High-order maximum-entropy collocation methods

We present an algorithm for hp-adaptive collocation-based mesh-free numerical analysis of partial differential equations. Our solution procedure follows a well-established iterative solve–estimate–mark–refine paradigm. The solve phase relies on the Radial Basis Function-generated Finite Differences (RBF-FD) using point clouds generated by advancing front node positioning algorithm that supports variable node density. In the estimate phase, we introduce an Implicit-Explicit (IMEX) error indicator, which assumes that the error relates to the difference between the implicitly obtained solution (from the solve phase) and a local explicit re-evaluation of the PDE at hand using a higher order approximation. Based on the IMEX error indicator, the modified Texas Three Step marking strategy is used to mark the computational nodes for h-, p- or hp-(de-)refinement. Finally, in the refine phase, nodes are repositioned and the order of the method is locally redefined using the variable order of the augmenting monomials according to the instructions from the mark phase. The performance of the introduced hp-adaptive method is first investigated on a two-dimensional Peak problem and further applied to two- and three-dimensional contact problems. We show that the proposed IMEX error indicator adequately captures the global behaviour of the error in all cases considered and that the proposed hp-adaptive solution procedure significantly outperforms the non-adaptive approach. The proposed hp-adaptive method stands for another important step towards a fully autonomous numerical method capable of solving complex problems in realistic geometries without the need for user intervention.

Strong form mesh-free hp-adaptive solution of linear elasticity problem

Conventional mesh-based methods for solid mechanics problems suffer from issues resulting from the use of a mesh, therefore, various meshless methods that can be grouped into those based on weak or strong forms of the underlying problem have been proposed to address these problems by using only points for discretisation. Compared to weak form meshless methods, strong form meshless methods have some attractive features because of the absence of any background mesh and avoidance of the need for numerical integration, making the implementation straightforward. The objective of this thesis is to develop a novel numerical method based on strong form point collocation methods for solving problems with geometric non-linearity including membrane problems. To address some issues in existing strong form meshless methods, the local maximum entropy point collocation method is developed, where the basis functions possess some advantages such as the weak Kronecker-Delta property on boundaries. r- and h-adaptive strategies are investigated in the proposed method and are further combined into a novel rh-adaptive approach, achieving the prescribed accuracy with the optimised locations and limited number of points. The proposed meshless method with h-adaptivity is then extended to solve geometrically non-linear problems described in a Total Lagrangian formulation, where h-adaptivity is again employed after the initial calculation to improve the accuracy of the solution effciently. This geometrically non-linear method is finally developed to analyse membrane problems, in which the out-of-plane deformation for membranes
complicates the governing PDEs and the use of hyperelastic materials makes the computational modelling of membrane problems challenging. The Newton-Raphson arc-length method is adopted here to capture the snap-through behaviour in hyperelastic membrane problems. Several numerical examples are presented for each proposed algorithm to validate the proposed methodology and suggestions are made for future work leading on from the findings of this thesis.

Lei Fan

Papers

Adaptive meshless point collocation methods : investigation and application to geometrically non-linear solid mechanics