limit plate model contains in particular that of von Kármán. We also give a quantitative estimate of the convergence. To cite this article: R. Monneau, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 334 (2002) 615–620.     

A method of asymptotic expansions of the solutions of the steady heat conduction problem for laminated non-uniform anisotropic plates

Outer asymptotic expansions of the solutions of the steady heat conduction problem for laminated anisotropic non-uniform plates for different boundary conditions on the faces are constructed. The two-dimensional resolvents obtained are analysed and the asymptotic properties of the solutions of the heat-conduction problem are investigated. Estimates are obtained of the accuracy with which the temperature in the plate outside the limits of the boundary layer can be assumed to be piecewise-linearly or piecewise-quadratically distributed over the thickness of the laminated structure. A physical justification for certain features of the asymptotic expansions of the temperature is given.     

Asymptotics and Estimates of the Convergence Rate in a Three-Dimensional Boundary-Value Problem with Rapidly Alternating Boundary Conditions

We consider a singularly perturbed boundary-value eigenvalue problem for the Laplace operator in a cylinder with rapidly alternating type of the boundary condition on the lateral surface. The change of the boundary conditions is realized by splitting the lateral surface into many narrow strips on which the Dirichlet and Neumann conditions alternate. We study the case in which the averaged problem contains the Dirichlet boundary condition on the lateral surface. In the case of strips with slowly varying width we construct the first terms of the asymptotic expansions of eigenfunctions; moreover, in the case of strips with rapidly varying width we obtain estimates for the convergence rate.     

Elasticity solutions for functionally graded rectangular plates with two opposite edges simply supported

England (2006) [13] proposed a novel method to study the bending of isotropic functionally graded plates subject to transverse biharmonic loads. His method is extended here to functionally graded plates with materials characterizing transverse isotropy. Using the complex variable method, the governing equations of three plate displacements appearing in the expansions of displacement field are formulated based on the three-dimensional theory of elasticity for a transverse load satisfying the biharmonic equation. The solution may be expressed in terms of four analytic functions of the complex variable, in which the unknown constants can be determined from the boundary conditions similar to that in the classical plate theory. The elasticity solutions of an FGM rectangular plate with opposite edges simply supported under 12 types of biharmonic polynomial loads are derived as appropriate sums of the general and particular solutions of the governing equations. A comparison of the present results for a uniform load with existing solutions is made and good agreement is observed. The influence of boundary conditions, material inhomogeneity, and thickness to length ratio on the plate deflection and stresses for the load x²yq are studied numerically.     

THE EFFECT OF BOUNDARY SHAPE ON BOUNDARY LAYER OF P-MODEL PLATE PROBLEMS WITH HARD SIMPLY SUPPORT

§1.Ｉｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎ　　Ｍａｎｙｐａｐｅｒｓ(ｓｅｅ[14,6])ｐａｙｍｕｃｈａｔｔｅｎｔｉｏｎｔｏｔｈｅｂｏｕｎｄａｒｙｌａｙｅｒｆｏｒｐｌａｔｅｍｏｄｅｌｐｒｏｂｌｅｍ.Ｂｏｕｎｄａｒｙｌａｙｅｒｍｅａｎｓｔｈａｔｔｈｅｓｏｌｕｔｉｏｎｃｈａｎｇｅｓｓｈａｒｐｌｙａｌｏｎｇｔｈｅｎｏｒｍａｌｄｉｒｅｃｔｉｏｎｏｆｔｈｅｂｏｕｎｄａｒｙ,ｉｔｃａｕｓｅｓｔｈｅｄｉｆｆｅｒｅｎｃｅａｍｏｎｇｖａｒｉｏｕｓｋｉｎｄｓｏｆｐｌａｔｅｍｏｄｅｌｓ,ａｎｄａｌｓｏｉｔｂｒｉｎｇｓｄｉｆｆｉｃｕｌｔｉｅｓ…     

Asymptotic expansions of finite element solutions to Robin problems in H 3 and their application in extrapolation cascadic multigrid method

For the Poisson equation with Robin boundary conditions,by using a few techniques such as orthogonal expansion(M-type),separation of the main part and the finite element projection,we prove for the first time that the asymptotic error expansions of bilinear finite element have the accuracy of O(h3)for u∈H3.Based on the obtained asymptotic error expansions for linear finite elements,extrapolation cascadic multigrid method(EXCMG)can be used to solve Robin problems effectively.Furthermore,by virtue of Richardson not only the accuracy of the approximation is improved,but also a posteriori error estimation is obtained.Finally,some numerical experiments that confirm the theoretical analysis are presented.     

三角形REISSNER-MINDLIN板元

本文提出构造无自锁现象的Reissuer－Mindlin板元的一个一般性方法.此方法将剪切应变用它的适当的插值多项式代替,当板厚趋于零时这对应于插值点的Kirchhoff条件,因而单元无自锁现象.根据这种方法我们构造两个三角形元──一个3节点元和一个6节点元,并给出数值结果.     

Le problème de Signorini dans la théorie des plaques minces de Kirchhoff–LoveSignorini's problem in the Kirchhoff–Love theory of plates

In the framework of the Kirchhoff–Love asymptotic theory of elastic thin plates we consider the unilateral contact problem with friction for a plate on a rigid foundation (Signorini problem with friction). First, we notice, when the thickness vanishes, that the order of the friction force must be lower than that of the contact pressure. These two measures are connected by Coulomb law. Consequently, at least formally, the friction force must be vanishing when the thickness goes to zero. We actually prove that any sequence of solution of the sequence of three-dimensional scaled Signorini problems with friction strongly converges to the unique solution of a two-dimensional Signorini plate problem without friction. To cite this article: J.-C. Paumier, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 335 (2002) 567–570.     

Higher order bending and membrane responses of thin linearly elastic plates

The limit behaviors of three-dimensional displacements in thin linearly elastic plates, as the half-thickness ε tends to zero, is now known for various lateral boundary conditions (see [1], [5]). In the generic case one obtains that the leading term of the asymptotic series u⁰ + ge¹+ε²u² +… of the scaled displacement is a Kirchhoff-Love field. In this Note we investigate the case where this leading term vanishes, giving the structure of the first non-vanishing term u^k and an error estimate for its deviation from the scaled solution u(ε) multiplied by ε^−k. There are essentially only three new cases (uncoupling in membrane and bending). Finally, in these situations a boundary layer term of the same order as the actual leading term appears in a generic way.     

On the bending of plates with transverse shear deformation and mixed periodic boundary conditions

The method of matched asymptotic expansions is used to find a homogenized problem whose solution is an approximation to the solution of a mixed periodic boundary value problem in the theory of bending of thin elastic plates. A critical size for the fixed parts of the boundary is found such that the boundary condition of the homogenized problem is an intermediate case between that for the clamped edge plate and that for the free boundary plate.     

Singular perturbations for the exterior three-dimensional slow viscous flow problem

In this paper the rigorous justification of the formal asymptotic expansions constructed by the method of matched inner and outer expansions is established for the three-dimensional steady flow of a viscous, incompressible fluid past an arbitrary obstacle. The justification is based on the series representation of the solution to the Navier-Stokes equations due to Finn, and it involves the reductions of various exterior boundary value problems for the Stokes and Oseen equations to boundary integral equations of the first kind from which existence as well as asymptotic error estimates for the solutions are deduced. In particular, it is shown that the force exerted on the obstacle by the fluid admits the asymptotic representation F = A₀ + A₁Re + O(Re² ln Re⁻¹) as the Reynolds number Re → 0⁺, where the vectors A₀ and A₁ can be obtained from the method of matched inner and outer expansions.     

Solution of some plate bending problems using the boundary element method

Some fundamental aspects of the boundary element method of the Kirchhoff theory of thin plate flexure are given. The direct boundary integral equation method with higher conforming properties (using first-order Hermitian interpolation for plate displacement ω, and zero-order Hermitian interpolation for angle of rotation θ, the moment M andthe equivalent shear V) are used for several computational examples. They are: square plate with simply-supported or clamped edges, the same square plate with square central opening and the cantilevered triangular plates. The results of computation as compared with some known experimental and theoritical results showed that the numerical schemes seemed to be satisfactory for the practical applications.     

Uniform Estimates of Remainders in Asymptotic Expansions of Solutions to the Problem on Eigenoscillations of a Piezoelectric Plate

A method for obtaining estimates of asymptotic remainders is presented. The constants in estimates are independent of the number of the eigenvalue, as well as of the small parameter h, the thickness of the plate. Owing to an information about connections between frequencies of eigenoscillations of the three-dimensional plates and its two-dimensional model obtained under various restrictions to h, it is possible to divide the asymptotics in collective and individual ones. Only in the case of the individual asymptotics, i.e., under rigid restrictions on h, it is possible to construct asymptotic expansions for the corresponding eigenvectors. We consider arbitrarily anizotropic composed cylindrical plates in whcih piezoeffects can dominate along longitudinal directions, as well as along transverse directions. The connectedness of elastic and electric fields Implies the appearance of a nontrivial dissipative components of the operator of the problem under consideration, but its spectrum remains real and positive. Bibliography: 43 titles.     

On the extraction technique in boundary integral equations

In this paper we develop and analyze a bootstrapping algorithm for the extraction of potentials and arbitrary derivatives of the Cauchy data of regular three-dimensional second order elliptic boundary value problems in connection with corresponding boundary integral equations. The method rests on the derivatives of the generalized Green's representation formula, which are expressed in terms of singular boundary integrals as Hadamard's finite parts. Their regularization, together with asymptotic pseudohomogeneous kernel expansions, yields a constructive method for obtaining generalized jump relations. These expansions are obtained via composition of Taylor expansions of the local surface representation, the density functions, differential operators and the fundamental solution of the original problem, together with the use of local polar coordinates in the parameter domain. For boundary integral equations obtained by the direct method, this method allows the recursive numerical extraction of potentials and their derivatives near and up to the boundary surface.

     

Efficiency of approximate boundary conditions for corner domains coated with thin layers

In this Note, we consider an interface problem posed in a bounded domain with thin layer. In the case of a smooth domain, approximate boundary conditions (also called impedance conditions) are known to approximate in a precise way the effect of the layer, as its thickness goes to zero. We investigate here the efficiency of such conditions when the domain has a corner; we show that it deteriorates when the opening of the corner angle grows, giving optimal estimates thanks to multiscale asymptotic expansions. Numerical results are given, which illustrate these estimates. To cite this article: G. Vial, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 340 (2005).