Showing papers on "Extended finite element method published in 2007"

A Smoothed Finite Element Method for Mechanics Problems

Abstract: In the finite element method (FEM), a necessary condition for a four-node isoparametric element is that no interior angle is greater than 180° and the positivity of Jacobian determinant should be ensured in numerical implementation. In this paper, we incorporate cell-wise strain smoothing operations into conventional finite elements and propose the smoothed finite element method (SFEM) for 2D elastic problems. It is found that a quadrilateral element divided into four smoothing cells can avoid spurious modes and gives stable results for integration over the element. Compared with original FEM, the SFEM achieves more accurate results and generally higher convergence rate in energy without increasing computational cost. More importantly, as no mapping or coordinate transformation is involved in the SFEM, its element is allowed to be of arbitrary shape. Hence the restriction on the shape bilinear isoparametric elements can be removed and problem domain can be discretized in more flexible ways, as demonstrated in the example problems.

Finite cell method

Abstract: A simple yet effective modification to the standard finite element method is presented in this paper. The basic idea is an extension of a partial differential equation beyond the physical domain of computation up to the boundaries of an embedding domain, which can easier be meshed. If this extension is smooth, the extended solution can be well approximated by high order polynomials. This way, the finite element mesh can be replaced by structured or unstructured cells embedding the domain where classical h- or p-Ansatz functions are defined. An adequate scheme for numerical integration has to be used to differentiate between inside and outside the physical domain, very similar to strategies used in the level set method. In contrast to earlier works, e.g., the extended or the generalized finite element method, no special interpolation function is introduced for enrichment purposes. Nevertheless, when using p-extension, the method shows exponential rate of convergence for smooth problems and good accuracy even in the presence of singularities. The formulation in this paper is applied to linear elasticity problems and examined for 2D cases, although the concepts are generally valid.

A First Course in Finite Elements

Abstract: Developed from the authors, combined total of 50 years undergraduate and graduate teaching experience, this book presents the finite element method formulated as a general-purpose numerical procedure for solving engineering problems governed by partial differential equations. Focusing on the formulation and application of the finite element method through the integration of finite element theory, code development, and software application, the book is both introductory and self-contained, as well as being a hands-on experience for any student. This authoritative text on Finite Elements: Adopts a generic approach to the subject, and is not application specific In conjunction with a web-based chapter, it integrates code development, theory, and application in one book Provides an accompanying Web site that includes ABAQUS Student Edition, Matlab data and programs, and instructor resources Contains a comprehensive set of homework problems at the end of each chapter Produces a practical, meaningful course for both lecturers, planning a finite element module, and for students using the text in private study. Accompanied by a book companion website housing supplementary material that can be found at http://www.wileyeurope.com/college/Fish A First Course in Finite Elements is the ideal practical introductory course for junior and senior undergraduate students from a variety of science and engineering disciplines. The accompanying advanced topics at the end of each chapter also make it suitable for courses at graduate level, as well as for practitioners who need to attain or refresh their knowledge of finite elements through private study.

Numerical Treatment of Partial Differential Equations

Abstract: Contents Notation 1 Basics 1.1 Classification and Correctness 1.2 Fourier's Method, Integral Transforms 1.3 Maximum Principle, Fundamental Solution 2 Finite Difference Methods 2.1 Basic Concepts 2.2 Illustrative Examples 2.3 Transportation Problems and Conservation Laws 2.4 Elliptic Boundary Value Problems 2.5 Finite Volume Methods as Finite Difference Schemes 2.6 Parabolic Initial-Boundary Value Problems 2.7 Second-Order Hyperbolic Problems 3 Weak Solutions 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Adapted Function Spaces 3.3 VariationalEquationsand conformingApproximation 3.4 WeakeningV-ellipticity 3.5 NonlinearProblems 4 The Finite Element Method 4.1 A First Example 4.2 Finite-Element-Spaces 4.3 Practical Aspects of the Finite Element Method 4.4 Convergence of Conforming Methods 4.5 NonconformingFiniteElementMethods 4.6 Mixed Finite Elements 4.7 Error Estimators and adaptive FEM 4.8 The Discontinuous Galerkin Method 4.9 Further Aspects of the Finite Element Method 5 Finite Element Methods for Unsteady Problems 5.1 Parabolic Problems 5.2 Second-Order Hyperbolic Problems 6 Singularly Perturbed Boundary Value Problems 6.1 Two-Point Boundary Value Problems 6.2 Parabolic Problems, One-dimensional in Space 6.3 Convection-Diffusion Problems in Several Dimensions 7 Variational Inequalities, Optimal Control 7.1 Analytic Properties 7.2 Discretization of Variational Inequalities 7.3 Penalty Methods 7.4 Optimal Control of PDEs 8 Numerical Methods for Discretized Problems 8.1 Some Particular Properties of the Problems 8.2 Direct Methods 8.3 Classical Iterative Methods 8.4 The Conjugate Gradient Method 8.5Multigrid Methods 8.6 Domain Decomposition, Parallel Algorithms Bibliography: Textbooks and Monographs Bibliography: Original Papers Index

An extended finite element library

Abstract: SUMMARY This paper presents and exercises a general structure for an object-oriented enriched finite element code. The programming environment provides a robust tool for extended finite element (XFEM) computations and a modular and extensible system. The program structure has been designed to meet all natural requirements for modularity, extensibility, and robustness. To facilitate meshgeometry interactions with hundreds of enrichment items, a mesh generator and mesh database are included. The salient features of the program are: flexibility in the integration schemes (subtriangles, subquadrilaterals, independent near-tip and discontinuous quadrature rules); domain integral methods for homogeneous and bi-material interface cracks arbitrarily oriented with respect to the mesh; geometry is described and updated by level sets, vector level sets or a standard method; standard and enriched approximations are independent; enrichment detection schemes: topological, geometrical, narrow-band, etc.; multi-material problem with an arbitrary number of interfaces and slip-interfaces; non-linear material models such as J2 plasticity with linear, isotropic and kinematic hardening. To illustrate the possible applications of our paradigm, we present two-dimensional linear elastic fracture mechanics for hundreds of cracks with local near-tip refinement, and crack propagation in two dimensions as well as complex three-dimensional industrial problems. Copyright c 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A coupling of mixed and continuous Galerkin finite element methods for poroelasticity I: the continuous in time case

Abstract: In this paper, we formulate a finite element procedure for approximating the coupled fluid and mechanics in Biot’s consolidation model of poroelasticity. Here, we approximate the pressure by a mixed finite element method and the displacements by a Galerkin method. Theoretical convergence error estimates are derived in a continuous in-time setting for a strictly positive constrained specific storage coefficient. Of particular interest is the case when the lowest-order Raviart–Thomas approximating space or cell-centered finite differences are used in the mixed formulation, and continuous piecewise linear approximations are used for displacements. This approach appears to be the one most frequently applied to existing reservoir engineering simulators.

An extended Finite Element Method for hydraulic fracture problems

Abstract: Note: Abstract Reference EPFL-CONF-212847 Record created on 2015-10-08, modified on 2016-08-09

Adaptive Finite Element Method for Simulation of Optical Nano Structures

Abstract: We discuss realization, properties and performance of the adaptive finite element approach to the design of nano-photonic components. Central issues are the construction of vectorial finite elements and the embedding of bounded components into the unbounded and possibly heterogeneous exterior. We apply the finite element method to the optimization of the design of a hollow core photonic crystal fiber. Thereby we look at the convergence of the method and discuss automatic and adaptive grid refinement and the performance of higher order elements.

The finite-difference and finite-element modeling of seismic wave propagation and earthquake motion

Abstract: Numerical modeling of seismic wave propagation and earthquake motion is an irreplaceable tool in investigation of the Earth’s structure, processes in the Earth, and particularly earthquake phenomena. Among various numerical methods, the finite-difference method is the dominant method in the modeling of earthquake motion. Moreover, it is becoming more important in the seismic exploration and structural modeling. At the same time we are convinced that the best time of the finite-difference method in seismology is in the future. This monograph provides tutorial and detailed introduction to the application of the finitedifference (FD), finite-element (FE), and hybrid FD-FE methods to the modeling of seismic wave propagation and earthquake motion. The text does not cover all topics and aspects of the methods. We focus on those to which we have contributed. We present alternative formulations of equation of motion for a smooth elastic continuum. We then develop alternative formulations for a canonical problem with a welded material interface and free surface. We continue with a model of an earthquake source. We complete the general theoretical introduction by a chapter on the constitutive laws for elastic and viscoelastic media, and brief review of strong formulations of the equation of motion. What follows is a block of chapters on the finite-difference and finite-element methods. We develop FD targets for the free surface and welded material interface. We then present various FD schemes for a smooth continuum, free surface, and welded interface. We focus on the staggered-grid and mainly optimally-accurate FD schemes. We also present alternative formulations of the FE method. We include the FD and FE implementations of the traction-at-split-nodes method for simulation of dynamic rupture propagation. The FD modeling is applied to the model of the deep sedimentary Grenoble basin, France. The FD and FE methods are combined in the hybrid FD-FE method. The hybrid method is then applied to two earthquake scenarios for the Grenoble basin. Except chapters 1, 3, 5, and 12, all chapters include new, previously unpublished material and results.

Developing new enrichment functions for crack simulation in orthotropic media by the extended finite element method

Abstract: New enrichment functions are proposed for crack modelling in orthotropic media using the extended finite element method (XFEM). In this method, Heaviside and near-tip functions are utilized in the framework of the partition of unity method for modelling discontinuities in the classical finite element method. In this procedure, by using meshless based ideas, elements containing a crack are not required to conform to crack edges. Therefore, mesh generation is directly performed ignoring the existence of any crack while the method remains capable of extending the crack without any remeshing requirement. Furthermore, the type of elements around the crack-tip remains the same as other parts of the finite element model and the number of nodes and consequently degrees of freedom are reduced considerably in comparison to the classical finite element method. Mixed-mode stress intensity factors (SIFs) are evaluated to determine the fracture properties of domain and to compare the proposed approach with other available methods. In this paper, the interaction integral (M-integral) is adopted, which is considered as one of the most accurate numerical methods for calculating stress intensity factors.

A New Dual-Primal Domain Decomposition Approach for Finite Element Simulation of 3-D Large-Scale Electromagnetic Problems

Abstract: A novel dual-primal non-overlapping domain decomposition method (DDM) for the finite element solution of three-dimensional (3D) large-scale electromagnetic problems is proposed. This method reduces the computational complexity from solving the original 3D problem to an equivalent interface problem by utilizing the idea of the dual-primal finite element tearing and interconnecting (FETI-DPEM) method. The new method, which is referred to as the FETI-DPEM2, combines the dual-primal idea with two Lagrange multipliers and implements Robin-type transmission condition at the subdomain interfaces to significantly improve the convergence of the interface solution in the high-frequency region. Similar to the original version, a global coarse problem related to the degrees of freedom at the subdomain corner edges is designed to propagate the residual error to the whole computational domain at each iteration, which further increases the convergence. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the validity and the capability of this method. The results show that the proposed method produces fast solutions to large-scale problems in any frequency band.

A multiscale projection method for macro/microcrack simulations

Abstract: We present a new multiscale method for crack simulations. This approach is based on a two-scale decomposition of the displacements and a projection to the coarse scale by using coarse scale test functions. The extended finite element method (XFEM) is used to take into account macrocracks as well as microcracks accurately. The transition of the field variables between the different scales and the role of the microfield in the coarse scale formulation are emphasized. The method is designed so that the fine scale computation can be done independently of the coarse scale computation, which is very efficient and ideal for parallelization. Several examples involving microcracks and macrocracks are given. It is shown that the effect of crack shielding and amplification for crack growth analyses can be captured efficiently. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A finite element method for animating large viscoplastic flow

Abstract: We present an extension to Lagrangian finite element methods to allow for large plastic deformations of solid materials. These behaviors are seen in such everyday materials as shampoo, dough, and clay as well as in fantastic gooey and blobby creatures in special effects scenes. To account for plastic deformation, we explicitly update the linear basis functions defined over the finite elements during each simulation step. When these updates cause the basis functions to become ill-conditioned, we remesh the simulation domain to produce a new high-quality finite-element mesh, taking care to preserve the original boundary. We also introduce an enhanced plasticity model that preserves volume and includes creep and work hardening/softening. We demonstrate our approach with simulations of synthetic objects that squish, dent, and flow. To validate our methods, we compare simulation results to videos of real materials.

Stress concentration minimization of 2D filets using X-FEM and level set description

Abstract: This paper presents and applies a novel shape optimization approach based on the level set description of the geometry and the extended finite element method (X-FEM). The method benefits from the fixed mesh work using X-FEM and from the curves smoothness of the level set description. Design variables are shape parameters of basic geometric features that are described with a level set representation. The number of design variables of this formulation remains small, whereas global (i.e. compliance) and local constraints (i.e. stresses) can be considered. To illustrate the capability of the method to handle stress constraints, numerical applications revisit the minimization of stress concentration in a 2D filet in tension, which has been previously studied in Pedersen (2003). Our results illustrate the great interest of using X-FEM and level set description together. A special attention is also paid to stress computation and accuracy with the X-FEM.

Crack propagation criteria in the framework of X-FEM-based structural analyses

Abstract: The extended finite element method (X-FEM) has proven to be capable of simulating cracking and crack propagation in quasi-brittle materials, such as cement paste or concrete, without the need for re-meshing. In the framework of the X-FEM cracks are represented as surfaces of discontinuous displacements continuously propagating through finite elements. Since crack path continuity is required in X-FEM-based analyses, the reliability of numerical analyses of cracked structures crucially depends on the correct prediction of the crack path and, consequently, on the criterion used for the determination of the crack propagation direction. In this paper four different crack propagation criteria proposed in the literature are investigated including two local and two global criteria. The two local criteria include an averaged stress criterion and the maximum circumferential stress criterion based on the linear elastic fracture mechanics. The two global criteria include a global tracking criterion proposed by Oliver and Huespe (Online Proceedings of the Fifth World Congress on Computational Mechanics, 2002) and an energy based X-FEM formulation recently proposed in (Computational Plasticity 2005. CIMNE: Barcelona, 2005; 565–568; Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 2006, in press). Representative numerical benchmark examples, characterized by mode-I dominant fracture as well as by mixed-mode fracture, are used to study the performance and the robustness of the different crack propagation criteria. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Finite Element - Node-Centered Finite-Volume Two-Phase-Flow Experiments With Fractured Rock Represented by Unstructured Hybrid-Element Meshes

Abstract: Fractured-reservoir relative permeability, water breakthrough, and recovery cannot be extrapolated from core samples, but computer simulations allow their quantification through the use of discrete fracture models at an intermediate scale. For this purpose, we represent intersecting naturally and stochastically generated fractures in massive or layered porous rock with an unstructured hybrid finite-element (FE) grid. We compute two-phase flow with an implicit FE/finite volume (FV) method (FE/FVM) to identify the emergent properties of this complex system. The results offer many important insights: Flow velocity varies by three to seven orders of magnitude and velocity spectra are multimodal, with significant overlaps between fractureand matrix-flow domains. Residual saturations greatly exceed those that were initially assigned to the rock matrix. Total mobility is low over a wide saturation range and is very sensitive to small saturation changes. When fractures dominate the flow, but fracture porosity is low (10 to 1%), gridblock average relative permeabilities, kr,avg, cross over during saturation changes of less than 1%. Such upscaled kr,avg yield a convex, highly dispersive fractionalflow function without a shock. Its shape cannot be matched with any conventional model, and a new formalism based on the fracture/matrix flux ratio is proposed. Spontaneous imbibition during waterflooding occurs only over a small fraction of the total fracture/matrix-interface area because water imbibes only a limited number of fractures. Yet in some of these, flow will be sufficiently fast for this process to enhance recovery significantly. We also observe that a rate dependence of recovery and water breakthrough occurs earlier in transient-state flow than in steady-state flow.

An extended FE strategy for transition from continuum damage to mode I cohesive crack propagation

Abstract: An integrated strategy is proposed for the simulation of damage development and crack propagation in concrete structures. In the initial stage of damage growth, concrete is considered to be macroscopically integer and is modeled by a non-symmetric isotropic non-local damage model. The transition to the discrete cohesive crack model depends on the local mesh size and is driven by an analytical estimate of the current bandwidth. When a crack is introduced in the model an extended finite element approach is used to follow the propagation path, independent of the background mesh. The proposed methodology is tested on a notched tension specimen and then applied to the analysis of a wedge splitting test. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Automating the Finite Element Method

Abstract: The finite element method can be viewed as a machine that automates the discretization of differential equations, taking as input a variational problem, a finite element and a mesh, and producing as output a system of discrete equations. However, the generality of the framework provided by the finite element method is seldom reflected in implementations (realizations), which are often specialized and can handle only a small set of variational problems and finite elements (but are typically parametrized over the choice of mesh).

Level set X-FEM non matching meshes: application to dynamic crack propagation in elastic-plastic media

Abstract: This paper develops two aspects improving crack propagation modeling with the X-FEM method. On the one hand, it explains how one can use at the same time a regular structured mesh for a precise and ef ficient level set update and an unstructured irregular one for the mechani cal model. On the other hand, a new numerical scheme based on the X-FEM method is proposed for dynamic elastic-plastic situations. The simu lation results are compared with two experiments on PMMA for which crack speed and crack path are provided.

Object-oriented finite element analysis of thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) problems in porous media

Abstract: The design, implementation and application of a concept for object-oriented in finite element analysis of multi-field problems is presented in this paper. The basic idea of this concept is that the underlying governing equations of porous media mechanics can be classified into different types of partial differential equations (PDEs). In principle, similar types of PDEs for diverse physical problems differ only in material coefficients. Local element matrices and vectors arising from the finite element discretization of the PDEs are categorized into several types, regardless of which physical problem they belong to (i.e. fluid flow, mass and heat transport or deformation processes). Element (ELE) objects are introduced to carry out the local assembly of the algebraic equations. The object-orientation includes a strict encapsulation of geometrical (GEO), topological (MSH), process-related (FEM) data and methods of element objects. Geometric entities of an element such as nodes, edges, faces and neighbours are abstracted into corresponding geometric element objects (ELE–GEO). The relationships among these geometric entities form the topology of element meshes (ELE–MSH). Finite element objects (ELE–FEM) are presented for the local element calculations, in which each classification type of the matrices and vectors is computed by a unique function. These element functions are able to deal with different element types (lines, triangles, quadrilaterals, tetrahedra, prisms, hexahedra) by automatically choosing the related element interpolation functions. For each process of a multi-field problem, only a single instance of the finite element object is required. The element objects provide a flexible coding environment for multi-field problems with different element types. Here, the C++ implementations of the objects are given and described in detail. The efficiency of the new element objects is demonstrated by several test cases dealing with thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) coupled problems for geotechnical applications. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A high‐order generalized FEM for through‐the‐thickness branched cracks

Abstract: This paper presents high-order implementations of a generalized finite element method for through-the-thickness three-dimensional branched cracks. This approach can accurately represent discontinuities such as triple joints in polycrystalline materials and branched cracks, independently of the background finite element mesh. Representative problems are investigated to illustrate the accuracy of the method in combination with various discretizations and refinement strategies. The combination of local refinement at crack fronts and high-order continuous and discontinuous enrichments proves to be an excellent combination which can deliver convergence rates close to that of problems with smooth solutions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.