A Posteriori Estimates for a Natural Neumann–Neumann Domain Decomposition Algorithm on a Unilateral Contact Problem

In this paper we present an error estimator for unilateral contact problems solved by a Neumann–Neumann Domain Decomposition algorithm. This error estimator takes into account both the spatial error due to the finite element discretization and the algebraic error due to the domain decomposition algorithm. To differentiate specifically the contribution of these two error sources to the global error, two quantities are introduced: a discretization error indicator and an algebraic error indicator. The effectivity indices and the convergence of both the global error estimator and the error indicators are shown on several examples.     

A Posteriori Error Estimates for Parabolic Variational Inequalities

We study a posteriori error estimates in the energy norm for some parabolic obstacle problems discretized with a Euler implicit time scheme combined with a finite element spatial approximation. We discuss the reliability and efficiency of the error indicators, as well as their localization properties. Apart from the obstacle resolution, the error indicators vanish in the so-called full contact set. The case when the obstacle is piecewise affine is studied before the general case. Numerical examples are given.     

Adaptive finite element heterogeneous multiscale method for homogenization problems

In this paper we present an a posteriori error analysis for elliptic homogenization problems discretized by the finite element heterogeneous multiscale method. Unlike standard finite element methods, our discretization scheme relies on macro- and microfinite elements. The desired macroscopic solution is obtained by a suitable averaging procedure based on microscopic data. As the macroscopic data (such as the macroscopic diffusion tensor) are not available beforehand, appropriate error indicators have to be defined for designing adaptive methods. We show that such indicators based only on the available macro- and microsolutions (used to compute the actual macrosolution) can be defined, allowing for a macroscopic mesh refinement strategy which is both reliable and efficient. The corresponding a posteriori estimates for the upper and lower bound are derived in the energy norm. In the case of a uniformly oscillating tensor, we recover the standard residual-based a posteriori error estimate for the finite element method applied to the homogenized problem. Numerical experiments confirm the efficiency and reliability of the adaptive multiscale method.     

Mesh Quality: A Function of Geometry, Error Estimates or Both?

The issue of mesh quality for unstructured triangular and tetrahedral meshes is considered. The theoretical background to finite element methods is used to understand the basis of present-day geometrical mesh quality indicators. A survey of more recent research in the development of finite element methods describes work on anisotropic meshing algorithms, and on providing good error estimates that reveal the relationship between the error and both the mesh and the solution gradients. The reality of solving complex three-dimensional problems is that such indicators are presently not available for many problems of interest. A simple tetrahedral mesh quality measure using both geometrical and solution information is described. Some of the issues in mesh quality for unstructured tetrahedral meshes are illustrated by means of two simple examples.     

On the adaptive finite element method of steady-state rolling contact for hyperelasticity in finite deformations

In this paper, we present an adaptive finite element method for steady-state rolling contact in finite deformations along with a residual based a posteriori error estimator for rolling contact problem with Coulomb friction. A general formulation of rolling contact geometry is derived from the point of view of differential geometry. Solvability conditions for the rolling contact problems are discussed. We use Newton's method to solve variational equations derived from a penalty regularization of the finite element approximation of the rolling contact problem. We provide a numerical example to illustrate the method.     

The reliability of solutions in contact problems

The accuracy of solutions of contact problems, using the penalty method in conjunction with finite elements slide-line contact, is investigated. Two kinds of errors are defined: displacement error and energy error. Also considered are the errors' non-dimensional forms. Four examples solved numerically are presented: a rigid punch problem, an elastic punch problem, the Hertz problem of two cylinders and a high pressure flange with friction. Displacement and energy errors are analyzed. Guidelines to minimize the errors in contact problems in general, using slide-line contact, are presented.     

The soft way method and the velocity formulation

In this paper the new approach to dynamic contact problems is described. The velocity formulation was assumed and a new time integration scheme was elaborated. The space-time finite element method used in derivation enables control of the accuracy (order of the error) and stability. Methods for the solution of contact problems were discussed. A discretized approach, prepared for large displacements and large rotations, enabled real engineering problems to be solved in a relatively short time.     

An a Posteriori Error Estimator for Two-Body Contact Problems on Non-Matching Meshes

A posteriori error estimates for two-body contact problems are established. The discretization is based on mortar finite elements with dual Lagrange multipliers. To define locally the error estimator, Arnold–Winther elements for the stress and equilibrated fluxes for the surface traction are used. Using the Lagrange multiplier on the contact zone as Neumann boundary conditions, equilibrated fluxes can be locally computed. In terms of these fluxes, we define on each element a symmetric and globally H(div)-conforming approximation for the stress. Upper and lower bounds for the discretization error in the energy norm are provided. In contrast to many other approaches, the constant in the upper bound is, up to higher order terms, equal to one. Numerical examples illustrate the reliability and efficiency of the estimator. This work was supported in part by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SFB 404, B8.     

A posteriori error analysis of nonconforming finite-element discretization for the Stokes equations

In this paper, we extend the unifying theory for a posteriori error analysis of the nonconforming finite-element methods to the Stokes problems. We present explicit residual-based computable error indicators, we prove its reliability and efficiency based on two assumptions concerning both the weak continuity and the weak orthogonality of the nonconforming finite-element spaces, respectively, and we apply the unified framework to various nonconforming finite elements from the literature.     

An adaptive finite element discretisation¶for a simplified Signorini problem

Adaptive mesh design based on a posteriori error control is studied for finite element discretisations for variational problems of Signorini type. The techniques to derive residual based error estimators developed, e.g., in ([2, 10, 20]) are extended to variational inequalities employing a suitable adaptation of the duality argument [17]. By use of this variational argument weighted a posteriori estimates for controlling arbitrary functionals of the error are derived here for model situations for contact problems. All arguments are based on Hilbert space methods and can be carried over to the more general situation of linear elasticity. Numerical examples demonstrate that this approach leads to effective strategies for designing economical meshes and to bounds for the error which are useful in practice. Received: May 1999 / Accepted: October 1999     

Adaptive meshing for two-dimensional thermoelastic problems using Hermite boundary elements

In the present work, error indicators for the potential and elastostatic problems are used in a combined fashion to implement an adaptive meshing scheme for the solution of two-dimensional steady-state thermoelastic problems using the Boundary Element Method. These error indicators exploit in their formulation the possibility of generating two different numerical solutions from just one analysis using Hermite elements. The first solution is the standard one obtained from an analysis using Hermite elements. The second is a “reduced” solution obtained representing the field variables inside an element using some of the degrees of freedom of the Hermite element together with Lagrangian shape functions. The basic idea behind the computation of the error indicator is to compare these two solutions, on an element by element basis, to obtain an estimate of the magnitude of the error in the numerical solution corresponding to the Hermite elements. In this sense, it is assumed that the bigger the difference between these two solutions, the bigger the error in the original solution with Hermite elements. Since the thermoelastic problem in its uncoupled fashion is considered, the former approach is applied to both problems, heat conduction and thermoelastic. Since both numerical solutions for each one of these problems are obtained from just one analysis, the computational cost of the proposed error indicators is very low.     

Adaptive multigrid for finite element computations in plasticity

The solution of the system of equilibrium equations is the most time-consuming part in large-scale finite element computations of plasticity problems. The development of efficient solution methods are therefore of utmost importance to the field of computational plasticity. Traditionally, direct solvers have most frequently been used. However, recent developments of iterative solvers and preconditioners may impose a change. In particular, preconditioning by the multigrid technique is especially favorable in FE applications.The multigrid preconditioner uses a number of nested grid levels to improve the convergence of the iterative solver. Prolongation of fine-grid residual forces is done to coarser grids and computed corrections are interpolated to the fine grid such that the fine-grid solution successively is improved. By this technique, large 3D problems, invincible for solvers based on direct methods, can be solved in acceptable time at low memory requirements. By means of a posteriori error estimates the computational grid could successively be refined (adapted) until the solution fulfils a predefined accuracy level. In contrast to procedures where the preceding grids are erased, the previously generated grids are used in the multigrid algorithm to speed up the solution process.The paper presents results using the adaptive multigrid procedure to plasticity problems. In particular, different error indicators are tested.     

On numerical approximation of a variational–hemivariational inequality modeling contact problems for locking materials

This paper is devoted to numerical analysis of a new class of elliptic variational–hemivariational inequalities in the study of a family of contact problems for elastic ideally locking materials. The contact is described by the Signorini unilateral contact condition and the friction is modeled by a nonmonotone multivalued subdifferential relation allowing slip dependence. The problem involves a nonlinear elasticity operator, the subdifferential of the indicator function of a convex set for the locking constraints and a nonconvex locally Lipschitz friction potential. Solution existence and uniqueness result on the inequality can be found in Migórski and Ogorzaly (2017) . In this paper, we introduce and analyze a finite element method to solve the variational–hemivariational inequality. We derive a Céa type inequality that serves as a starting point of error estimation. Numerical results are reported, showing the performance of the numerical method.     

Adaptive FE-procedures in shape optimization

In structural optimization the quality of the optimization result strongly depends on the reliability of the underlying structural analysis. This comprises the quality and range of the mechanical model, e.g. linear elastic or geometrically and materially nonlinear, as well as the accuracy of the numerical model, e.g. the discretization error of the FE-model. The latter aspect is addressed in the present contribution. In order to guarantee the quality of the numerical results the discretization error of the finite element solution is controlled and the finite element discretization is adaptively refined during the optimization process. Conventionally, so-called global error estimates are applied in structural optimization which estimate the error of the total strain energy. In the present paper local error estimates are introduced in shape optimization which allow to control directly the discretization error of local optimization criteria. In general, the adaptive refinement of the finite element discretization by remeshing affects the convergence of the optimization process if a gradient-based optimization algorithm is applied. In order to reduce this effect the sensitivity of the discretization error must also be restricted. Suitable refinement indicators are developed for globally and locally adaptive procedures. Finally, the potential of two techniques, which may improve the numerical efficiency of adaptive FE-procedures within the optimization process, is studied. The proposed methods and procedures are verified by 2-D shape optimization examples. Received June 3, 1999     

Surface Smoothing Procedures in Computational Contact Mechanics

This work addresses the problems arising in the finite element simulation of contact problems undergoing large deformation. The frictional contact problem is formulated in the continuum framework, introducing the interface laws for the normal and tangential stress components in the contact area. The variational formulation is presented, considering different methods to enforce the contact constraints. The spatial discretization within the finite element method is applied, as well as the temporal discretization required to solve the three sources of nonlinearities: geometric, material and frictional contact. The discretization of contact surfaces is discussed in detail, including different surface smoothing procedures. This numerical strategy allows to solve the difficulties associated with the discontinuities in the contact surface geometry introduced by finite element discretization, which leads to nonphysical oscillations of the contact force for large sliding problems. The geometrical accuracy of different interpolation methods is evaluated, paying particular attention to the Nagata patch interpolation recently proposed. In this framework, the Node-to-Nagata contact elements are developed using the augmented Lagrangian method to regularize the variational frictional contact problem. The techniques used to search for contact in case of large deformations are discussed, including self-contact phenomena. Several numerical examples are presented, comprising both the contact between deformable and rigid obstacles and the contact between deformable bodies. The results show that the accuracy and robustness of the numerical simulations is improved when the contact surface is smoothed with Nagata patches.     

A priori error estimates for the finite element discretization of optimal distributed control problems governed by the biharmonic operator

In this article a priori error estimates are derived for the finite element discretization of optimal distributed control problems governed by the biharmonic operator. The state equation is discretized in primal mixed form using continuous piecewise biquadratic finite elements, while piecewise constant approximations are used for the control. The error estimates derived for the state variable as well as that for the control are order-optimal on general unstructured meshes. However, on uniform meshes not all error estimates are optimal due to the low-order control approximation. All theoretical results are confirmed by numerical tests.     

Error estimation and mesh adaptation for Signorini–Coulomb problems using E-FEM

An error estimator for modeling contact and friction problems is presented in this paper. This estimator is obtained by solving two contact with friction problems: the first problem is formulated, as classically, in terms of displacement fields, and the second one is obtained using a stress field formulation. With this approach, it is necessary to develop a stress (equilibrium) finite element method such as that presented in previous studies. This estimator is similar to that discussed in [11]. The efficiency of the error estimator is tested by applying it to some examples. Due to the non-associativity of the friction problem, the present estimator is not strictly a majorant of the error. However, in the case of the examples studied here, the value of the estimator was approximately that of a given reference error. A refinement strategy was therefore developed. This strategy is very robust, even in the presence of stress singularities. With a sufficiently fine initial mesh, this method was found to be very efficient.     

Constitutive error estimator for the control of contact problems involving friction

In this paper, we propose an error estimator for unilateral contact problems involving friction. The use of a bipotential to formulate the constitutive relation on the contact zone leads to a very straightforward construction of an error in constitutive relation estimator for this kind of problem. Its implementation is described in detail for the case of two elastic bodies and two 2D examples are presented. An error indicator which enables one to estimate the quality of the numerical solution of the non-linear problem is proposed.     

Adaptive mixed finite element method for Reissner–Mindlin plate

Mixed finite element methods are designed to overcome shear locking phenomena observed in the numerical treatment of Reissner–Mindlin plate models. Automatic adaptive mesh-refining algorithms are an important tool to improve the approximation behavior of the finite element discretization. In this paper, a reliable and robust residual-based a posteriori error estimate is derived, which evaluates a t-depending residual norm based on results in [D. Arnold, R. Falk, R. Winther, Math. Modell. Numer. Anal. 31 (1997) 517–557]. The localized error indicators suggest an adaptive algorithm for automatic mesh refinement. Numerical examples prove that the new scheme is efficient.