A parallel finite element procedure for contact-impact problems

An efficient parallel finite element procedure for contact-impact problems is presented within the framework of explicit finite element analysis with thepenalty method. The procedure concerned includes a parallel Belytschko-Lin-Tsay shell element generation algorithm and a parallel contact-impact algorithm based on the master-slave slideline algorithm. An element-wise domain decomposition strategy and a communication minimization strategy are featured to achieve almost perfect load balancing among processors and to show scalability of the parallel performance. Throughout this work, a prototype code, named GT-PARADYN, is developed on the IBM SP2 to implement the procedure presented, under message-passing paradigm. Some examples are provided to demonstrate the timing results of the algorithms, discussing the accuracy and efficiency of the code.     

A finite element approach for multiphase fluid flow in porous media

The main scope of this work is to carry out a mathematical framework and its corresponding finite element (FE) discretization for the partially saturated soil consolidation modelling in presence of an immiscible pollutant. A multiphase system with the interstitial voids in the grain matrix filled with water (liquid phase), water vapour and dry air (gas phase) and with pollutant substances, is assumed. The mathematical model addressed in this work was developed in the framework of mixture theory considering the pollutant saturation-suction coupling effects. The ensuing mathematical model involves equations of momentum balance, energy balance and mass balance of the whole multiphase system. Encouraging outcomes were achieved in several different examples.     

A finite element overlapping scheme for turbomachinery flows on parallel platforms

Two- and three-dimensional turbomachinery flows in stationary and rotating compressor cascades are studied by using a one-level inexact explicit Schwarz method, and a cubic eddy viscosity turbulence closure. The message passing paradigm is used for the parallel implementation of the domain decomposition algorithm, allowing the solver portability on different parallel platforms. A convergence accelerator is proposed, based on a condensed cycle structure that merges the additive Schwarz iterations with the fixed point non-linear ones. The use of a stable finite element formulation on higher-order elements Q2-Q1 is addressed as a mean for retaining non-oscillatory and accurate solutions. Furthermore, the elementwise quadratic approximation is used to enable the exact implementation of higher-order integrals arising in the anisotropic turbulence closure adopted. Numerical campaigns are carried out on IBM SP2 and SP3, and CRAY T3E architectures, in order to demonstrate the portability. The accompanying performance improvement is assessed. Finally, the predicting capabilities are discussed with reference to challenging turbomachinery test cases: a transitional linear compressor cascade, and an isolated compressor rotor designed for non-free vortex operation. Convergence speed-up in such configurations is discussed.     

Adaptive finite volume methods for displacement problems in porous media

In this paper we consider adaptive numerical simulation of miscible and immiscible displacement problems in porous media, which are modeled by single and two phase flow equations. Using the IMPES formulation of the two phase flow equation both problems can be treated in the same numerical framework. We discretise the equations by an operator splitting technique where the flow equation is approximated by Raviart-Thomas mixed finite elements and the saturation or concentration equation by vertex centered finite volume methods. Using a posteriori error estimates for both approximation schemes we deduce an adaptive solution algorithm for the system of equations and show the applicability in several examples.     

An adaptive finite element scheme for transient problems in CFD

An adaptive finite element scheme for transient problems is presented. The classic h-enrichment / coarsening is employed in conjunction with a triangular finite element discretization in two dimensions. A mesh change is performed every n timesteps, depending on the Courant number employed and the number of ‘protective layers’ added ahead of the refined region. In order to simplify the refinement/ coarsening logic and to be as fast as possible, only one level of refinement/coarsening is allowed per mesh change. A high degree of vectorizability has been achieved on the CRAY XMP 12 at NRL. Several examples involving shock-shock interactions and the impact of shocks on structures demonstrate the performance of the method, indicating that considerable savings in CPU time and storage can be realized even for strongly unsteady flows.     

Fully discrete mixed finite element approximations for non-Darcy flows in porous media

A numerical approximation procedure is proposed to solve equations describing non-Darcy flow of a single-phase fluid in a porous medium in two or three spacial dimensions, including the generalized Forchheimer equation. Fully discrete mixed finite element methods are considered and analyzed for the approximation. Existence and uniqueness of the approximation are discussed and optimal order error estimates in L² are derived for the three relevant functions.     

A mesh-refinement scheme for finite element computations

The paper considers the use of unorthodox grids where rapid transition from refined zones to coarser zones is effected, thus introducing exposed nodal freedoms at the zone interfaces. A technique for automated mesh enrichment of finite element discretizations is devised. Suitable convergence criteria are designed to delineate those subregions of a domain where refinement is necessary. Enriched and unaltered regions are separated by a fringe of semirefined elements. A valid finite element theory is provided for the fringe elements. A pilot numerical study illustrates the practical implementation of the automated refinement strategy. The principal features of the program are described.     

A parallel finite element solution method

New parallel computer architectures have revolutionized the design of computer algorithms, and promise to have significant influence on algorithms for structural engineering computations. In this paper, a parallel finite element solution method is presented. The solution method proposed does not require the formation of global system equations, but computes directly the element distortions, as opposed to solving a system of nodal equations. An element or substructure is mapped on to a processor of an MIMD multiprocessing system. Each processor stores only the information relevant to the element or substructure for which the processor represents. The finite element computations can be performed in parallel, in that a processor generates the local stiffness, computes the element distortions and determines the stress-strain characteristics for the element or substructure associated with the processor.     

Multipoint flux mixed finite element methods for slightly compressible flow in porous media

In this paper, we consider multipoint flux mixed finite element discretizations for slightly compressible Darcy flow in porous media. The methods are formulated on general meshes composed of triangles, quadrilaterals, tetrahedra or hexahedra. An inexact Newton method that allows for local velocity elimination is proposed for the solution of the nonlinear fully discrete scheme. We derive optimal error estimates for both the scalar and vector unknowns in the semidiscrete formulation. Numerical examples illustrate the convergence behavior of the methods, and their performance on test problems including permeability coefficients with increasing heterogeneity.     

A fully 3D adaptive finite element simulation and prototype for gas flow in a porous media

This paper presents a three-dimensional (3D) adaptive finite element solution for gas flow in a porous media. The solution obtained is truly 3D and employs a dynamic h-adaptive refinement technique for efficiency. The adaptive procedure uses a new node-based storage mechanism [Wang GH, Tyler JM, Weltman JS, Callahan JD. Advances in Engineering Software including Computing Systems in Engineering 1999;30:31–41]. This node-based structure substantially reduces the memory necessary to store the finite element mesh. A prototype simulator, written in C++, has been implemented for Eugene Island block 305, a multi-well condensate reservoir off the coast of Louisiana to demonstrate the use of this adaptive procedure. Results, presented in this paper, show dramatic agreement with the actual production data. This prototype simulator uses Windows workstations to support a fully dynamic 3D mesh plus mesh generation.     

A space-time least-square finite element scheme for advection-diffusion equations

A space-time least-square finite element scheme is presented for the advection-diffusion problems at moderate to high Peclet numbers. This scheme is designed to eliminate spurious oscillations and can be used to define the steady-state solution as the asymptotic transient solution for large time. Numerical results, using linear elements in a 1D space and bilinear elements in a 2D space, demonstrate the accuracy and the stability of the new scheme.     

A Newton-like finite element scheme for compressible gas flows

Semi-implicit and Newton-like finite element methods are developed for the stationary compressible Euler equations. The Galerkin discretization of the inviscid fluxes is potentially oscillatory and unstable. To suppress numerical oscillations, the spatial discretization is performed by a high-resolution finite element scheme based on algebraic flux correction. A multidimensional limiter of TVD type is employed. An important goal is the efficient computation of stationary solutions in a wide range of Mach numbers, which is a challenging task due to oscillatory correction factors associated with TVD-type flux limiters. A semi-implicit scheme is derived by a time-lagged linearization of the nonlinear residual, and a Newton-like method is obtained in the limit of infinite CFL numbers. Special emphasis is laid on the numerical treatment of weakly imposed characteristic boundary conditions. Numerical evidence for unconditional stability is presented. It is shown that the proposed approach offers higher accuracy and better convergence behavior than algorithms in which the boundary conditions are implemented in a strong sense.     

Stochastic mixed multiscale finite element methods and their applications in random porous media

We present a framework for stochastic mixed multiscale finite element methods (mixed MsFEMs) for elliptic equations with heterogeneous random coefficients. The use of some global information is necessary in multiscale simulations when there is no scale separation for the heterogeneity. The methods in the proposed framework for the stochastic mixed MsFEMs use some global information. The media properties in a stochastic environment drastically vary among realizations and, thus, many global fields are needed for multiscale simulation. The computations of these global fields on a fine grid can be very expensive. One can utilize upscaling methods to compute the global information on an intermediate coarse grid that reduces the computational cost. We investigate two approaches of stochastic mixed MsFEMs in the framework. First approach entails no stochastic interpolation and the second approach uses stochastic interpolation. If the random media have deterministic features that play significant roles in the flow, we can use the deterministic features of the random media as the global information. This reduces the computational cost of the simulations. We make convergence analysis of the stochastic mixed MsFEMs and investigate their applications to incompressible two-phase flows in random porous media. The numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods and confirm the convergence.     

A triangular finite difference scheme for large deflection problems

A lumped triangular element formulation is developed based on a finite difference approach for the large deflection analysis of plates and shallow shells. The presented formulation is independent of the boundary condition (unlike the finite difference formulation) and uses energy principles to derive a set of nonlinear algebraic equations which are solved by using an incremental Newton-Raphson iterative procedure. A study of the large deflection behaviour of thin plates is made for various edge conditions and aspect ratios, and the results obtained are compared with those using a finite element scheme. Representative nondimensional solutions for deflections and stresses are presented in the form of graphs.     

A semi-analytical coupled finite element formulation for shells conveying fluids

A new formulation, based on the semi-analytical finite element method, is proposed for elastic shells conveying fluids. The structural equations are based on the shell element proposed by Ramasamy and Ganesan [Comput Struct 70 (1998) 363] while the fluid model is based on velocity potential. Dynamic pressure acting on the walls is derived from Bernoulli's equation. Imposing the requirement that the normal components of velocity of the solid and fluid be equal, introduces fluid–structure coupling. The proposed technique has been validated using results available in the literature. This study shows that instability occurs at a critical fluid velocity corresponding to the shell circumferential mode with the lowest natural frequency and this phenomenon is also independent of the type of structural boundary conditions imposed.     

A high-continuity finite element model for two-dimensional elastic problems

A finite element model for the analysis of two-dimensional elastic problems is presented. The proposed discretization is based on a biquadratic interpolation for the displacement components and takes advantage of the enforcement of the interelement continuity to obtain a profitable reduction of the total number of the degrees of freedom. One node (two kinematical parameters) per element only is required.Numerical results obtained for some test problems show the accuracy of the model in analyzing both the deformations and the stress distribution.     

A quasioptimal finite element method for elliptic interface problems

In [1] Babu?ka proposed perturbed variational methods for elliptic problems, with discontinuous coefficients. However, these methods are not quasioptimal, i.e. the approximate solutions generated by such methods do not reproduce the properties of “best approximation” possessed by the subspace of admissable approximants. In this paper we consider certain extrapolates obtained by use of a particular method of [1] and obtain “optimal” asymptotic error estimates. Our approach is similar to that of [7] where we proposed extrapolation methods for elliptic problems with smooth coefficients.     

A mapping algorithm for domain decomposition in massively parallel finite element analysis

A new mapping algorithm is presented for domain decomposition for the purpose of allowing researchers to conduct finite element analysis on massively parallel computers. Over the last few years, massively parallel MIMD machines such as the Intel Touchstone Delta and recently the Intel Touchstone Paragon have become increasingly popular for speeding up finite element computations. Most of these applications use domain decomposition as a first step towards conquering the problem. Many different algorithms have been developed by researchers to achieve an effective domain decomposition. Some of these methods use connectivity information only, some use coordinate information only, while others use both of them together. Some algorithms are based on assigning weights to nodes using a particular strategy while others are recursive in nature. As will be discussed in this paper, the logic employed in various algorithms works perfectly well for certain meshes to be decomposed, in certain numbers of subdomains; while it gives far from perfect results for other meshes or for same meshes to be decomposed in a different number of subdomains. The logic used in the proposed algorithm has been developed in a creative way such that it is closer to a human's natural thinking when making decisions. Fairly large meshes can be decomposed in a matter of seconds on a Sun Sparc station by the proposed algorithm. Its execution time remains almost the same for any number of subdomains.     

Subdomain generation for non-convex parallel finite element domains

In this paper the Subdomain Generation Method (SGM), originally formulated in Khan & Topping (1993; Khan, A. I. & Topping, B. H. V., Subdomain generation for parallel finite element analysis. Comput. Syst. Engng, 1993, 4(4/6), 473–488) for convex finite element domains, is generalized for arbitrary shaped domains. Modifications to the original SGM are described which allow partitioning of non-convex domains. These modifications have been made to the formulation of the optimization module and the predictive module. The examples presented in Khan & Topping (1993) have been re-worked and two more examples have been added which demonstrate the application of the method to arbitrary shaped domains. It is shown with the aid of the examples that the method provides well-balanced subdomains very efficiently and allows parallel adaptive mesh generation. The method in its present form may be used to partition unstructured graphs in two or three dimensions. Since the computational cost for the mesh partitioning with this method depends solely upon the initial coarse mesh, hence the computational cost does not increase with the increase in the mesh density of the final mesh. The method in its present form is unsuitable for relatively coarse grained parallel computers, however the modifications which would impart a greater degree of scalability to this method are discussed.     

A finite volume scheme for cardiac propagation in media with isotropic conductivities

A finite volume method for solving the monodomain and bidomain models for the electrical activity of myocardial tissue is presented. These models consist of a parabolic PDE and a system of a parabolic and an elliptic PDE, respectively, for certain electric potentials, coupled to an ODE for the gating variable. The existence and uniqueness of the approximate solution is proved, and it is also shown that the scheme converges to the corresponding weak solutions for the monodomain model, and for the bidomain model when considering diagonal conductivity tensors. Numerical examples in two and three space dimensions are provided, indicating experimental rates of convergence slightly above first order for both models.