Some applications of semi-analytical finite element method in static and dynamic analysis of structures

In this paper a kind of semi-analytical finite element method based on the transfer matrix analysis of shells of revolution is briefly formulated. Some recent investigations on its application are presented: (1) a reanalysis algorithm for improving the accuracy of free vibration analysis; (2) a kind of semi-analytical ring element for the stress analysis of a curved pipe of the slender torus shell type.     

Formulation of a semi-analytical approach based on Gurtin variational principle for dynamic response of general thin plates

4 semi-analytical approach for the dynamic response of general thin plates which employes finite element discretization in space domain and a series of representation in time domain is developed on the basis of Gurtin variational principles. The formulation of time series is also investigated so that the dynamic response of plates with arbitrary shape and boundary constraints can be achieved with adequate accuracy.Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Vibration modelling of structural networks using a hybrid finite element/wave and finite element approach

The vibration modelling of waveguide structures is considered. These structures comprise waveguides connected via joints. Traditionally, analytical models of the wave behaviour of such structures can be developed if they are simple (beams or rods connected at point joints, etc.). However, if the waveguides are of complicated constructions (truss-like, layered media, etc.) or the joints are complicated (e.g. of significant physical dimensions), obtaining the wave characteristics might be a formidable task. In this paper, such structures are modelled using a hybrid finite element/wave and finite element (FE/WFE) approach. The waveguides are modelled using the WFE method and thus their wave characteristics are obtained regardless of the complexity of their cross-section. The joints are modelled using standard FE, and the WFE and FE models are coupled to yield the scattering properties of the joints. The propagation and scattering models are assembled to describe the behaviour of the structure using relatively small models, while also providing information for other applications such as structure-borne sound, statistical energy analysis, etc. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the approach.     

用于多种夹层板等效的有限元分析法

针对夹层板力学性能解析法难于计算复杂结构的夹层板且通用性差的问题,本文采用有限元分析法研究了夹层板性能的等效方法。对夹层板的代表体单元模型施加位移约束,模拟弯曲变形时线性独立的应变分量和弯曲内力;根据夹层板内力与应变的本构关系,求出刚度矩阵;最后由刚度矩阵得出宏观等效弹性常数,从而把夹层板等效成连续材料的单层板单元。将该方法与解析法计算结果进行比较得到的夹层板单元四个主要弹性常数误差在0.2%以内,验证了该方法的有效性;另外采用该方法等效三种典型结构夹层板,比较实际模型和等效模型的弯曲响应,得到的误差均在1.4%以内,表明该方法在不考虑复杂多变的夹芯结构时具有通用性。     

薄膜横向振动的有限元分析

构造了一种3节点三角形膜单元,以适用于平面薄膜横向振动的有限元分析.在给出单元形函数的基础上,根据最小势能原理建立了薄膜自由振动方程,并推导了单元刚度矩阵和单元质量矩阵.研究结果表明,单元刚度矩阵和单元质量矩阵形式简单,且自由度少;通过两个典型算例,证明3节点三角形膜单元的计算结果非常接近理论解,同时可以达到很高的精度...     

Multiphase flow in heterogeneous porous media: A classical finite element method versus an implicit pressure–explicit saturation‐based mixed finite element–finite volume approach

Various discretization methods exist for the numerical simulation of multiphase flow in porous media. In this paper, two methods are introduced and analyzed—a full‐upwind Galerkin method which belongs to the classical finite element methods, and a mixed‐hybrid finite element method based on an implicit pressure–explicit saturation (IMPES) approach. Both methods are derived from the governing equations of two‐phase flow. Their discretization concepts are compared in detail. Their efficiency is discussed using several examples. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A triangular quasi-conforming finite element for transient dynamic analysis

A type of 3 node triangular element is constructed by the Quasi-conforming method, which may be used to solve the equation of a type of inverse problem of wave propagation after Laplace transformation Δu−A ² u=0. The strains in the element are approximated by an exponential function and the string-net function between neighbouring elements is approximated by one dimensional general solution of the equation. Furthermore the strain field satisfies the equation, and therefore in the derivation of the element formulation, no shape function is needed. In this sense, it is a kind of hybrid element. Compared with the ordinary linear triangular element, the new one features higher precision with coarse meshes. Some numerical tests are presented. The project is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.     

A smeared / layered reinforced concrete model for finite element analysis

A new reinforced concrete model, in which the reinforcement steel is assumed as smeared / layered in concrete, is established and installed into a currently used finite element code for nonlinear analysis. It performs the nonlinear behaviors of both concrete and the reinforcement steel. The results of examples are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

A finite amplitude analysis of tunnel deformation by the finite element method with highly viscous fluid

A finite element method for highly viscous fluid is used to calculate the velocity and stress fields in the surrounding soft rock of a tunnel. In order to fit the calculated values with the measured displacement of tunnel wall, we inverted the boundary forces and the mechanical parameters of the surrounding rocks.     

A boundary-type finite element model for water surface wave problems

A new combinative method of boundary-type finite elements and boundary solutions is presented to study wave diffraction-refraction and harbour oscillation problems. The numerical model is based on the mild-slope equation. The key feature of this method is that the discretized matrix equation can be formulated only by the calculation of a line integral, since the interpolation equation which satisfies the governing equation in each element is used. The numerical solutions are compared with existing analytical, experimental, observed and other numerical results. The present method is shown to be an effective and accurate method for water surface wave problems.     

Design sensitivity and finite element analysis of free surface flows with application to optimal design of casting rigging systems

A novel, fully-analytical design sensitivity formulation for transient, turbulent, free surface flows is derived and implemented in the context of finite element analysis. The time-averaged, turbulent form of the Navier–Stokes equations are solved using a mixing length model, in conjunction with the volume of fluid (VOF) method to model the free surface movement. The design derivatives of these governing equations are computed and solved to find the analytical sensitivities of the fluid position, velocity and pressure fields with respect to shape design variables. The computational efficiency produced by evaluating the sensitivities analytically is demonstrated. The design of the runner and gating system of a simple block casting is presented as an example application for using sensitivity information in design. The analytical sensitivity routine is coupled to a numerical optimizer to yield an automated method for optimal design of the casting rigging system. The results produce runner shapes which eliminate mold-gas aspiration. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A study of finite element discretization technique in time domain

This paper presents a real time finite element method (TFEM) which unifies discretization techniques both in space domain and time domain and leads to some new possibilities of direct integral schemes. It is proved that some conventional schemes such as central difference and Newmark scheme are only special cases of linear element. The problem of the matching between the division of space mesh and the choice of time step length is also discussed.     

Nonlinear quasi-conforming finite element method

The nonlinear quasi-conforming FEM is presented based on the basic concept of the quasiconforming finite element. First, the incremental principle of stationary potential energy is discussed. Then, the formulation process of the nonlinear quasi-conforming FEM is given. Lastly, two computational examples of shells are given.     

随机有限元分析的二级区域分解并行求解算法

采用蒙特卡罗模拟(MCS)和加权积分法对二维问题进行随机有限元分析。尽管MCS方法对任何有确定解的问题都具有求解精度高的优点,但由于求解所需的计算量巨大使其应用受到限制。利用并行求解技术可有效地处理这种密集型计算问题。基于有限元分裂对接法(FETI)的并行特性并利用预处理共轭梯度法(PCG)的求解高效性,结合整体子区域实现(GSI-PCG)和FETI法,提出二级求解算法,并在工作站机群上实现了数值算例。算例计算结果表明本文GSI(PCG)-FETI算法具有较高的并行加速比和并行效率,具有良好的性能,可有效地进行二维问题的随机有限元分析。     

Plotting isoclinics for hybrid photoelasticity and finite element analysis

Displacement-based finite element method formulations are coupled with stress-based photoelasticity analysis. As the stress field is discontinuous at the interelement boundaries, the introduced smoothing procedure enables the generation of high-quality digital images acceptable for hybird experimental-numerical techniques. The proposed methods are applicable for the analysis of static and dynamic results of experimental photoelasticity.     

A deforming finite element mesh for use in moving one-dimensional boundary wave problems

The finite element method is developed to solve the problem of wave run-up on a mild, plane slope. A novel approach to implementing a deforming mesh of one-dimensional, three-node, isoparametric elements is described and demonstrated. The discrete time interval (DTI), arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) and space–time element (STE) methods are used to solve the unsteady one-dimensional shallow water wave equations. The boundary condition required is simply the seaward water surface elevation, and although the method has only been tested for monochromatic waves, it should be equally valid for any sea state which can be described as a water surface elevation as a function of time. All three solution methods are shown to given good results. Time histories of the terms of the governing equations are calculated and used to demonstrate how the ALE and STE methods account for mesh deformation. The model could be extended to two dimensions, which would have practical application to the run-up of obliquely incident waves. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spectral finite element of a helix

Determination of a spectral (i.e. frequency dependent) finite element of a helix is the focus of this communication. The helix is treated as straight, linear elastic element, exhibiting coupling of axial with torsional responses. We derive explicit forms of all the coefficients of the stiffness matrix and plot their dependencies on the frequency and the parameter describing the said coupling. In general, the growth of that parameter leads to a progressively denser occurrence of the resonances of both axial and torsional motions.     

A finite element method for the one‐dimensional extended Boussinesq equations

A new finite element method for Nwogu's (O. Nwogu, ASCE J. Waterw., Port, Coast., Ocean Eng., 119 , 618–638 (1993)) one‐dimensional extended Boussinesq equations is presented using a linear element spatial discretisation method coupled with a sophisticated adaptive time integration package. The accuracy of the scheme is compared to that of an existing finite difference method (G. Wei and J.T. Kirby, ASCE J. Waterw., Port, Coast., Ocean Eng., 121 , 251–261 (1995)) by considering the truncation error at a node. Numerical tests with solitary and regular waves propagating in variable depth environments are compared with theoretical and experimental data. The accuracy of the results confirms the analytical prediction and shows that the new approach competes well with existing finite difference methods. The finite element formulation is shown to enable the method to be extended to irregular meshes in one dimension and has the potential to allow for extension to the important practical case of unstructured triangular meshes in two dimensions. This latter case is discussed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A non-linear finite element model of human L4-L5 lumbar spinal segment with three-dimensional solid element ligaments

This paper establishes a non-linear finite element model (NFEM) of L4-L5 lumbar spinal segment with accurate three-dimensional solid ligaments and intervertebral disc. For the purpose, the intervertebral disc and surrounding ligaments are modeled with four-nodal three-dimensional tetrahedral elements with hyper-elastic material properties. Pure moment of 10 N·m without preload is applied to the upper vertebral body under the loading conditions of lateral bending, backward extension, torsion, and forward flexion, respectively. The simulate relationship curves between generalized forces and generalized displacement of the NFEM are compared with the in vitro experimental result curves to verify NFEM. The verified results show that: (1) The range of simulated motion is a good agreement with the in vitro experimental data; (2) The NFEM can more effectively reflect the actual mechanical properties than the FE model using cable and spring elements ligaments; (3) The NFEM can be used as the basis for further research on lumbar degenerative diseases.