Coarse-mesh-accuracy improvement of bilinear Q<Subscript>4</Subscript>-plane element by the combined hybrid finite element method

The combined hybrid finite element method is of an intrinsic mechanism of enhancing coarse-mesh-accuracy of lower order displacement schemes. It was confirmed that the combined hybrid scheme without energy error leads to enhancement of accuracy at coarse meshes, and that the combination parameter plays an important role in the enhancement. As an improvement of conforming bilinear Q₄-plane element, the combined hybrid method adopted the most convenient quadrilateral displacements-stress mode, i. e., the mode of compatible isoparametric bilinear displacements and pure constant stresses. By adjusting the combined parameter, the optimized version of the combined hybrid element was obtained and numerical tests indicated that this parameter-adjusted version behaves much better than Q₄-element and is of high accuracy at coarse meshes. Due to elimination of stress parameters at the elemental level, this combined hybrid version is of the same computational cost as that of Q₄-element. Foundation item: the National Tianyuan Yourth Funds of China (TY10126027) Biography: Xie Xiao-ping (1970≈)     

Developing a unified FVE‐ALE approach to solve unsteady fluid flow with moving boundaries

In this study, an arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) approach is incorporated with a mixed finite‐volume–element (FVE) method to establish a novel moving boundary method for simulating unsteady incompressible flow on non‐stationary meshes. The method collects the advantages of both finite‐volume and finite‐element (FE) methods as well as the ALE approach in a unified algorithm. In this regard, the convection terms are treated at the cell faces using a physical‐influence upwinding scheme, while the diffusion terms are treated using bilinear FE shape functions. On the other hand, the performance of ALE approach is improved by using the Laplace method to improve the hybrid grids, involving triangular and quadrilateral elements, either partially or entirely. The use of hybrid FE grids facilitates this achievement. To show the robustness of the unified algorithm, we examine both the first‐ and the second‐order temporal stencils. The accuracy and performance of the extended method are evaluated via simulating the unsteady flow fields around a fixed cylinder, a transversely oscillating cylinder, and in a channel with an indented wall. The numerical results presented demonstrate significant accuracy benefits for the new hybrid method on coarse meshes and where large time steps are taken. Of importance, the current method yields the second‐order temporal accuracy when the second‐order stencil is used to discretize the unsteady terms. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

Nonconforming stabilized combined finite element method for Reissner-Mindlin plate

Based on combination of two variational principles, a nonconforming stabilized finite element method is presented for the Reissner-Mindlin plates. The method is convergent when the finite element space is energy-compatible. Error estimates are derived. In particular, three finite element spaces are applied in the computation. Numerical results show that the method is insensitive to the mesh distortion and has better performence than the MITC4 and DKQ methods. With properly chosen parameters, high accuracy can be obtained at coarse meshes.     

构造几何不敏感四边形膜元的广义协调方法

许多有限元模型在规则网格下具有很高的精度，但当网格畸变程度增大时，其计算精度也随之迅速下降．如何构造出对网格畸变不敏感的单元，长期以来是人们十分关注的课题．本文应用作者早期提出的广义协调方法，构造出具有平面内旋转自由度的任意四边形膜元．该单元不仅列式简洁，而且具有对网格畸变极不敏感的优异性能，为构造对网格畸变不敏感的优质单元提供了一个通用方法     

基于图像四叉树的改进型比例边界有限元法研究

为提高数值计算的精度,断裂力学问题的数值模拟需要在裂纹扩展的局部区域采用较密的网格,而远离裂纹扩展的区域可采用较疏的网格,且对于裂纹扩展问题的数值模拟,大多数数值方法又存在局部网格重剖分的问题.论文提出了一种基于图像四叉树的改进型比例边界有限元法用于模拟裂纹扩展问题,该方法可根据结构域几何外边界的图像全自动进行四叉树网格剖分,无需任何人工干预,网格剖分效率极高,由于比例边界有限元法本身的优势,四叉树网格的悬挂节点可以直接地视为新的节点,无需任何特殊处理.通过引入虚节点的思想,将裂纹与四叉树单元边界交叉点作为虚节点,虚节点的自由度作为附加自由度处理,并采用水平集函数表征材料内部的裂纹面,含不连续裂纹面的子域可通过节点水平集函数识别,使得裂纹扩展时无需进行网格重剖分,界面的几何特征通过比例边界有限元子域的附加自由度表征.最后,通过若干算例验证了该方法的性能,建议的改进型比例边界有限元法在求解复合型应力强度因子和模拟材料内部裂纹扩展路径时均具有较高的精度.     

索网天线的参变量变分及非线性有限元方法

针对大型周边桁架式索网天线由拉索拉压模量不同引起的本构非线性和结构大变形引起的几何非线性问题,给出了基于参变量变分原理的几何非线性有限元方法. 首先针对含预应力索单元拉压模量不同分段描述的本构关系,通过引入参变量,导出了基于参变量及其互补方程的统一描述形式,避免了传统算法需要根据当前变形对索单元张紧/松弛状态的预测,提高了算法收敛性. 然后利用拉格朗日应变描述索网天线结构大变形问题,结合几何非线性有限元法,建立了基于参变量的非线性平衡方程和线性互补方程;并给出了牛顿-拉斐逊迭代法与莱姆算法相结合的求解算法. 数值算例验证了本文提出的算法比传统算法具有更稳定的收敛性和更高的求解精度,特别适合于大型索网天线结构的高精度变形分析和预测.      

THE PARAMETRIC VARATIONAL PRINCIPLE AND NON-LINEAR FINITE ELEMENT METHOD FOR ANALYSIS OF ASTROMESH ANTENNA STRUCTURES

针对大型周边桁架式索网天线由拉索拉压模量不同引起的本构非线性和结构大变形引起的几何非线性问题,给出了基于参变量变分原理的几何非线性有限元方法. 首先针对含预应力索单元拉压模量不同分段描述的本构关系,通过引入参变量,导出了基于参变量及其互补方程的统一描述形式,避免了传统算法需要根据当前变形对索单元张紧/松弛状态的预测,提高了算法收敛性. 然后利用拉格朗日应变描述索网天线结构大变形问题,结合几何非线性有限元法,建立了基于参变量的非线性平衡方程和线性互补方程;并给出了牛顿-拉斐逊迭代法与莱姆算法相结合的求解算法. 数值算例验证了本文提出的算法比传统算法具有更稳定的收敛性和更高的求解精度,特别适合于大型索网天线结构的高精度变形分析和预测.     

应变局部化分析的嵌入强间断多尺度有限元法

固体材料的应变局部化行为是导致结构破坏失效的重要因素之一,开展相关数值模拟分析对于结构安全性评估具有重要意义.然而由于材料的非均质和多尺度特性,采用传统数值方法进行求解时通常需要从最小特征尺度离散求解的结构,这将大幅度增加计算规模和成本.针对这一问题,本文提出了一种基于嵌入强间断模型的多尺度有限元方法.该方法从粗细两个尺度离散求解模型,首先在细尺度单元上引入嵌入强间断模型来描述单元间断特性,所附加的跳跃位移自由度则通过凝聚技术进行消除,从而保持细尺度单元刚度阵维度不变.其次,提出了一种增强多节点粗单元技术,其可根据局部化带与粗单元边界相交情况自适应动态地增加粗节点,新构造的增强数值基函数可以捕捉细尺度间断特性,完成物理信息从细单元到粗单元的准确传递以及宏观响应的快速分析;再次,在细尺度解的计算中,将细尺度解分解为降尺度解与单胞局部摄动解,从而消除弹塑性分析时单胞内部的不平衡力.最后,通过两个典型算例分析,并与完全采用细单元的嵌入有限元结果进行对比,验证了所提出算法的正确性与有效性.     

基于非结构网格的TTGC有限元格式的实现及在超声速流动中的应用

基于非结构网格系统,实现了时空三阶精度的TTGC有限元格式,并在三阶TTGC格式上发展了基于人工粘性的激波捕捉技术。在非结构网格下,采用这种方法对若干典型的超声速流动问题(SOD激波管、马赫数为3的前台阶流动以及马赫数为8的高超声速圆柱流动)进行了验证计算。结果表明,TTGC格式分辨率高,在粗糙网格下能够准确的模拟超声速流场中的激波、接触间断等复杂流动现象,并且能有效的控制间断附近的数值色散现象。与传统的有限体积方法相比,本文实现的TTGC有限元格式在模拟超声速流动问题方面具有格式精度高、数值耗散小等优点。     

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.      

框架结构屈曲的精确有限元求解

基于屈曲微分控制方程的一般解,构造了Euler梁在轴力作用下的精确形函数,建立了用于框架结构屈曲分析的精确有限单元,得到了单元刚度矩阵和几何刚度矩阵的显式表达,并提出了基于常规特征值计算的迭代算法以确定屈曲载荷及相应失稳模态的精确解. 研究表明, 对于线性稳定性分析而言,常规框架有限单元可视为精确有限单元的一种近似. 若采用精确单元,无需进行网格细分就可以获得精确的屈曲载荷和失稳模态. 数值算例证明了新单元和算法的效率和精度.      

Automatic,unstructured mesh generation for tidal calculations in a large domain

An automated procedure is described for the production of unstructured, finite element meshes to perform depth-integrated, hydrodynamic calculations in an ocean-scale, two-dimensional domain. Three relatively coarse meshes with nearly identical boundaries are automatically produced by basing internal size guidelines on a localized truncation error analysis that was performed using results from a highly resolved mesh.

Qualitative and quantitative comparisons of model performance are made at 150 historical tidal stations. The coarsest mesh is shown to meet or exceed the overall accuracy of the other meshes, including a highly resolved mesh that has over six times as many computational points. The automated procedure quickly and easily produces a computationally efficient and accurate finite element mesh that is reproducible. In addition, the methodology is shown to have potential for assessing the importance and accuracy of and bathymetric details and evaluating historical hydrodynamic data.     

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.     

Adaptive nodeless variable finite elements with flux-based formulation for thermal–structural analysis

A nodeless variable element method with the fluxbased formulation is developed to analyze two-dimensional thermal-structural problems. The nodeless variable formula- tion provides accurate temperature distributions to yield more accurate thermal stress solutions. The flux-based formulation is used to reduce the complexity in deriving the finite element equations as compared to the conventional finite element method. The solution accuracy is further improved by implementing an adaptive meshing technique to generate finite element meshes that can adapt and move along with the transient solution behavior. A version of a nearly optimal element size determination is proposed to provide high convergence rate of the predicted solutions. The combined procedure is evaluated by solving several thermal, structural, and thermal stress problems.     

离散Kirchhoff三角形薄板单元的改进

本文构造了一类改进的离散Ｋｉｒｃｈｈｏｆｆ三角形薄板单元。通过对离散Ｋｉｒｃｈｈｏｆｆ单元能量表达式的分解，发现存在一项不影响单元的收敛，但能控制单元精度的积分－－有关绕Ｚ轴的转动偶的积分。该项在经典薄板理论下是不存在的，但在粗网络下它会对单元的精度产生重要影响。通过合理调整该项在能量泛函中的比例，会使单元的精度得到明显改善。     

新的一个求解带孔薄板弹性问题的二维杂交应力单元

建立了一个新的求解带圆孔薄板弹性问题的二维杂交应力单元,该单元为四节点四边形平面单元,名为P-HS4-8β。由极坐标系下的物理方程和几何方程求解出了一个极坐标方向的应力,通过将这个应力带入由Hellinger-Reissner原理推导的极坐标系下平面应力问题的能量方程中,得到了消除了该应力的能量方程,基于这个能量方程建立了杂交应力单元列式。根据圆孔边无外力条件和相容方程,推导了适用于求解带圆孔薄板问题的极坐标系下的二应力插值矩阵,并将此矩阵应用于新的有限单元列式中。数值算例表明新单元在求解孔边附近的应力时具有较高的精度。     

冲击载荷作用下结构动态响应分析的罚函数有限元法

基于罚函数法，根据接触－冲击问题的边界条件，运用双线性参数法推导出用有限元模拟三维接触－冲击问题的具体算法，并对杆和梁在冲击载荷下的动态响应进行了仿真分析，取得较好计算结果。     

Accuracy and convergence of element-by-element iterative solvers for incompressible fluid flows using penalty finite element model

The ability of two types of Conjugate Gradient like iterative solvers (GMRES and ORTHOMIN) to resolve large-scale phenomena as a function of mesh density and convergence tolerance limit is investigated. The flow of an incompressible fluid inside a sudden expansion channel is analysed using three meshes of 400, 1600 and 6400 bilinear elements. The iterative solvers utilize the element-by-element data structure of the finite element technique to store and maintain the data at the element level. Both the mesh density and the penalty parameter are found to influence the choice of the convergence tolerance limit needed to obtain accurate results. An empirical relationship between the element size, the penalty parameter, and the convergence tolerance is presented. This relationship can be used to predict the proper choice of the convergence tolerance for a given penalty parameter and element size.     

QUADRILATERAL 4-NODE QUASI-CONFORMING PLANE ELEMENT WITH INTERNAL PARAMETERS

在拟协调框架之下,利用新的内参形函数构造了一个四边形四节点拟协调平面单元. 新的内参位移函数也可以添加到等参单元Q4 中来构造新的内参型等参单元. 新构造的拟协调单元QC6N 具有显式刚度矩阵,因而效率更高. 数值例子表明相比于四节点等参单元,新构造的单元可以提高计算精度和抗网格畸变的能力.