The nsBETI method: an extension of the FETI method to non‐symmetrical BEM‐FEM coupled problems

The finite element tearing and interconnecting (FETI) method is recognized as an effective domain decomposition tool to achieve scalability in the solution of partitioned second‐order elasticity problems. In the boundary element tearing and interconnecting (BETI) method, a direct extension of the FETI algorithm to the BEM, the symmetric Galerkin BEM formulation, is used to obtain symmetric system matrices, making possible to apply the same FETI conjugate gradient solver. In this work, we propose a new BETI variant labeled nsBETI that allows to couple substructures modeled with the FEM and/or non‐symmetrical BEM formulations. The method connects non‐matching BEM and FEM subdomains using localized Lagrange multipliers and solves the associated non‐symmetrical flexibility equations with a Bi‐CGstab iterative algorithm. Scalability issues of nsBETI in BEM–BEM and combined BEM–FEM coupled problems are also investigated. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

非线性动力方程的精细时空有限元方法

根据Hamilton变作用定律构造了时空有限元矩阵;并根据传递矩阵原理,利用时间的一维性将时空有限元矩阵变换为时间方向的传递矩阵,将初值问题转化为一般矩阵相乘问题以方便求解。为了保证计算的稳定性,参考了精细积分的思想提出精细时空有限元方法,并给出线性问题在时间级数荷载作用下的计算式。数值分析结果证明该方法在线性问题分析上非常准确并可以推广到非线性动力方程的求解;只需将非线性解看作初始解和增量解的叠加,通过精细时空有限元线性求解方法计算增量解,逐步修正后即可得到非线性解。结果表明该方法是一个有效的求解非线性动力方程的方法。     

Scalable TFETI algorithm for the solution of multibody contact problems of elasticity

A Total FETI (TFETI)‐based domain decomposition algorithm with preconditioning by a natural coarse grid of the rigid body motions is adapted to the solution of multibody contact problems of elasticity in 2D and 3D and proved to be scalable. The algorithm finds an approximate solution at the cost asymptotically proportional to the number of variables provided the ratio of the decomposition parameter and the discretization parameter is bounded. The analysis is based on the classical results by Farhat, Mandel, and Roux on scalability of FETI with a natural coarse grid for linear problems and on our development of optimal quadratic programming algorithms for bound and equality constrained problems. The algorithm preserves parallel scalability of the classical FETI method. Both theoretical results and numerical experiments indicate a high efficiency of our algorithm. In addition, its performance is illustrated on a real‐world problem of analysis of the ball bearing. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Elasto-plastic strain analysis by a semi-analytical method

The aim of this paper is to develop a simulation model of large deformation problems following a semi-analytical method, incorporating the complications of geometric and material non-linearity in the formulation. The solution algorithm is based on the method of energy principle in structural mechanics, as applicable for conservative systems. A one-dimensional solid circular bar problem has been solved in post-elastic range assuming linear elastic, linear strain hardening material behaviour. Type of loading includes uniform uniaxial loading and gravity loading due to body force, whereas the geometry of the bar is considered to be non-uniformly taper. Results are validated successfully with benchmark solution and some new results have also been reported. The location of initiation of elasto-plastic front and its growth are found to be functions of geometry of the bar and loading conditions. Some indicative results have been presented for static and dynamic problems and the solution methodology developed for one-dimension has been extended to the elasto-plastic analysis of two-dimensional strain field problems of a rotating disk.     

Efficient non‐linear reanalysis of skeletal structures using combined approximations

Non‐linear reanalysis of large‐scale structures usually involves much computational effort, because the set of non‐linear equations must be solved repeatedly during the solution process. Various approximations that are often used for linear reanalysis are not sufficiently accurate for non‐linear problems. In this study, solution procedures based on the combined approximations approach are developed and compared in terms of efficiency and accuracy. Various path‐independent non‐linear analysis and reanalysis problems are considered, including material non‐linearity, geometric non‐linearity and buckling analysis. Numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the procedures presented. It is shown that in various cases accurate results can be achieved efficiently. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Novel orthogonal simulated annealing with fractional factorial analysis to solve global optimization problems

A classical simulated annealing (SA) method is a generic probabilistic and heuristic approach to solving global optimization problems. It uses a stochastic process based on probability, rather than a deterministic procedure, to seek the minima or maxima in the solution space. Although the classical SA method can find the optimal solution to most linear and nonlinear optimization problems, the algorithm always requires numerous numerical iterations to yield a good solution. The method also usually fails to achieve optimal solutions to large parameter optimization problems. This study incorporates well-known fractional factorial analysis, which involves several factorial experiments based on orthogonal tables to extract intelligently the best combination of factors, with the classical SA to enhance the numerical convergence and optimal solution. The novel combination of the classical SA and fractional factorial analysis is termed the orthogonal SA herein. This study also introduces a dynamic penalty function to handle constrained optimization problems. The performance of the proposed orthogonal SA method is evaluated by computing several representative global optimization problems such as multi-modal functions, noise-corrupted data fitting, nonlinear dynamic control, and large parameter optimization problems. The numerical results show that the proposed orthogonal SA method markedly outperforms the classical SA in solving global optimization problems with linear or nonlinear objective functions. Additionally, this study addressed two widely used nonlinear functions, proposed by Keane and Himmelblau to examine the effectiveness of the orthogonal SA method and the presented penalty function when applied to the constrained problems. Moreover, the orthogonal SA method is applied to two engineering optimization design problems, including the designs of a welded beam and a coil compression spring, to evaluate the capacity of the method for practical engineering design. The computational results show that the proposed orthogonal SA method is effective in determining the optimal design variables and the value of objective function.     

Parametric quadratic programming method for elastic contact fracture analysis

A solution procedure for elastic contact fracture mechanics has been proposed in this paper. The procedure is based on the quadratic programming and finite element method (FEM). In this paper, parametric quadratic programming method for two-dimensional contact mechanics analysis is applied to the crack problems involving the crack surfaces in frictional contact. Based on a linear complementary contact condition, the parametric variational principle and FEM, a linear complementary method is extended to analyze contact fracture mechanics. The near-tip fields are properly modeled in the analysis using special crack tip elements with quarter-point nodes. Stress intensity factor solutions are presented for some frictional contact fracture problems and are compared with known results where available.     

膜结构极小曲面找形的一种自适应有限元分析

找形分析是膜结构设计中的关键环节,但在数学上,膜结构的极小曲面找形分析是一个高度非线性问题,一般无法求得其解析解,因此数值方法成为重要工具。近年来,基于单元能量投影法（EEP法）的一维非线性有限元的自适应分析已经取得成功,基于EEP法的二维线性有限元自适应分析也被证实是有效、可靠的。在此基础上,该文提出一种基于EEP法的二维非线性有限元自适应方法,并成功将之应用于膜结构的找形分析。其主要思想是,通过将非线性问题用Newton法线性化,引入现有的二维线性问题的自适应求解技术,进而实现二维有限元自适应分析技术从线性到非线性的跨越,将非线性有限元的自适应分析求解从一维问题拓展到二维问题。该方法兼顾求解的精度和效率,对网格自适应地进行调整,最终得到优化的网格,其解答可按最大模度量逐点满足用户设定的误差限。该文综述介绍了这一进展,并给出数值算例用以表明该方法的可行性和可靠性。     

An evaluation of limited‐memory sparse linear solvers for thermo‐mechanical applications

We consider the performance of sparse linear solvers for problems that arise from thermo‐mechanical applications. Such problems have been solved using sparse direct schemes that enable robust solution at the expense of memory requirements that grow non‐linearly with the dimension of the coefficient matrix. In this paper, we consider a class of preconditioned iterative solvers as a limited‐memory alternative to direct solution schemes. However, such preconditioned iterative solvers typically exhibit complex trade‐offs between reliability and performance. We therefore characterize such trade‐offs for systems from thermo‐mechanical problems by considering several preconditioning schemes including multilevel methods and those based on sparse approximate inversion and incomplete matrix factorization. We provide an analysis of computational costs and memory requirements for model thermo‐mechanical problems, indicating that certain incomplete factorization schemes can achieve good performance. We also provide empirical evaluations that corroborate our analysis and indicate the relative effectiveness of different solution schemes. Our results indicate that our drop‐threshold incomplete Cholesky preconditioning is more robust, efficient and flexible than other popular preconditioning schemes. In addition, we propose preconditioner reuse to amortize preconditioner construction cost over a sequence of linear systems that arise from non‐linear solutions in a plastic regime. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tuned vibration control of overhead line conductors

Linear and non‐linear theoretical and numerical analysis of ultimate response of overhead line conductors is treated in present paper. Interactive linear and non‐linear conditions in ultimate response are considered. Numerical solution of non‐linear problems appearing is made using the updated Lagrangian formulation of motion. Each step of the iteration approaches the solution of linear problem and the feasibility of the parallel processing FETM technique with adaptive mesh refinement and substructuring for non‐linear ultimate wave propagation and ultimate transient dynamic analysis is established. Some numerical results demonstrating current applicabilities and efficiency of procedures suggested are submitted. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sequentially linear analysis of fracture under non-proportional loading

Sequentially linear analysis avoids convergence problems typical of non-linear finite element analysis by directly specifying a damage increment instead of a load or displacement increment. A series of linear analyses is used to model highly non-linear behavior without an iterative solution algorithm. The primary contribution herein is the extension of sequentially linear analysis to non-proportional loading, through an algorithm which selects the critical integration point to which a damage increment is applied. An orthotropic cracking model is presented which parallels the traditional fixed smeared crack concept. The non-proportional modeling framework is demonstrated through simulation of experimental results and settlement damage to a masonry façade.     

A general boundary element method approach to the solution of three-dimensional frictionless contact problems

A direct boundary element method is presented for three-dimensional stress analysis of frictionless contact problems. The isoparametric formulation of the boundary element method is implemented for the general case of contact in the absence of friction, which is limited to linear elastic homogeneous and isotropic materials. An iterative procedure is employed to determine the correct size of the contact zone by finding a boundary solution compatible with the contact condition. The applicability of the procedure is tested by application to three problems of advancing and conforming contact. The computed results are compared with numerical and analytical solutions where possible.     

一维变分不等式问题的自适应有限元分析新探

结构工程中的弹性薄膜接触和杆件弹塑性扭转等问题是典型的变分不等式问题,对其高效精确求解,特别是满足给定精度要求下的自适应求解,是挑战性课题。该文作者新近成功实现了一维变分不等式问题的自适应有限元分析,该文对此进展作一报道。对于变分不等式的有限元求解,该文提出区域二分法和C检验技术,极大提升了松弛迭代的收敛速度,一般4次~5次线性解即可得到收敛的有限元解答,进而采用作者提出的EEP(单元能量投影)超收敛公式计算超收敛解答,用其检验误差并指导网格细分,逐步得到堪称为数值精确解的解答,亦即得到按照最大模度量逐点满足精度要求的解答。该文给出的数值算例表明所提出的算法具有高效、可靠、精确的优良特性。     

修正一类非单调线性互补问题的宽邻域路径跟踪算法

通过对非单调线性互补问题所提出的一种内点算法进行分析,指出了算法中存在的关键性错误,在此基础上给出了求解一类非单调线性互补问题的宽邻域路径跟踪算法,给出了作为复杂性分析基础的两个重要关系式的正确表达式,并克服了由此带来的在收敛性分析中的一系列困难,成功地将线性规划问题的宽邻域内点算法,推广到非单调线性互补问题,讨论了算法的迭代复杂性。特别对于单调线性互补问题,得到了目前宽邻域内点算法迭代复杂性的最好结果。     

加权非线性随机系数模型异方差性的Score检验

在回归分析中，随机误差的方差齐性的假设往往有助于问题的解决，但方差齐性假设并不总是正确的。在线性和非线性回归中关于异方差的诊断问题已有许多讨论，在韦博成（1995）讨论的加权非线性回归模型的基础上，用随机系数的方法，讨论加权线性随机系统模型中的异方差检验问题，得到了方差齐性检验的Score统计量。     

A fast implementation of the FETI‐DP method: FETI‐DP‐RBS‐LNA and applications on large scale problems with localized non‐linearities

As parallel and distributed computing gradually becomes the computing standard for large scale problems, the domain decomposition method (DD) has received growing attention since it provides a natural basis for splitting a large problem into many small problems, which can be submitted to individual computing nodes and processed in a parallel fashion. This approach not only provides a method to solve large scale problems that are not solvable on a single computer by using direct sparse solvers but also gives a flexible solution to deal with large scale problems with localized non‐linearities. When some parts of the structure are modified, only the corresponding subdomains and the interface equation that connects all the subdomains need to be recomputed. In this paper, the dual–primal finite element tearing and interconnecting method (FETI‐DP) is carefully investigated, and a reduced back‐substitution (RBS) algorithm is proposed to accelerate the time‐consuming preconditioned conjugate gradient (PCG) iterations involved in the interface problems. Linear–non‐linear analysis (LNA) is also adopted for large scale problems with localized non‐linearities based on subdomain linear–non‐linear identification criteria. This combined approach is named as the FETI‐DP‐RBS‐LNA algorithm and demonstrated on the mechanical analyses of a welding problem. Serial CPU costs of this algorithm are measured at each solution stage and compared with that from the IBM Watson direct sparse solver and the FETI‐DP method. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed computational approach for simulating welding problems, which is representative of a large class of three‐dimensional large scale problems with localized non‐linearities. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A variational formulation in fracture mechanics

A variational approach to linear elasticity problems is considered. The family of variational principles is proposed based on the linear theory of elasticity and the method of integrodifferential relations. The idea of this approach is that the constitutive relation is specified by an integral equality instead of the local Hooke’s law and the modified boundary value problem is reduced to the minimization of a nonnegative functional over all admissible displacements and equilibrium stresses. The conditions of decomposition on two separated problems with respect to displacements and stresses are found for the variational problems formulated and the relation between the approach under consideration and the minimum principles for potential and complementary energies is shown. The effective local and integral criteria of solution quality are proposed. A numerical algorithm based on the piecewise polynomial approximations of displacement and stress fields over an arbitrary domain triangulation are worked out to obtained numerical solutions and estimate their convergence rates. Numerical results for 2D linear elasticity problems with cracks are presented and discussed.     

AN OPTIMIZATION METHOD FOR THE DESIGN OF LARGE,HIGHLY CONSTRAINED COMPLEX SYSTEMS

A practical and efficient optimization method for the rational design of large, highly constrained complex systems is presented. The design of such systems is iterative and requires the repeated formulation and solution of an analysis model, followed by the formulation and solution of a redesign model. The latter constitutes an optimization problem. The versatility and efficiency of the method for solving the optimization problem is of fundamental importance for a successful implementation of any rational design procedure.

In this paper, a method is presented for solving optimization problems formulated in terms of continuous design variables. The objective function may be linear or non-linear, single or multiple. The constraints may be any mix of linear or non-linear functions, and these may be any mix of inequalities and equalities. These features permit the solution of a wide spectrum of optimization problems, ranging from the standard linear and non-linear problems to a non-linear problem with multiple objective functions (goal programming). The algorithm for implementing the method is presented in sufficient detail so that a computer program, in any computing language, can be written.     

An augmented Lagrangian algorithm for contact mechanics based on linear regression

The penalty method for the solution of contact problems yields an approximate satisfaction of the contact constraints. Augmentation schemes, which can be adopted to improve the solution, either include the contact forces as additional unknowns or are strongly affected by the penalty parameter and display a poor convergence rate. In a previous investigation, an unconventional augmentation scheme was proposed, on the basis of estimating the ‘exact’ values of the contact forces through linear interpolation of a database extracted by the previous converged states. An enhanced version of this method is proposed herein. With respect to the original method, the enhanced one eliminates some numerical problems and improves the regularity of the convergence path by carrying out the estimate through linear regression methods. The resulting convergence rate is superlinear, and the method is quite insensitive to the penalty parameter. The main underlying concept is that, within the iterative solution of a non‐linear problem, linear regression techniques may be used as a tool to ‘shoot’ faster to the final solution, on the basis of a set of intermediate data. The generality of this concept makes it potentially applicable to contact problems in more general settings, as well as to other categories of non‐linear problems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An advanced boundary integral equation method for three-dimensional thermoelasticity

The features of an advanced numerical solution capability for boundary value problems of linear, homogeneous, isotropic, steady-state thermoelasticity theory are outlined. The influence on the stress field of thermal gradient, or comparable mechanical body force, is shown to depend on surface integrals only. Hence discretization for numerical purposes is confined to body surfaces. Several problems are solved, and verification of numerical procedures is obtained by comparison with accepted results from the literature.