Nodeless variable finite element method for heat transfer analysis by means of flux-based formulation and mesh adaptation

Based on flux-based formulation, a nodeless variable element method is developed to analyze two-dimensional steady-state and transient heat transfer problems. The nodeless variable element employs quadratic interpolation functions to provide higher solution accuracy without necessity to actually generate additional nodes. The flux-based formulation is applied 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 mesh that can adapt and move along corresponding to the solution behavior. The technique generates small elements in the regions of steep solution gradients to provide accurate solution, and meanwhile it generates larger elements in the other regions where the solution gradients are slight to reduce the computational time and the computer memory. The effectiveness of the combined procedure is demonstrated by heat transfer problems that have exact solutions. These problems are: (a) a steady-state heat conduction analysis in a square plate subjected to a highly localized surface heating, and (b) a transient heat conduction analysis in a long plate subjected to a moving heat source. The English text was polished by Yunming Chen.     

AN h-TYPE ADAPTIVE FINITE ELEMENT

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薄板小波有限元理论及其应用

利用样条小波尺度函数构造了常用的三角形和矩形薄板单元的位移函数,得到了利用小波函数表示的形函数。采用合理的局部坐标,对单元进行压缩,使单元在局部坐标区间上有其值,成功地推导出了分域的三角形和矩形薄板小波有限元列式。在此基础上,提出了弹性地基薄板的小波有限元求解方法。通过两个算例对薄板的挠度和弯矩进行了计算,数值结果表明,求解结果具有收敛快、精度高的特点。     

Development and application of an adaptive finite element method to reaction-diffusion equations

An adaptive finite element method is developed and applied to study the ozone decomposition laminar flame. The method uses a semidiscrete, linear Galerkin approximation in which the size of the elements is controlled by an integral which minimizes the changes in mesh spacing. The sizes and locations of the elements are controlled by the location and magnitude of the largest temperature gradient. The numerical results obtained with this adaptive finite element method are compared with those obtained using fixed-node finite-difference schemes and an adaptive finite-difference method. It is shown that the adaptive finite element method developed here using 36 elements can yield as accurate flame speeds as fourth-order accurate, fixed-node, finite-difference methods when 272 collocation points are employed in the calculations.     

固体中短波传播单位分解有限元法的解析积分

针对固体中短波传播数值模拟的单位分解有限元法中单元矩阵积分的被积函数的强烈振荡特性,应用直角坐标系下标准有限元形函数和单元内的波动方向知识提出了一种单元矩阵的解析积分方案。它对于平面三,六,四,八和九节点的直边单位分解有限单元是完全解析的,对于与这些单元相应的曲边单元则是半解析的。数值结果显示所提出的积分方案在计算效率上比高斯-勒让德积分有大幅度提高。     

Dealing with extremely large deformation by Nearest-Nodes FEM with algorithm for updating element connectivity

In the recently developed Nearest-Nodes Finite Element Method (NN-FEM), elements are mainly used for numerical integration; while shape functions are constructed in a similar way as in meshless methods. Based on this strategy, NN-FEM inherits major merits from both the classical Finite Element Method and meshless methods. One of them is that NN-FEM is nearly not affected by element distortion. So NN-FEM is more efficient than the classical FEM on dealing with large deformation problems. Nevertheless, NN-FEM still has a requirement on finite element meshes, that is, elements in a mesh are required not to overlap or penetrate to each other, to avoid difficulty in numerical integration. To eliminate overlapped elements, NN-FEM is supplemented with an algorithm for updating element connectivity. With this supplement, NN-FEM is able to deal with extremely large deformation. In updating element connectivity, element nodes are kept not changed and all information associated with nodes are not touched. Therefore, there is no need to transfer solution data, and error introduced by solution transfer is avoided.     

Implementation of Convergence in Adaptive Global Digital Image Correlation

In FE based global digital image correlation (DIC) a finite element mesh is used to describe the deformation of the region of interest (ROI). However, the identification of an optimal mesh is a difficult problem and is often obtained by using “mechanical” pre-knowledge of the solution. In Finite Element Analysis (FEA) an optimal mesh can be found without any pre-knowledge of the solution by using mesh adaptivity, where an initial (non optimal) mesh is refined until the optimal solution is obtained. Refinement of the mesh can be based on error and/or convergence estimators. Despite the fundamental differences between FEA and DIC, in the present article the convergence procedure is successfully used in a recently published global FE based DIC method. In the used global DIC method elements can receive higher order shape functions, also known as p-elements. Using the aforementioned algorithm, also called p-DIC, refinement to a non-uniform higher order mesh is possible. Using the non-uniform mesh, an optimal mesh can be obtained for each section of the ROI. The presented study shows that a convergence scheme can be used to automatically control the mesh refinement in a global DIC approach. The convergence boundary, in percentage, is a more intuitive boundary than the absolute error boundary used in the original p-DIC approach. The procedure is validated using numerical examples and the robustness to experimental variables is investigated. Finally, the complete procedure is tested against a wide range of practical examples.     

SBFEM与非局部宏微观损伤模型相结合的准脆性材料开裂模拟

混凝土是一种被广泛应用于土木和水利工程中的准脆性材料, 在各种内外部因素的作用下, 开裂是混凝土结构最为普遍的破坏形式, 准确模拟结构的开裂过程, 对于结构的安全评估至关重要. 将比例边界有限元与非局部宏微观损伤模型相结合提出一种准脆性材料开裂模拟新方法. 以比例边界有限元子域的比例中心作为物质点, 通过两比例中心(物质点对)之间的物质键的正伸长率来定义微细观损伤, 将某点影响域内物质键的微细观损伤加权平均得到该点的宏观拓扑损伤. 再引入能量退化函数, 将宏观拓扑损伤嵌入到比例边界有限元的基本框架中. 充分利用比例边界有限元网格允许存在悬挂节点的优势, 采用四叉树网格离散技术进行快速、高质量的多级网格划分与过渡. 通过一个I型开裂与一个混合型开裂的两个典型算例, 验证了该方法可捕获结构裂纹扩展路径与荷载变形曲线. 与现有的方法相比, 本文的损伤模型可得到更准确的局部开裂损伤带, 结果更为合理, 且具有更高的计算精度和计算效率. 当损伤过程区网格尺寸小于影响域半径的1/5时, 计算结果不存在网格敏感性问题.      

Numerical investigations of the XFEM for solving two-phase incompressible flows

This paper discusses the application of the extended finite element method (XFEM) to solve two-phase incompressible flows. The Navier–Stokes equations are discretised using the Taylor–Hood finite element. To capture the different discontinuities across the interface, kink or jump enrichments are used for the velocity and/or pressure fields. However, these enrichments may lead to an inappropriate combination of interpolations. Different polynomial enrichment orders and different enrichment functions are investigated; only the stable combination will be used afterward.

In cases with a surface tension force, the accuracy mainly relies on the precise computation of the normal and curvature. A novel method for computing normal vectors to the interface is proposed. This method employs successive mesh refinements inside the cut elements. Comparisons with analytical and numerical solutions demonstrate that the method is effective. Moreover, the mesh refinement improves the sub-integration in the XFEM and allows for a precise re-initialisation procedure.     

A finite element immersed boundary method for fluid flow around rigid objects

This paper proposes a new immersed boundary (IB) method for solving fluid flow problems in the presence of rigid objects which are not represented by the mesh. Solving the flow around objects with complex shapes may involve extensive meshing work that has to be repeated each time a change in the geometry is needed. Important benefit would be reached if we are able to solve the flow without the need of generating a mesh that fits the shape of the immersed objects. This work presents a finite element IB method using a discretization covering the entire domain of interest, including the volume occupied by immersed objects, and which produces solutions of the flow satisfying accurately the boundary conditions at the surface of immersed bodies. In other words the finite element solution represents accurately the presence of immersed bodies while the mesh does not. This is done by including additional degrees of freedom on interface cut elements which are then eliminated at element level. The boundary of immersed objects is defined using a level set function. Solutions are shown for various flow problems and the accuracy of the present approach is measured with respect to solutions obtained on body‐fitted meshes. Copyright © 2010 Crown in the right of Canada.     

The improvement of numerical modeling in the solution of incompressible viscous flow problems using finite element method based on spherical Hankel shape functions

In this paper, the finite element method with new spherical Hankel shape functions is developed for simulating 2‐dimensional incompressible viscous fluid problems. In order to approximate the hydrodynamic variables, the finite element method based on new shape functions is reformulated. The governing equations are the Navier‐Stokes equations solved by the finite element method with the classic Lagrange and spherical Hankel shape functions. The new shape functions are derived using the first and second kinds of Bessel functions. In addition, these functions have properties such as piecewise continuity. For the enrichment of Hankel radial basis functions, polynomial terms are added to the functional expansion that only employs spherical Hankel radial basis functions in the approximation. In addition, the participation of spherical Bessel function fields has enhanced the robustness and efficiency of the interpolation. To demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of these shape functions, 4 benchmark tests in fluid mechanics are considered. Then, the present model results are compared with the classic finite element results and available analytical and numerical solutions. The results show that the proposed method, even with less number of elements, is more accurate than the classic finite element method.     

基于等几何分析的比例边界有限元方法

提出了一种具有比例边界有限元的半解析特性和等几何分析的几何特性的新方法。该新方法是在比例边界有限元框架中用NURBS曲线或曲面精确描述域边界几何形状,同时域边界位移场采用描述几何形状的NURBS形函数等参构造。这种新方法具有比例边界有限元固有的径向解析特性和NURBS的高阶连续性的优点。数值算例显示,与传统的比例边界有限元相比,基于等几何分析的比例边界有限元方法提高了域边界单元和域内应力场的连续性,减少了计算自由度。应用此方法可以用较少的计算自由度获得更高连续阶和更高精度的位移、应力和应变场。     

A particle finite element method applied to long wave run‐up

This paper presents a Lagrangian–Eulerian finite element formulation for solving fluid dynamics problems with moving boundaries and employs the method to long wave run‐up. The method is based on a set of Lagrangian particles which serve as moving nodes for the finite element mesh. Nodes at the moving shoreline are identified by the alpha shape concept which utilizes the distance from neighbouring nodes in different directions. An efficient triangulation technique is then used for the mesh generation at each time step. In order to validate the numerical method the code has been compared with analytical solutions and a preexisting finite difference model. The main focus of our investigation is to assess the numerical method through simulations of three‐dimensional dam break and long wave run‐up on curved beaches. Particularly the method is put to test for cases where different shoreline segments connect and produce a computational domain surrounding dry regions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Finite element methods for one-dimensional combustion problems

Three adaptive finite element methods based on equidistribution, elliptic grid generation and hybrid techniques are used to study a system of reaction–diffusion equations. It is shown that these techniques must employ sub-equidistributing meshes in order to avoid ill-conditioned matrices and ensure the convergence of the Newton method. It is also shown that elliptic grid generation methods require much longer computer times than hybrid and static rezoning procedures. The paper also includes characteristic, Petrov–Galerkin and flux-corrected transport algorithms which are used to study a linear convection–reaction–diffusion equation that has an analytical solution. The flux-corrected transport technique yields monotonic solutions in good agreement with the analytical solution, whereas the Petrov–Galerkin method with quadratic upstream-weighted functions results in very diffused temperature profiles. The characteristic finite element method which uses a Lagrangian–Eulerian formulation overpredicts the flame front location and exhibits overshoots and undershoots near the temperature discontinuity. These overshoots and undershoots are due to the interpolation of the results of the Lagrangian operator onto the fixed Eulerian grid used to solve the reaction–diffusion operator, and indicate that characteristic finite element methods are not able to eliminate numerical diffusion entirely.     

P-version hybrid analytical finite element method for plate bending problems

Two sets of trial functions with different variables are constructed for the admissible space of the finite element analysis. The trial functions satisfy the equilibrium differential equation inside elements, while the deflections and rotations on the edges of the elements are approximated by the Peano hierarchical interpolation functions. Then, a generalized variational principle is applied to set up the p-version hybrid analytical finite element method for plate bending problems. The accuracy of finite element computation can be improved by increasing the order of the interpolation polynomials with fixed mesh. In the finite element formulation, to obtain the stiffness matrices and the load vectors, it is only necessary to perform quadrature over the edges of the elements. These matrices and vectors possess an embedding structure. The conformability between the elements can be controlled automatically.This work is supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China and the Aeronautical Science Foundation of China.     

Non-local finite element analysis of damped beams

Non-local viscoelastic beam models are used to analyse the dynamics of beams with different boundary conditions using the finite element method. Unlike local damping models the internal force of the non-local model is obtained as weighted average of state variables over a spatial domain via convolution integrals with spatial kernel functions that depend on a distance measure. In the finite element analysis, the interpolating shape functions of the element displacement field are identical to those of standard two-node beam elements. However, for non-local damping, nodes remote from the element do have an effect on the energy expressions, and hence on the damping matrix. The expressions of these direct and cross damping matrices may be obtained explicitly for some common spatial kernel functions and Euler–Bernoulli beam theory. Alternatively numerical integration may be applied to obtain solutions. Examples are given where the eigenvalues are compared to the exact solution for a pinned–pinned beam to demonstrate the convergence of the finite element method. The results for beams with other boundary conditions are used to demonstrate the versatility of the finite element technique.     

基于双重自适应的六面体网格再生成方法

提出了一种以栅格法为基本方法,基于几何特征和物理场量双重自适应的六面体网格再生成方法。首先,依据旧网格的表面曲率和几何特征,采用基于栅格法的几何自适应网格再生成方法,生成密度受控的基础网格;然后,将旧网格的物理场量传递到基础网格中;最后,采用有限元误差估计方法对新网格单元的计算误差进行估计,对误差较大的单元进行加密,减...     

Three-Dimensional Shape Optimization of Arch Dams with Prescribed Shape Functions*, †

Development and application of shape optimization of double-curved arch dams are presented. A mathematical formulation of arch dam design is described, where design variables, objective function, and constraint functions are defined. The geometrical form of the arch dam and part of its load-carrying foundation are described by three-dimensional hyperelements. Design variables are identified as geometrical parameters of these hyperelements. For static analysis of the dam-foundation system, the finite element method is employed with eight node solid elements and an incompatible displacement function. Elements are automatically generated within the hyperelements in each design step. Four different load cases are considered to account for important design specifications. A complete static sensitivity analysis is performed and used in each design iteration. Partial derivatives of element stresses with respect to all design variables are computed within the finite element context. The optimization problem is solved by sequential linear programming. It is demonstrated that practical three-dimensional shape optimization is feasible and economical.     

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.      

基于单元破裂的岩石裂纹扩展模拟方法

传统离散元方法在处理破裂问题时, 采用界面上的准则进行判断, 裂纹只能沿着单元边界扩展. 当物理问题存在宏观或微观裂隙时, 在界面上应用准则具有其合理性; 而裂纹沿着单元边界扩展, 使得裂纹路径受网格影响较大, 扩展方向受到限制. 针对上述情况, 可以基于单元破裂的方式, 构建连续- 非连续单元法, 并应用于岩石裂纹扩展问题的模拟. 该方法在连续计算时, 将单元离散为具有物理意义的弹簧系统, 在局部坐标系下由弹簧特征长度、面积求解单元变形和应力, 通过更新局部坐标系和弹簧特征量, 可进一步计算块体大位移、大转动, 连续问题计算结果与有限元一致, 同时提高了计算效率. 在此基础上, 引入最大拉应力与莫尔—库伦的复合准则, 判断单元破裂状态和破裂方向, 并采用局部块体切割的方式, 在单元内形成初始裂纹. 裂纹两侧相应增加新的计算节点, 同时引入内聚力模型描述裂纹两侧的法向、切向作用与张开度及滑移变形之间的关系. 按此方式, 裂纹尖端处的扩展路径可穿过单元内部和单元边界, 在扩展方向的选取上更为准确. 最后, 通过三点弯曲梁、单切口平板拉伸、双切口试样等典型数值试验, 模拟裂纹在拉伸、压剪等各种应力状态下的扩展问题, 并对岩石单轴压缩试验的破坏过程进行模拟, 分析裂纹形成与应力—应变曲线各阶段之间的对应关系. 结果表明: 连续—非连续单元法通过单元内部破裂的方式, 可以显示模拟裂纹萌生、扩展、贯通直至形成宏观裂缝的过程.