Hermite–Cloud: a novel true meshless method

In this paper, a novel true meshless numerical technique – the Hermite–Cloud method, is developed. This method uses the Hermite interpolation theorem for the construction of the interpolation functions, and the point collocation technique for discretization of the partial differential equations. This technique is based on the classical reproducing kernel particle method except that a fixed reproducing kernel approximation is employed instead. As a true meshless technique, the present method constructs the Hermite-type interpolation functions to directly compute the approximate solutions of both the unknown functions and the first-order derivatives. The necessary auxiliary conditions are also constructed to generate a complete set of partial differential equations with mixed Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. The point collocation technique is then used for discretization of the governing partial differential equations. Numerical results show that the computational accuracy of the Hermite–Cloud method at scattered discrete points in the domain is much refined not only for approximate solutions, but also for the first-order derivative of these solutions.     

Direct Coupling of Natural Boundary Element and Finite Element on Elastic Plane Problems in Unbounded Domains

The advantages of coupling of a natural boundary element method and a finite element method are introduced. Then we discuss the principle of the direct coupling of NBEM and FEM and its implementation. The comparison of the results between the direct coupling method and FEM proves that the direct coupling method is simple, feasible and valid in practice.     

Imposition of boundary conditions by modifying the weighting coefficient matrices in the differential quadrature method

One of the important issues in the implementation of the differential quadrature method is the imposition of the given boundary conditions. There may be multiple boundary conditions involving higher‐order derivatives at the boundary points. The boundary conditions can be imposed by modifying the weighting coefficient matrices directly. However, the existing method is not robust and is known to have many limitations. In this paper, a systematic procedure is proposed to construct the modified weighting coefficient matrices to overcome these limitations. The given boundary conditions are imposed exactly. Furthermore, it is found that the numerical results depend only on those sampling grid points where the differential quadrature analogous equations of the governing differential equations are established. The other sampling grid points with no associated boundary conditions are not essential. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

平面电磁弹性固体的虚边界元——最小二乘配点法

从电磁弹性固体平面问题的基本方程出发,依据弹性力学虚边界元法的基本思想,利用电磁弹性固体平面问题的基本解,提出了电磁弹性固体平面问题的虚边界元——最小二乘配点法。电磁弹性固体的虚边界元法在继承传统边界元法优点的同时,有效地避免了传统边界元法的边界积分奇异性的问题。由于仅在虚实边界选取配点,此方法不需要网格剖分,并且不用进行积分计算。最后给出了一些具体算例,并和已有的解析解进行了对比,结果表明提出的虚边界元方法有很高的精度。     

Discrete differential operators on irregular nodes (DDIN)

A previous research made an integral mathematical contribution for obtaining local function interpolation using neighboring nodal values of the solution function. Subsequent researchers developed mesh‐free methods for Finite Element Method (FEM). This principle can also be used to obtain discrete differential operators on irregular nodes. They may be successfully applied to Finite Difference method, Moving Particle Semi‐implicit (MPS) method and Random Collocation Method (RCM). In this paper, we obtain discrete differential operators on irregular nodes and successfully apply them to solve differential equations using the RCM. We also discuss mathematical aspects of the MPS method. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Weighted radial basis collocation method for boundary value problems

This work introduces the weighted radial basis collocation method for boundary value problems. We first show that the employment of least‐squares functional with quadrature rules constitutes an approximation of the direct collocation method. Standard radial basis collocation method, however, yields a larger solution error near boundaries. The residuals in the least‐squares functional associated with domain and boundary can be better balanced if the boundary collocation equations are properly weighted. The error analysis shows unbalanced errors between domain, Neumann boundary, and Dirichlet boundary least‐squares terms. A weighted least‐squares functional and the corresponding weighted radial basis collocation method are then proposed for correction of unbalanced errors. It is shown that the proposed method with properly selected weights significantly enhances the numerical solution accuracy and convergence rates. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On Solving the Direct/Inverse Cauchy Problems of Laplace Equation in a Multiply Connected Domain,Using the Generalized Multiple-Source-Point Boundary-Collocation Trefftz Method &Characteristic Lengths

In this paper, a multiple-source-point boundary-collocation Trefftz method, with characteristic lengths being introduced in the basis functions, is proposed to solve the direct, as well as inverse Cauchy problems of the Laplace equation for a multiply connected domain. When a multiply connected domain with genus p (p>1) is considered, the conventional Trefftz method (T-Trefftz method) will fail since it allows only one source point, but the representation of solution using only one source point is impossible. We propose to relax this constraint by allowing many source points in the formulation. To set up a complete set of basis functions, we use the addition theorem of Bird and Steele (1992), to discuss how to correctly set up linearly-independent basis functions for each source point. In addition, we clearly explain the reason why using only one source point will fail, from a theoretical point of view, along with a numerical example. Several direct problems and inverse Cauchy problems are solved to check the validity of the proposed method. It is found that the present method can deal with both direct and inverse problems successfully. For inverse problems, the present method does not need to use any regularization technique, or the truncated singular value decomposition at all, since the use of a characteristic length can significantly reduce the ill-posed behavior. Here, the proposed method can be viewed as a general Trefftz method, since the conventional Trefftz method (T-Trefftz method) and the method of fundamental solutions (F-Trefftz method) can be considered as special cases of the presently proposed method.     

基于欧拉插值的最小二乘混合配点法在弹性力学平面问题中的应用

由于常规配点型无网格法存在求解不稳定、精度差和求解高阶导数等问题,提出了基于欧拉插值的最小二乘混合配点法。该方法同时以位移和应变作为未知量,通过欧拉插值将未知变量的导数表达出来,同时在插值中引入高斯权函数,并代入微分方程,从而形成以位移和应变为未知数的超定方程组,然后形成最小二乘意义下的法方程,法方程和相应的位移边界条件、应力边界条件一起形成定解体系。该方法不需要域积分,是一种真正的无网格法。一些典型的弹性力学平面问题表明本文方法具有良好的精度。     

A note on the finite element method with singular basis functions

In this note, we make a few comments concerning the paper of Hughes and Akin (Int. J. Numer. Meth. Engng., 15 , 733–751 (1980)). Our primary goal is to demonstrate that the rate of convergence of numerical solutions of the finite element method with singular basis functions depends upon the location of additional collocation points associated with the singular elements. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Direct solution of ill‐posed boundary value problems by radial basis function collocation method

Numerical solution of ill‐posed boundary value problems normally requires iterative procedures. In a typical solution, the ill‐posed problem is first converted to a well‐posed one by assuming the missing boundary values. The new problem is solved by a conventional numerical technique and the solution is checked against the unused data. The problem is solved iteratively using optimization schemes until convergence is achieved. The present paper offers a different procedure. Using the radial basis function collocation method, we demonstrate that the solution of certain ill‐posed problems can be accomplished without iteration. This method not only is efficient and accurate, but also circumvents the stability problem that can exist in the iterative method. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A complex variable boundary collocation method for plane elastic problems

 Lagrange interpolation is extended to the complex plane in this paper. It turns out to be composed of two parts: polynomial and rational interpolations of an analytical function. Based on Lagrange interpolation in the complex plane, a complex variable boundary collocation approach is constructed. The method is truly meshless and singularity free. It features high accuracy obtained by use of a small number of nodes as well as dimensionality advantage, that is, a two-dimensional problem is reduced to a one-dimensional one. The method is applied to two-dimensional problems in the theory of plane elasticity. Numerical examples are in very good agreement with analytical ones. The method is easy to be implemented and capable to be able to give the stress states at any point within the solution domain. Received: 20 August 2002 / Accepted: 31 January 2003     

Regularized BE formulations for the analysis of fracture in thin plates

A boundary integral formulation for the analysis of cracks in thin Kirchhoff plates is presented. The numerical solution of the relevant equations is addressed following three different approaches: two single integration methodologies initially introduced for 2D elastic solids are here reformulated, compared with a third (Galerkin) double integration approach and extended to the analysis of cracks in thin plates. exploiting an analogy with 2D elastic fracture mechanics. Comparative numerical testing, in terms of stress intensity factors, is performed with reference to straight and curved cracks in unbounded domains. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Stress intensity factor for a crack normal to an interface between two orthotropic materials

In this paper, the problem of a crack normal to an interface in two joined orthotropic plates is studied as a plane problem. Body force method is used to investigate dependence of the stress intensity factor on the elastic constants: E _x1, E _y1, G _xy1, V _xy1 for material 1 and E _x2, E _y2, G _xy2, V _xy2 for material 2. A particular attention is paid to simplifying kernel functions, which is used in the body force method, so that all the elastic constants involved can be represented by three new parameters: H ₁, H _2I, H ₃ for the mode I deformation and H ₁, H _2II, H ₃ for the mode II deformation. From the kernel function so obtained it is found that the effects of the eight elastic constants on the stress intensity factors can be expressed by the three material parameters, H ₁, H _2I, H ₃ and H ₁, H _2II, H ₃, respectively for K _I and K _II. Furthermore, it is also found that the dependence of K _I on H ₁, H _2I, H ₃ is exactly the same as the dependence of K _II on H ₁, H _2II, H ₃. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

材料非线性分析的自然单元法

自然单元法主要是基于给定结点的Voronoi图,利用自然相邻插值进行形函数的构造,其形函数满足Kronecker delta性质,便于施加本质边界条件,这使得自然单元法同时兼有有限单元法和无网格法的优点。在材料非线性本构关系的基础上,推导了考虑材料非线性问题的自然单元法模型。算例表明:该模型在处理材料非线性问题时,具有一定的合理性和可行性,是一种有效的数值方法。     

A Trefftz approach to computational mechanics

This paper presents a Trefftz method for solving structural elasticity problems and flow problems of incompressible viscous fluids. The problem of unilateral contact is also dealt with. For each type of problem, Trefftz polynomials and associated variational formulations are given. Complex structures are studied by a sub‐structuring technique. This method requires the resolution of a non‐symmetrical linear system. It is shown that it is possible to take advantage of this Trefftz approximation in two ways: (i) the approach presented can be considered as a simplified method which enables a solution to be evaluated quickly; (ii) this approach also makes it possible to obtain a good quality solution associated with high degree polynomial bases. This method is adapted to optimization processes because the discretization of the structure requires only very few sub‐domains to build a good approximation and offers a great flexibility in use. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A fast collocation method for an inverse boundary value problem

In this paper, we present an implementation of a fast multiscale collocation method for boundary integral equations of the second kind, and its application to solving an inverse boundary value problem of recovering a coefficient function from a boundary measurement. We illustrate by numerical examples the insensitive nature of the map from the coefficient to measurement, and design and test a Gauss–Newton iteration algorithm for obtaining the best estimate of the unknown coefficient from the given measurement based on a least‐squares formulation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new dual mortar method for curved interfaces: 2D elasticity

Dual mortar method formulations have shown to be a very effective and efficient way for interfacing (e.g. tying, contacting) dissimilar meshes. On the other hand, we have recently found that they can sometimes perform quite poorly when applied to curved surfaces in some solid mechanics applications. A new modified two‐dimensional dual mortar method for piecewise linear finite elements is developed that overcomes this deficiency and is demonstrated on a model problem. Furthermore, mathematical analysis is provided to demonstrate the optimal convergence and stability of the new method. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.