An algorithm for multipoint constraints in finite element analysis

A method of introducing general constraint equations into finite element matrix equations is described. The characteristics of the method are that it requires no reordering or condensation of the equations, no large matrix operations, and no increase in the number of unknowns. The method is suitable for application in minicomputer implementations of finite element analysis unless a large number of constraints is to be applied.     

The finite element method in problems of nonlinear optics

The Possibility of the application of the finite element method to some problems of nonlinear optics is investigated in this paper. The self-action of a light beam in a nonlinear medium is considered. The general approach to the cretion of conservative computation schemes is presented, based on varitional principles. Definite schemes, which are applicable for the problem of thermal self-action, are described in detail both in the case of cylindrical and or rectangular co-ordinates. The accuracy and convergence of the models are analysed. The results of computation of the self-action problems in motionless and moving media are presented.     

Linear equality constraints in finite element approximation

The typical numerical problem associated with finite element approximations is a quadratic programming problem with linear equality constraints. When nodal variables are employed, the coefficient matrix of the constraint equations, [ A ], acquires a block-diagonal structure. The transformation from polynomial coefficients to nodal variables involves finding a basis for [ A ] and computing its inverse. Simultaneous satisfaction of completeness and C¹ (or higher) continuity requirements establishes linear relationships among the nodal variables and precludes inversion of the basis by exclusively element-level operations. Linear dependencies among the constraint equations and among the nodal variables can be evaluated by the simplex method. The computational procedure is outlined.     

Consideration of constraints within the finite element method by means of matrix operators

The following paper describes the incorporation of different constraints into a finite element system by means of matrix operators in conjunction with consecutive corresponding transformations. Instead of increasing the number of equations-as e.g. the Lagrange Multiplier Method^{10, 14} does-the Matrix Operator Method yields a set of reduced magnitude which can be solved more efficiently. The method will be developed for two classes of constraints: (i) stiff coupling of previously known subdomains and (ii) contact problem between two bodies. The assembly rules to obtain the system matrices are deduced. An application is given by a three-dimensional example of structural analysis in mechanical engineering.     

Lagrange constraints for transient finite element surface contact

A new approach to enforce surface contact conditions in transient non-linear finite element problems is developed in this paper. The method is based on the Lagrange multiplier concept and is compatible with explicit time integration operators. Compatibility with explicit operators is established by referencing Lagrange multipliers one time increment ahead of associated surface contact displacement constraints. However, the method is not purely explicit because a coupled system of equations must be solved to obtain the Lagrange multipliers. An important development herein is the formulation of a highly efficient method to solve the Lagrange multiplier equations. The equation solving strategy is a modified Gauss-Seidel method in which non-linear surface contact force conditions are enforced during iteration. The new surface contact method presented has two significant advantages over the widely accepted penalty function method: surface contact conditions are satisfied more precisely, and the method does not adversely affect the numerical stability of explicit integration. Transient finite element analysis results are presented for problems involving impact and sliding with friction. A brief review of the classical Lagrange multiplier method with implicit integration is also included.     

Eigenvalue convergence in the finite element method

In static force-deflection applications of the finite element method, convergence rates for the p-version, in which the polynomial degree of element interpolation functions is increased while the mesh remains fixed, are superior to those for the h-version, in which the element degree remains fixed while the mesh is refined so that element size approaches zero. In structural dynamics applications, one does not seek to approximate a single solution, as in static applications, but seeks estimates for a number of the lower system eigenvalues. This paper identifies factors responsible for poorer accuracy in higher computed eigenvalues. In addition, it explains why the p-version of the finite element method can be expected to exhibit significantly better eigenvalue convergence than the h-version. Numerical examples demonstrate the superiority of the p-version over the h-version. They also show the effects of various mechanisms limiting eigenvalue convergence.     

Continuous elements in the finite element method

The discretization of the media at all spatial co-ordinates but one is presented here. This partial discretization leads to continuous finite elements as opposed to fully discrete ones and the problem resolves, for the cases presented here, into a set of linear differential equations rather than algebraic equations. The general problem of first derivative functionals in elastostatics is considered and it is shown, in general, how the continuous finite elements required for the solution may be obtained. Plane states, axisymmetric and three-dimensional continuous elements are obtained to illustrate application to particular cases. Different methods of solution for the set of differential equations are discussed and it is shown that several existing and widely used finite element related techniques are particular cases of this local partial discretization. Three numerical examples are solved to demonstrate the good comparison obtained between the numerical and the exact solutions. The semi-infinite examples included also illustrate the treatment of these types of problems without the use of fictitious boundaries.     

The solution of nonlinear finite element equations

An algorithm is described which appears to give an efficient solution of nonlinear finite element equations. It is a quisi-Nowton method, and we compare it with some of the alternatives. Initial tests of its application to both material and geometric nonlinearities are discussed.     

A fixed grid finite element method for nonlinear diffusion problems with moving boundaries

A comprehensive formulation for a class of diffusion problems with non-linear conductivities is derived by unifying and combining the freezing index and Kirchhoff transformation concepts. The transformed equations have appropriate continuity characteristics across the unknown moving boundary. The applicability of the fixed grid algorithm for the total solution domain is, accordingly, demonstrated. Associated finite element formulations and solution procedures for the transformed equations are detailed. In addition, selected numerical results for single and two phase Stefan type problems as well as fluid flow in a prescribed cavity are presented for solution verification and illustration.     

A localized mixed‐hybrid method for imposing interfacial constraints in the extended finite element method (XFEM)

The paper proposes an approach for the imposition of constraints along moving or fixed immersed interfaces in the context of the extended finite element method. An enriched approximation space enables consistent representation of strong and weak discontinuities in the solution fields along arbitrarily‐shaped material interfaces using an unfitted background mesh. The use of Lagrange multipliers or penalty methods is circumvented by a localized mixed hybrid formulation of the model equations. In a defined region in the vicinity of the interface, the original problem is re‐stated in its auxiliary formulation. The availability of the auxiliary variable enables the consideration of a variety of interface constraints in the weak form. The contribution discusses the weak imposition of Dirichlet‐ and Neumann‐type interface conditions as well as continuity requirements not fulfilled a priori by the enriched approximation. The properties of the proposed approach applied to two‐dimensional linear scalar‐ and vector‐valued elliptic problems are investigated by studying the convergence behavior. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An adaptive singular finite element in nonlinear fracture mechanics

In the case of nonlinear fracture mechanics the type of singularity induced by the crack tip is commonly not known. This results in a poor approximation of the near crack tip fields in a finite element setting and induces so called spurious—or residual—discrete material forces in the vicinity of the crack tip. Thus the numerical calculation of the crack driving material force in nonlinear fracture is often not that precise as in linear elasticity where we can use special crack tip elements and/or path independency. To overcome this problem we propose an adaptive singular element, which adapts automatically to the type of singularity. The adaption is based on an optimisation procedure using a variational principle.     

Constraint relationships in linear and nonlinear finite element analyses

Finite element analysis of engineering structures commonly requires the use of inter-nodal displacement constraints. Current algorithms for this facility—elimination, Lagrange multipliers and penalty function methods—are briefly reviewed. An alternative approach is proposed which avoids some of the problems of these methods. This technique uses solution of the unconstrained stiffness equation with an extended number of right-hand sides. The resulting solutions are then combined to satisfy the constraints. This method has application in the synthesis of sub-structures with incompatible boundary variables. It is particularly efficient when the constraint affects many variables but the kinematics of the constraint can be expressed in terms of few independent variables, e.g. rigid body motion of part of the structure. In common with the Lagrange method, it produces data for use in a nonlinear analysis with constraints. The formulation of ‘rigid body’ constraints in geometric nonlinearity is detailed and demonstrated.     

Dynamical micromagnetics by the finite element method

We developed a new numerical procedure to study dynamical behavior in micromagnetic systems. This procedure solves the damped Gilbert equation for a continuous magnetic medium, including all interactions in standard micromagnetic theory in three-dimensional regions of arbitrary geometry and physical properties. The magnetization is linearly interpolated in each tetrahedral element in a finite element mesh from its value on the nodes, and the Galerkin method is used to discretize the dynamic equation. We compute the demagnetizing field by solution of Poisson's equation and treat the external region by means of an asymptotic boundary condition. The procedure is implemented in the general purpose dynamical micromagnetic code (GDM). GDM uses a backward differential formula to solve the stiff ordinary differential equations system and the generalized minimum residual method with an incomplete Cholesky conjugate gradient preconditioner to solve the linear equations. GDM is fully parallelized using MPI and runs on massively parallel processor supercomputers, clusters of workstations, and single processor computers. We have successfully applied GDM to studies of the switching processes in isolated prolate ellipsoidal particles and in a system of multiple particles     

A finite element method for stability problems in finite elasticity

In this paper a finite element method is developed to treat stability problems in finite elasticity. For this purpose the constitutive equations are formulated in principal stretches which allows a general representation of the derivatives of the strain energy function with respect to the principal stretches. These results can then be used to derive an efficient numerical scheme for the computation of singular points.     

A new finite element method in micromagnetics

A finite-element method is presented in which the magnetization is linearly interpolated within each tetrahedral element and the magnetostatic interaction is accurately obtained by integration. The equilibrium magnetizations at the nodal points can be found by minimizing the total energy of the system. Two different minimization schemes are compared     

The finite element method in refrigeration engineering

The finite element method, first developed to attack stress problems, is now extensively used for the solution of linear and nonlinear heat-conduction problems in refrigeration engineering. Illustrative examples and current research trends are presented in the text with reference to refrigeration engineering applications.     

Solidification in castings by finite element method

Abstract

A self-contained CAD (computer aided design) system capable of analyzing foundry casting processes in sand and gravity dies is being developed at the University College of Swansea. The work involves preprocessing, postprocessing, and a finite element code with some novel numerical techniques. The solidification of castings is a heat transfer problem involving phase change, which may occur in a narrow range of temperatures. To simulate the phenomena accurately, very fine meshes must be used and the solution of such a system becomes very expensive. In the Swansea system, an adaptive remeshing technique is introduced, which tracks the moving front of the phase change zone. At every time step, a scan is made to determine the points at which phase change is occurring, so that the remeshing may be done to produce a refined mesh at such points. The computing process is then continued. Examples have illustrated that the method is efficient and accurate. In addition, an interfacial heat transfer model is introduced to improve the simulation of the casting process. Advective heat transfer in the liquid is also modelled.

MST/1041     

One-dimensional finite element method in hydrodynamic stability

The stability of plane Poiseuille flow and circular Couette flow are examined with respect to linear azimuthally periodic disturbances by the finite element method. In the case of Couette motion, solutions are obtained for a narrow gap, a wide gap and a dilute polymer solution with an elongational viscosity in the narrow gap limit when both cylinders rotate at almost equal speed in the same direction. Results are in good agreement with previous calculations by other numerical methods.