An effective way to couple FEM meshes and Peridynamics grids for the solution of static equilibrium problems

Peridynamics is a continuum theory based on a non-local approach and capable of dealing with discontinuous displacement fields. The paper presents a technique to couple Peridynamic grids and finite element meshes to solve static equilibrium problems. The domain is divided in two zones: one discretized by the Peridynamic grid and the other where the Finite Element Method is applied. The coupling is achieved by considering that Peridynamics bonds act only on Peridynamic nodes, whereas finite elements apply forces only on finite element nodes. The proposed method was applied to study 1D and 2D examples. No problem in the zone of the structure where the two approaches are merged is observed. The results show that the coupling method is very effective and its simplicity suggests it can be easily introduced in commercial finite element codes.     

Convergence of Peridynamics to Classical Elasticity Theory

The peridynamic model of solid mechanics is a nonlocal theory containing a length scale. It is based on direct interactions between points in a continuum separated from each other by a finite distance. The maximum interaction distance provides a length scale for the material model. This paper addresses the question of whether the peridynamic model for an elastic material reproduces the classical local model as this length scale goes to zero. We show that if the motion, constitutive model, and any nonhomogeneities are sufficiently smooth, then the peridynamic stress tensor converges in this limit to a Piola-Kirchhoff stress tensor that is a function only of the local deformation gradient tensor, as in the classical theory. This limiting Piola-Kirchhoff stress tensor field is differentiable, and its divergence represents the force density due to internal forces. The limiting, or collapsed, stress-strain model satisfies the conditions in the classical theory for angular momentum balance, isotropy, objectivity, and hyperelasticity, provided the original peridynamic constitutive model satisfies the appropriate conditions.      

A new finite element method for strain gradient theories and applications to fracture analyses

A new compatible finite element method for strain gradient theories is presented. In the new finite element method, pure displacement derivatives are taken as the fundamental variables. The new numerical method is successfully used to analyze the simple strain gradient problems – the fundamental fracture problems. Through comparing the numerical solutions with the existed exact solutions, the effectiveness of the new finite element method is tested and confirmed. Additionally, an application of the Zienkiewicz–Taylor C1 finite element method to the strain gradient problem is discussed. By using the new finite element method, plane-strain mode I and mode II crack tip fields are calculated based on a constitutive law which is a simple generalization of the conventional J₂ deformation plasticity theory to include strain gradient effects. Three new constitutive parameters enter to characterize the scale over which strain gradient effects become important. During the analysis the general compressible version of Fleck–Hutchinson strain gradient plasticity is adopted. Crack tip solutions, the traction distributions along the plane ahead of the crack tip are calculated. The solutions display the considerable elevation of traction within the zone near the crack tip.     

Adaptive coupling between damage mechanics and peridynamics: A route for objective simulation of material degradation up to complete failure

The objective (mesh-independent) simulation of evolving discontinuities, such as cracks, remains a challenge. Current techniques are highly complex or involve intractable computational costs, making simulations up to complete failure difficult. We propose a framework as a new route toward solving this problem that adaptively couples local-continuum damage mechanics with peridynamics to objectively simulate all the steps that lead to material failure: damage nucleation, crack formation and propagation. Local-continuum damage mechanics successfully describes the degradation related to dispersed microdefects before the formation of a macrocrack. However, when damage localizes, it suffers spurious mesh dependency, making the simulation of macrocracks challenging. On the other hand, the peridynamic theory is promising for the simulation of fractures, as it naturally allows discontinuities in the displacement field. Here, we present a hybrid local-continuum damage/peridynamic model. Local-continuum damage mechanics is used to describe “volume” damage before localization. Once localization is detected at a point, the remaining part of the energy is dissipated through an adaptive peridynamic model capable of the transition to a “surface” degradation, typically a crack. We believe that this framework, which actually mimics the real physical process of crack formation, is the first bridge between continuum damage theories and peridynamics. Two-dimensional numerical examples are used to illustrate that an objective simulation of material failure can be achieved by this method.     

Finite elements for exterior problems using integral equations

We present some integral methods for exterior problems for the Laplace equation. Then we give finite element approximations for these equations and some errors estimates. Finally, we indicate how these integral equations can be coupled with a usual finite element method on a bounded domain to solve an exterior non-linear problem which is linear far away.     

A hybrid finite volume/finite element method for incompressible generalized Newtonian fluid flows on unstructured triangular meshes

This paper presents a hybrid finite volume/finite element method for the incompressible generalized Newtonian fluid flow （Power-Law model）. The collocated （i.e. non-staggered） arrangement of variables is used on the unstructured triangular grids, and a fractional step projection method is applied for the velocity-pressure coupling. The cell-centered finite volume method is employed to discretize the momentum equation and the vertex-based finite element for the pressure Poisson equation. The momentum interpolation method is used to suppress unphysical pressure wiggles. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the current hybrid scheme has second order accuracy in both space and time. Results on flows in the lid-driven cavity and between parallel walls for Newtonian and Power-Law models are also in good agreement with the published solutions.     

An explicit finite volume element method for solving characteristic level set equation on triangular grids

Level set methods are widely used for predicting evolutions of complex free surface topologies,such as the crystal and crack growth,bubbles and droplets deformation,spilling and breaking waves,and two-phase flow phenomena.This paper presents a characteristic level set equation which is derived from the two-dimensional level set equation by using the characteristic-based scheme.An explicit finite volume element method is developed to discretize the equation on triangular grids.Several examples are presented to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method for calculating interface evolutions in time.The proposed level set method is also coupled with the Navier-Stokes equations for two-phase immiscible incompressible flow analysis with surface tension.The Rayleigh-Taylor instability problem is used to test and evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.     

数学网格和物理网格分离的有限单元法(II):粘聚裂纹扩展问题中的应用

强化有限单元法将物理网格与数学网格分离开来,可以方便地描述非连续变形;粘聚区域模型是模拟断裂过程区作用最简单有效的方法,且可以避免裂纹尖端的应力奇异性.本文以平面问题为例,将强化有限单元法与粘聚区域模型相结合,利用富集数学节点描述任意粘聚裂纹扩展过程中的非连续变形问题,提出了裂纹扩展过程中数学节点富集和数学单元定义的方法.本文还导出了与平面4～8节点平面等参单元对应的8～16节点粘聚裂纹单元列武.最后,通过三点弯梁的裂纹扩展过程模拟验证了本文提出的粘聚裂纹扩展模拟方法的有效性.     

Investigation of the Dynamic Behavior of a Griffith Crack in a Piezoelectric Material Strip Subjected to the Harmonic Elastic Anti-plane Shear Waves by Use of the Non-local Theory

In this paper, the dynamic behavior of a Griffith crack in a piezoelectric material strip subjected to the harmonic anti-plane shear waves is investigated by use of the non-local theory for impermeable crack surface conditions. To overcome the mathematical difficulties, a one-dimensional non-local kernel is used instead of a two-dimensional one for the anti-plane dynamic problem to obtain the stress and the electric displacement near at the crack tip. By means of the Fourier transform, the problem can be solved with the help of two pairs of dual integral equations. These equations are solved using the Schmidt method. Contrary to the classical solution, it is found that no stress and electric displacement singularity is present near the crack tip. The non-local dynamic elastic solutions yield a finite hoop stress near the crack tip, thus allowing for a fracture criterion based on the maximum dynamic stress hypothesis. The finite hoop stress at the crack tip depends on the crack length, the thickness of the strip, the circular frequency of incident wave and the lattice parameter.     

Implicit schemes for unsteady Euler equations on triangular meshes

An implicit finite element method is presented for the solution of steady and unsteady inviscid compressible flows on triangular meshes under transonic conditions. The method involves a first-order time-stepping scheme with a finite element discretization that reduces to central differencing on a rectangular mesh. On a solid wall the slip condition is prescribed and the pressure is obtained from an approximation of the normal momentum equation. With this solver no artificial viscosity is added to ensure the success of the calculation. Numerical examples are given for steady and unsteady cases.     

An Improved Computational Strategy to Estimate Residual Stresses from Crack Compliance Data

The successive cracking (crack compliance) method is a destructive technique aimed at determination of residual stresses in various structural members. The laboratory measurements performed during extension of a crack are followed by a computational analysis. We propose a modification of the numerical approach in order to simplify the method and improve its accuracy. The basic idea of the proposed modification is to approximate plastic strains rather than the residual stresses directly. Furthermore, we use the goal oriented adaptive finite element method that generates optimal meshes for evaluation of strains at specific points.     

Solution of free-boundary problems using finite-element/Newton methods and locally refined grids: Application to analysis of solidification microstructure

A new method is presented for the solution of free-boundary problems using Lagrangian finite element approximations defined on locally refined grids. The formulation allows for direct transition from coarse to fine grids without introducing non-conforming basis functions. The calculation of elemental stiffness matrices and residual vectors are unaffected by changes in the refinement level, which are accounted for in the loading of elemental data to the global stiffness matrix and residual vector. This technique for local mesh refinement is combined with recently developed mapping methods and Newton's method to form an efficient algorithm for the solution of free-boundary problems, as demonstrated here by sample calculations of cellular interfacial microstructure during directional solidification of a binary alloy.     

Crack bifurcation predicted for dynamic anti-plane collinear cracks in piezoelectric materials using a non-local theory

A non-local theory of elasticity is applied to obtain the dynamic interaction between two collinear cracks in the piezoelectric materials plane under anti-plane shear waves for the permeable crack surface boundary conditions. Unlike the classical elasticity solution, a lattice parameter enters into the problem that make the stresses and the electric displacements finite at the crack tip. A one-dimensional non-local kernel is used instead of a two-dimensional one for the anti-plane dynamic problem to obtain the stress and electric displacement near the crack tips. By means of the Fourier transform, the problem can be solved with the help of two pairs of triple integral equations in which the unknown variable is the jump of the displacement across the crack surface. The solutions are obtained by means of the Schmidt method. Crack bifurcation is predicted using the strain energy density criterion. Minimum values of the strain energy density functions are assumed to coincide with the possible locations of fracture initiation. Bifurcation angles of ±5° and ±175° are found. The result of possible crack bifurcation was not expected before hand.     

A 3D direct coupling method for steady ship hydroelastic analysis

Asides from the influence of incoming waves, ships can experience steady motions, such as rigid-body sinkage and trim motions, and flexible-body vertical bending motions, due to a constant forward speed even under calm water conditions. In this paper, a novel approach to analyze steady-ship hydroelasticity, particularly for the steady-ship motions and surrounding steady-wave disturbances, is proposed using a three-dimensional (3D) direct coupling method, based on a higher-order boundary element method (HOBEM) and a higher-order shell finite element method (FEM). Within the linearized framework, a solution method is proposed based on a two-step procedure, using two types of Neumann–Kelvin (NK) linear flow models for the fluid part and a virtual work equilibrium equation for the structural part. The first step is to compute a mean position wave-resistance problem using the modified NK equation, the second step is to solve a perturbed position wave-resistance problem, by employing a classical NK model and a virtual work equation based on the first step’s solution. Detailed mathematical formulation and numerical procedures are described, and a few numerical results are illustrated. These include both rigid and flexible steady-ship motions, Von-Mises stress distributions, and wave-resistance coefficients for Froude numbers ranging from 0.15 to 0.5. Furthermore, the numerical results obtained using the present direct coupling method and a modal-based one are compared.     

针对有砟道床动力特性分析的嵌入式离散元-有限元耦合方法

在离散元-有限元耦合方法中,离散元和有限元交界面处的耦合方式对整体有砟道床的力学行为影响显著.采用基于球形单元的镶嵌单元或粘结单元模拟有砟道床时,由于球形单元和有限单元表面的自锁能力较差,使道砟层在列车载荷作用下容易产生侧向滑移,导致数值模型不稳定.此外,在实际铁路道床中,底部道砟均不同程度地嵌入路堤.为此,发展了一种...     

Numerical analysis of convection-diffusion with chemical reaction by combined finite and boundary element methods

A numerical method is presented to analyse a steady convection-diffusion problem with a first-order chemical reaction defined on an infinite region. The present method is based on the combined finite element and boundary element methods. For one- and two-dimensional examples in an infinite region the numerical results by the present method are in excellent agreement with the exact solutions. As a practical application, the simulation of the concentration distribution of the chemical oxygen demand at Kojima Bay is carried out.     

Multiscale material modeling and its application to a dynamic crack propagation problem

Here we present a multiscale field theory for modeling and simulation of multi-grain material system which consists of several different kinds of single crystals and a large number of different kinds of discrete atoms. The theoretical construction of the multiscale field theory is briefly introduced. The interatomic forces are used to formulate the governing equations for the system. A compact tension specimen made of magnesium oxide is modeled by discrete atoms in front of the crack tip and finite elements in the far field. Results showing crack propagation through the atomic region are presented.     

The chemo-mechanical coupling behavior of hydrogels incorporating entanglements of polymer chains

To describe precisely the chemo-mechanical coupling behavior of hydrogels, a general form of free energy density function is presented by considering chain entanglements and functionality of junctions. We use the chemical potential of the solvent and the deformation gradient of the network as the independent variables of the developed free energy function, and implement this material model in the finite element package, ABAQUS, to analyze several examples of chemo-mechanical equilibrium deformation behaviors of hydrogels. The influence of chain entanglements and junction functionality on the chemo-mechanical behavior of hydrogels is addressed based on our simulation. With the coded subroutine UHYPER, this work may provide a numerical tool to study complex phenomena in hydrogels.     

Numerical study of nonlinear interaction between a crack and elastic waves under an oblique incidence

A Finite Element (FE) model is proposed to study the interaction between in-plane elastic waves and a crack of different orientations. The crack is modeled by an interface of unilateral contact with Coulombs friction. These contact laws are modified to take into account a pre-stress _σ0${\sigma }_0$ that closes the crack. Using the FE model, it is possible to obtain the contact stresses during wave propagation. These contact stresses provide a better understanding of the coupling between the normal and tangential behavior under oblique incidence, and explain the generation of higher harmonics. This new approach is used to analyze the evolution of the higher harmonics obtained as a function of the angle of incidence, and also as a function of the excitation level. The pre-stress condition is a governing parameter that directly changes the nonlinear phenomenon at work at the interface and therefore the harmonic generation. The diffracted fields obtained by the nonlinear and linear models are also compared.