The use of the fractal model to complex resistivity in the interpretation of induced polarization data

Several researchers demonstrated that spectral parameters in induced polarization can be applied to discriminate different IP sources. In this paper it was applied an inversion procedure using the Gauss–Newton method to recover the spectral parameters of fractal model to complex resistivity. The finite element method was applied to carry out the forward modeling. The procedure was applied in synthetic data and simulations were carried out in five different frequencies. The inversion of the data were carried out in each frequency, further the inversion was applied also to each cell of the finite element mesh to recover the fractal parameter in order to analyze the possibility of using the fractal model parameters in the interpretation of the induced polarization response to this geological geometry. The results showed that the anomalies are well detected by the image of the fractal model parameters.     

A constrained optimization based method for acoustic finite element model updating of cavities using pressure response

A method based on constrained optimization for updating of an acoustic finite element model using pressure response is proposed in this paper. The constrained optimization problem is solved using sequential quadratic programming algorithm. Updating parameters related to the properties of the sound absorbers and the measurement errors are considered. Effectiveness of the method is demonstrated by numerical studies on a 2D rectangular cavity and a car cavity. It is shown that the constrained formulation, that includes lower and upper bounds on the updating parameters in the form of inequality constraints, is important for obtaining a correct updated model. It is seen that the proposed updating method is not only able to effectively update the model to obtain a close match between the finite element model pressure response and the reference pressure response, but is also able to identify the correction factors to the parameters in error with reasonable accuracy.     

Inverse mode problems for the finite element model of a vibrating rod

The inverse mode problems for the finite element model of an axially vibrating rod are formulated and solved. It is known that for the finite element model, based on linear shape functions, of the rod, the mass and stiffness matrices are both tridiagonal. It is shown that the finite element model of the rod can be constructed from two eigenvalues, their corresponding eigenvectors and the total mass of the rod. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the construction of a physically realizable rod with positive mass and stiffness elements from two eigenpairs and the total mass of the rod are established. If these conditions are satisfied, then the construction of the model is unique.     

Elasto-plastic finite element modelling of strip cold rolling using Eulerian fixed mesh technique

An Eulerian fixed mesh finite element technique applicable to metal-forming processes operating under steady-state condition is presented. Different specific features are demonstrated by solving plane-strain rolling problem. The advantage of the Eulerian fixed mesh technique over the updated Lagrangian one in modelling the elastic flattening of rolls is demonstrated. The obtained pressure distribution and the stress field are compared with other numerical and/or experimental results available in the literature with which good agreement is found. It is found that the consideration of the elastic flattening of rolls decreases the difference between the measured and the computed results.     

A weighted adaptive least-squares finite element method for the Poisson-Boltzmann equation

The finite element methodology has become a standard framework for approximating the solution to the Poisson-Boltzmann equation in many biological applications. In this article, we examine the numerical efficacy of least-squares finite element methods for the linearized form of the equations. In particular, we highlight the utility of a first-order form, noting optimality, control of the flux variables, and flexibility in the formulation, including the choice of elements. We explore the impact of weighting and the choice of elements on conditioning and adaptive refinement. In a series of numerical experiments, we compare the finite element methods when applied to the problem of computing the solvation free energy for realistic molecules of varying size.     

Error estimates for a stabilized finite element method for the Oldroyd B model

In this paper, we study a new approximation scheme of transient viscoelastic fluid flow obeying an Oldroyd-B-type constitutive equation. The new stabilized formulation bases on the choice of a modified Euler method connected to the streamline upwinding Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG) method [M. Bensaada, D. Esselaoui, D. Sandri, Stabilization method for continuous approximation of transient convection problem, Numer. Methods Partial Differential Equations 21 (2004) 170-189], in order to stabilize the tensorial transport term of the Oldroyd derivative. Suppose that the continuous problem admits a sufficiently smooth and sufficiently small solution. A priori error estimates for the approximation in terms of the mesh parameter h and the time discretization parameter Δt are derived.     

A novel finite element model for helical springs

A general and accurate finite element model for helical springs subject to axial loads (extension or/and torsion) is developed in this paper. Due to the establishment of precise boundary conditions, only a slice of the wire cross-section needs to be modelled; hence, more accurate results can be achieved. An example application to a circular cross-sectional spring is analysed in detail.     

Simulation and analysis of rotary forging a ring workpiece using finite element method

The methods of dealing with some key problems in analyzing a rotary forging process with a finite element method are given. The presented mechanical model of the finite element analysis is in accordance with the actual conditions of the rotary forging process. A three-dimensional rigid–plastic finite element analysis code is developed in FORTRAN language and used to analyze the rotary forging process of a ring workpiece. Velocity fields and stress–strain fields of both contact and non-contact zones of the ring workpiece in the rotary forging are obtained. The deformation mechanism and metal flow laws of the contact zone surface of the ring workpiece in the rotary forging process are revealed. The pressure distributions of the contact surface along the radial and tangential directions and effects of rotary forging parameters on deformation characteristics are given.     

Object-oriented modelling and simulation of heat exchangers with finite element methods

The paper describes the derivation of finite-element models of one-dimensional fluid flows with heat transfer in pipes, using the Galerkin/least-squares approach. The models are first derived for one-phase flows, and then extended to homogeneous two-phase flows. The resulting equations have then been embedded in the context of object-oriented system modelling; this allows one to combine the fluid flow model with a model for other phenomena such as heat transfer, as well as with models of other discrete components such as pumps or valves, to obtain complex models of heat exchangers. The models are then validated by simulating a typical heat exchanger plant.     

Galerkin finite element method for one nonlinear integro-differential model

Galerkin finite element method for the approximation of a nonlinear integro-differential equation associated with the penetration of a magnetic field into a substance is studied. First type initial-boundary value problem is investigated. The convergence of the finite element scheme is proved. The rate of convergence is given too. The decay of the numerical solution is compared with the analytical results.     

A finite element method for interface problems in domains with smooth boundaries and interfaces

This paper is concerned with the analysis of a finite element method for nonhomogeneous second order elliptic interface problems on smooth domains. The method consists in approximating the domains by polygonal domains, transferring the boundary data in a natural way, and then applying a finite element method to the perturbed problem on the approximate polygonal domains. It is shown that the error in the finite element approximation is of optimal order for linear elements on a quasiuniform triangulation. As such the method is robust in the regularity of the data in the original problem.     

Limit analysis decomposition and finite element mixed method

This paper proposes an original decomposition approach to the upper bound method of limit analysis. It is based on a mixed finite element approach and on a convex interior point solver, using linear or quadratic discontinuous velocity fields. Presented in plane strain, this method appears to be rapidly convergent, as verified in the Tresca compressed bar problem in the linear velocity case. Then, using discontinuous quadratic velocity fields, the method is applied to the celebrated problem of the stability factor of a Tresca vertical slope: the upper bound is lowered to 3.7776-value to be compared to the best published lower bound 3.7752-by succeeding in solving a nonlinear optimization problem with millions of variables and constraints.     

Linear B-spline finite element method for the improved Boussinesq equation

In this paper, we develop and validate a numerical procedure for solving a class of initial boundary value problems for the improved Boussinesq equation. The finite element method with linear B-spline basis functions is used to discretize the nonlinear partial differential equation in space and derive a second order system involving only ordinary derivatives. It is shown that the coefficient matrix for the second order term in this system is invertible. Consequently, for the first time, the initial boundary value problem can be reduced to an explicit initial value problem to which many accurate numerical methods are readily applicable. Various examples are presented to validate this technique and demonstrate its capacity to simulate wave splitting, wave interaction and blow-up behavior.     

On the finite element method for elliptic problems with degenerate and singular coefficients

We consider Dirichlet boundary value problems for second order elliptic equations over polygonal domains. The coefficients of the equations under consideration degenerate at an inner point of the domain, or behave singularly in the neighborhood of that point. This behavior may cause singularities in the solution. The solvability of the problems is proved in weighted Sobolev spaces, and their approximation by finite elements is studied. This study includes regularity results, graded meshes, and inverse estimates. Applications of the theory to some problems appearing in quantum mechanics are given. Numerical results are provided which illustrate the theory and confirm the predicted rates of convergence of the finite element approximations for quasi-uniform meshes.

     

Numerical modelling of subcritical open channel flow using the K-ε turbulence model and the penalty function finite element technique

A numerical model has been developed that employs the penalty function finite element technique to solve the vertically averaged hydrodynamic and turbulence model equations for a water body using isoparametric elements. The full elliptic forms of the equations are solved, thereby allowing recirculating flows to be calculated. Alternative momentum dispersion and turbulence closure models are proposed and evaluated by comparing model predictions with experimental data for strongly curved subcritical open channel flow. The results of these simulations indicate that the depth-averaged two-equation k-ε turbulence model yields excellent agreement with experimental observations. In addition, it appears that neither the streamline curvature modification of the depth-averaged k-ε model, nor the momentum dispersion models based on the assumption of helicoidal flow in a curved channel, yield significant improvement in the present model predictions. Overall model predictions are found to be as good as those of a more complex and restricted three-dimensional model.     

Prediction of the dynamic response of a mini-cantilever beam partially submerged in viscous media using finite element method

In this work, the use of mini cantilever beams for characterization of rheological properties of viscous materials is demonstrated. The dynamic response of a mini cantilever beam partially submerged in air and water is measured experimentally using a duel channel PolyTec scanning vibrometer. The changes in dynamic response of the beam such as resonant frequency, and frequency amplitude are compared as functions of the rheological properties (density and viscosity) of fluid media. Next, finite element analysis (FEA) method is adopted to predict the dynamic response of the same cantilever beam. The numerical prediction is then compared with experimental results already performed to validate the FEA modeling scheme. Once the model is validated, further numerical analysis was conducted to investigate the variation in vibration response with changing fluid properties. Results obtained from this parametric study can be used to measure the rheological properties of any unknown viscous fluid.     

The MMOC and MMOCAA schemes for the finite volume element method of convection-diffusion problems

We present and analyze the modified method of characteristics (MMOC) and the modified method of characteristics with adjusted advection (MMOCAA) for the finite volume element (FVE) method of convection-diffusion problems. These two schemes maintain the advantages of both the MMOC and the FVE method. And the MMOCAA scheme discussed herein conserves the conservation law globally at a minor additional computational cost. Optimal-order error estimates in the H¹-norm are proved for these schemes. A numerical example is presented to confirm the estimates.