Compatibility Condition in Theory of Solid Mechanics (Elasticity,Structures, and Design Optimization)

The strain formulation in elasticity and the compatibility condition in structural mechanics have neither been understood nor have they been utilized. This shortcoming prevented the formulation of a direct method to calculate stress and strain, which are currently obtained indirectly by differentiating the displacement. We have researched and understood the compatibility condition for linear problems in elasticity and in finite element structural analysis. This has lead to the completion of the “method of force” with stress (or stress resultant) as the primary unknown. The method in elasticity is referred to as the completed Beltrami-Michell formulation (CBMF), and it is the integrated force method (IFM) in the finite element analysis. The dual integrated force method (IFMD) with displacement as the primary unknown had been formulated. Both the IFM and IFMD produce identical responses. The IFMD can utilize the equation solver of the traditional stiffness method. The variational derivation of the CBMF produced the existing sets of elasticity equations along with the new boundary compatibility conditions, which were missed since the time of Saint-Venant, who formulated the field equations about 1860. The CBMF, which can be used to solve stress, displacement, and mixed boundary value problems, has eliminated the restriction of the classical method that was applicable only to stress boundary value problem. The IFM in structures produced high-fidelity response even with a modest finite element model. Because structural design is stress driven, the IFM has influenced it considerably. A fully utilized design method for strength and stiffness limitation was developed via the IFM analysis tool. The method has identified the singularity condition in structural optimization and furnished a strategy that alleviated the limitation and reduced substantially the computation time to reach the optimum solution. The CBMF and IFM tensorial approaches are robust formulations because both methods simultaneously emphasize the equilibrium equation and the compatibility condition. The vectorial displacement method emphasized the equilibrium, while the compatibility condition became the basis of the scalar stress-function approach. The tensorial approach can be transformed to obtain the vector and the scalar methods, but the reverse course cannot be followed. The tensorial approach outperformed other methods as expected. This paper introduces the new concepts in elasticity, in finite element analysis, and in design optimization with numerical illustrations.     

A hybrid displacement plate element for bending and stability analysis

A hybrid displacement plate element is derived from a modified energy functional based on a variational principle. The higher order curvature terms which generate high energy densities are filtered out by using independent interpolation of curvatures and moments. The inter-element compatibility requirements are relaxed by including element discontinuities in the variational formulation. The accuracy of the element is shown to be excellent in both plate bending and buckling analysis.     

Least-squares finite element formulation for shear-deformable shells

We present a least-squares based finite element formulation for the numerical analysis of shear-deformable shell structures. The variational problem is obtained by minimizing the least-squares functional, defined as the sum of the squares of the shell equilibrium equations residuals measured in suitable norms of Hilbert spaces. The use of least-squares principles leads to a variational unconstrained minimization problem where compatibility conditions between approximation spaces never arise, i.e. stability requirements such as inf–sup conditions never arise. The proposed formulation retains the generalized displacements and stress resultants as independent variables and, in view of the nature of the variational setting upon which the finite element model is built, allows for equal-order interpolation. A p-type hierarchical basis is used to construct the discrete finite element model based on the least-squares formulation. Exponentially fast decay of the least-squares functional is verified for increasing order of the modal expansions. Several well established benchmark problems are solved to demonstrate the predictive capability of the least-squares based shell elements. Shell elements based on this formulation are shown to be effective in both membrane- and bending-dominated states.     

Three-Dimensional Integral Mathematical Models of the Dynamics of Thick Elastic Plates

The complex of problems related to constructing three-dimensional field of elastic dynamic displacements of flat elastic plate with arbitrary boundary-edge surface is solved. It is assumed that boundary condition of the plate is given in terms of powerful perturbation factors or displacement vector function. Problems solutions are based on classical Lame equations of spatial theory of elasticity under root-mean-square consistency of the solution with corresponding external-dynamic observations of the plate. The accuracy of such consistency is estimated. The uniqueness conditions for the solution of the considered problems are formulated.     

A simple finite element model for elastic-plastic plate bending

A consistent finite element model for a plate is developed based on triangular elements and a piecewise-linear displacement field. The resulting generalized stresses are the average normal moments across the element interfaces. Equilibrium equations are derived for each node, and a simple constitutive equation is obtained for each generalized stress. Applications are made to some square plate problems.     

Comparative analysis of hybrid-trefftz stress and displacement elements

Summary The alternative stress and displacement models of the hybrid-Trefftz finite element formulation for the analysis of linear boundary value problems are derived in parallel form to emphasise the complementary nature of the fundamental concepts they develop from. In the stress model the stresses in the structural domain and the boundary displacements are independently approximated and inter-element stress continuity is enforced explicitly. Conversely, in the displacement model the displacements in the structural domain and the boundary tractions are independently approximated and inter-element linkage is enforced in the form of displacement continuity. In both models the approximation in the domain is constrained to satisfy locally all field equations, a feature typical of the Trefftz method. Duality is used to interpret physically the finite element equations, which are derived from the fundamental relations of elastostatics. Numerical tests are presented to compare the relative performance of the alternative stress and displacement models.     

A priori and a posteriori analysis for a locking-free low order quadrilateral hybrid finite element for Reissner–Mindlin plates

This paper proposes a quadrilateral finite element method of the lowest order for Reissner–Mindlin (R–M) plates on the basis of Hellinger–Reissner variational principle, which includes variables of displacements, shear stresses and bending moments. This method uses continuous piecewise isoparametric bilinear interpolation for the approximation of transverse displacement and rotation. The piecewise-independent shear stress/bending moment approximation is constructed by following a self-equilibrium criterion and a shear-stress-enhanced condition. A priori and reliable a posteriori error estimates are derived and shown to be uniform with respect to the plate thickness t. Numerical experiments confirm the theoretical results.     

Semi-numerical analysis of rectangular plates in bending

Bending analysis of rectangular plates is proposed using a combination of basic functions and finite difference energy technique. The basic function satisfying the boundary conditions along the two opposite edges of the plate is substituted in the integral expression for the total potential energy of the plate thereby reducing a two dimensional functional into an unidirectional one. The discretized form of the total potential energy of the plate expressed as a functional of the displacement field is obtained by replacing the derivatives by the corresponding difference quotient. Using the principle of minimum potential energy a set of algebraic equations is obtained which is subsequently solved for unknown displacements. Examples have been presented for a variety of isotropic and orthotropic plates of rectangular plan-form with different edge conditions and loadings. Results have been compared with other numerical results and available analytical solutions.     

A layered cylindrical quadrilateral shell element for nonlinear analysis of RC plate structures

This paper proposes a simple and accurate 4-node, 24-DOF layered quadrilateral flat plate/shell element, and an efficient nonlinear finite element analysis procedure, for the geometric and material nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete cylindrical shell and slab structures. The model combines a 4-node quadrilateral membrane element with drilling or rotational degrees of freedom, and a refined nonconforming 4-node 12-DOF quadrilateral plate bending element RPQ4, so that displacement compatibility along the interelement boundary is satisfied in an average sense. The element modelling consists of a layered system of fully bonded concrete and equivalent smeared steel reinforcement layers, and coupled membrane and bending effects are included. The modelling accounts for geometric nonlinearity with large displacements (but moderate rotations) as well as short-term material nonlinearity that incorporates tension, cracking and tension stiffening of the concrete, biaxial compression and compression yielding of the concrete and yielding of the steel. An updated Lagrangian approach is employed to solve the nonlinear finite element stiffness equations. Numerical examples of two reinforced concrete slabs and of a shallow reinforced concrete arch are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and scope of the layered element formulation.     

A finite difference variational method for bending of plates

The method of analysis for bending of plates presented in this paper combines a finite difference scheme for the plate strain components and a variational derivation of the equations of motion or equilibrium. The plate strain components are expressed in terms of discrete nodal displacements with the aid of the two dimensional Taylor expansion. Consequently, the virtual work, or the first variation of the strain energy, in an area element is found as a function of the nodal displacements. The derivation of the element forces or the element stiffness matrices and the assembly of the equations of motion or equilibrium follows closely the steps of the finite element method.     

Accurate evaluation of support reactions in finite element plate-bending analysis

Two simple approaches are presented which allow the distribution of support reactions to be predicted with as high degree of accuracy as the displacements. In the first approach the plate element assembly is completed with special one-dimensional elastic support elements. If their Winkler coefficient is suitably tuned, an accurate prediction of reactions is obtained as a part of the finite element analysis without unduly affecting the displacements and moments of the plate. In the second approach, a standard finite element calculation (without elastic support elements) is performed first and the distribution of reactions is then evaluated based on the known nodal forces at boundary nodes of the plate.

The two approaches are indiscriminately applicable with Kirchhoff and Reissner-Mindlin plate bending elements. Their practical efficiency is illustrated by numerical examples.     

Large finite elements method for the solution of problems in the theory of elasticity

In contrast to conventional finite element (CFE) formulations, the large finite element (LFE) concept is based on subdividing the region under consideration into a small number of LFE and using in each of them an appropriate parametric displacement field such that the governing differential problem equations are satisfied a priori (Trefftz's method). Where relevant, known local solutions in the vicinity of a stress concentration or stress singularity are used as a convenient expansion basis. The boundary conditions, as well as the continuity across the interfaces, are implicitly imposed by an appropriate variational functional.

The LFE concept attempts to combine the flexibility of the conventional FE method with the accuracy and high convergence rate of the Trefftz's method. The paper summarises the principal results obtained and shows that the practical efficiency of the LFE analysis is superior to a CFE solution, for both regular and singular problems.     

A coupled formulation of finite and boundary element methods in two-dimensional elasticity

A symmetric stiffness formulation based on a boundary element method is studied for the structural analysis of a shear wall, with or without cutouts. To satisfy compatibility requirements with finite beam elements and to avoid problems due to the eventual discontinuities of the traction vector, different interpolation schemes are adopted to approximate the boundary displacements and tractions. A set of boundary integral equations is obtained with the collocation points on the boundary, which are selected by the error minimization technique proposed in this paper, and the stiffness matrix is formulated with those equations and symmetric coupling techniques of finite and boundary element methods. The newly developed plane stress element can have the openings in its interior domain and can be easily linked with the finite beam/column elements.     

A finite element formulation for elastoplasticity based on a three-field variational equation

A three-field variational equation, which expresses the momentum balance equation, the plastic consistency condition, and the dilatational constitutive equation in a weak form, is proposed as a basis for finite element computations in hardening elastoplasticity. The finite element formulation includes algorithms for the integration of the elastoplastic rate constitutive equations which are similar to members of the “return mapping” family of algorithms employed in displacement formulations, except that the proposed algorithms are not required to explicitly satisfy the plastic consistency condition at the end of each time step. This condition is imposed globally by the inclusion of a variational equation that suitably constrains the solution. The plastic incompressibility constraint is also treated in an appropriate variational sense. Solution of the nonlinear finite element equations is obtained by use of Newton's method and details of the linearization of the variational equation are given. The formulation is developed for an associative von Mises plasticity model with general nonlinear isotropic and kinematic strain hardening. A number of numerical test examples are provided.     

A powerful finite element for plate bending

A powerful finite element formulation for plate bending has been developed using a modified version of the variational method of Trefftz. The notion of a boundary has been generalized to include the interelement boundary. All boundary conditions and the interelement continuity requirements (displacements, slopes, internal forces) have been obtained as natural conditions on the generalized boundary. Coordinate functions have been constructed to satisfy the nonhomogeneous Lagrange equation locally within the elements. Singularities due to isolated loads have been properly taken into account. For practical use a general quadrilateral element has been developed and its accuracy illustrated on several numerical examples. Work is in progress to extend the formulation to anisotropic and moderately thick plates and to vibration analysis.     

Mathematical Modeling of Three-Dimensional Fields of Transverse Dynamic Displacements of Thick Elastic Plates

We investigate the dynamics of an elastic plate of finite dimensions. The three-dimensional field of dynamic transverse displacements of the plate is constructed as a solution of two-dimensional differential equations parametrically dependent on the transverse coordinate. We consider the cases of discrete and continuous sets of the initial and boundary conditions that are satisfied by the mean square criterion. We describe the features of the solution of the problems in unbounded space–time domains.     

A simple displacement-based 3-node triangular element for linear and geometrically nonlinear analysis of laminated composite plates

A simple displacement-based 3-node, 18-degree-of-freedom flat triangular plate/shell element LDT18 is proposed in this paper for linear and geometrically nonlinear finite element analysis of thin and thick laminated composite plates. The presented element is based on the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT), and the total Lagrangian approach is employed to formulate the element for geometrically nonlinear analysis. The deflection and rotation functions of the element boundary are obtained from the Timoshenko’s laminated composite beam functions, hence convergence to the thin plate solution can be achieved theoretically and shear-locking problem is avoided naturally. The plane displacement interpolation functions of the Airman’s triangular membrane element with drilling degrees of freedom are taken as the in-plane displacements of the element. Numerical examples demonstrate that the present element is accurate and efficient for linear and geometrically nonlinear analysis of thin to moderately thick laminated composite plates.     

Multivariable spline element analysis for plate bending problems

A multivariable spline element analysis for a plate bending problem is presented. The bicubic spline functions are used to construct the bending moments and transverse displacements field. The spline element equations with multiple variables are derived based on Hellinger-Reissner principle. Some numerical results are given and compared with other methods.     

Analysis of the deflection of a circular plate with an annular piezoelectric actuator

A new analytical model for predicting the deflection of a circular plate with an annular piezoelectric actuator is presented. The plate and actuator are treated as a mechanically over-constrained system and a structural mechanics approach is applied to establish the relevant equations of geometrical compatibility and static equilibrium, assuming that the interaction forces between the actuator and plate are concentrated at the edges of the actuator annulus. These equations can be solved analytically or numerically to determine the interaction forces. Analytical expressions for plate deflection in terms of the interaction forces are then presented for three sets of plate boundary conditions. The analytical results are shown to be in good agreement with finite element simulations and provide an efficient alternative to finite element analysis for design and optimization studies.