Solution of three dimensional eddy current problems by integral anddifferential methods

A differential T, Ω formulation using nonconformal elements is presented. It is an extension of the T integral formulation. The method has been used as the basis of a finite-element code that handles the open boundary problem of eddy-current analysis in fully 3-D conductors. The results obtained with this formulation for different treatments of the boundary conditions at infinity are shown and compared among themselves and with respect to a T integral formulation. The efficiencies are compared in terms of storage occupation, CPU time, and accuracy     

Calculation of equipotentials and flux lines in axially symmetrical permanent magnet assemblies by computer

Two equivalent theoretical models of permanent magnets are used to develop algorithms for numerically computing the magnetic scalar potential and the magnetic vector potential in the vicinity of an axially symmetric array of pole pieces and permanent magnets. A computer program based on these algorithms calculates equipotential surfaces and flux lines in and around the magnets and pole pieces. In deriving the algorithm for numerically calculating the vector potential a relationship between the magnetic scalar potential and the vector potential was found which enables the program to calculate the vector potential from the scalar potential distribution and thus generate equipotentials and flux lines with only one iterative calculation. An algorithm which calculates the scalar potential of a "floating" pole piece, that is, one on which the scalar potential has not been specified, is developed. The vector potential around the pole piece is determined from the scalar potential calculation, and this information is used to calculate the vector potential and the flux lines within the pole piece. The computer program calculates the coordinates of all points at which the equipotential lines and flux lines cross the Liebmann net. This information is fed to a cathode ray tube plotter which generates a field plot. To deal with systems in which macroscopic currents are present as well as permanent magnets, the iterative Liebmann net calculation of the vector potential is developed, and a method of applying Neumann boundary conditions to the vector potential at high-permeability surfaces is described.     

具有T单元张拉膜结构的找形分析

论述了张拉膜结构找形分析的力密度法,同时对边界索进行T单元的强化处理;建立了索边界主结点和索网内部T单元结点的静力平衡方程,据此编制了相应的计算软件;对工程实例进行了验算,结果表明,给出的计算结果与德国著名软件EASY的计算结果相吻合.     

Meshless analysis of potential problems in three dimensions with the hybrid boundary node method

Combining a modified functional with the moving least‐squares (MLS) approximation, the hybrid boundary node method (Hybrid BNM) is a truly meshless, boundary‐only method. The method may have advantages from the meshless local boundary integral equation (MLBIE) method and also the boundary node method (BNM). In fact, the Hybrid BNN requires only the discrete nodes located on the surface of the domain. The Hybrid BNM has been applied to solve 2D potential problems. In this paper, the Hybrid BNM is extended to solve potential problems in three dimensions. Formulations of the Hybrid BNM for 3D potential problems and the MLS approximation on a generic surface are developed. A general computer code of the Hybrid BNM is implemented in C++. The main drawback of the ‘boundary layer effect’ in the Hybrid BNM in the 2D case is circumvented by an adaptive face integration scheme. The parameters that influence the performance of this method are studied through three different geometries and known analytical fields. Numerical results for the solution of the 3D Laplace's equation show that high convergence rates with mesh refinement and high accuracy are achievable. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal analysis of carbon-nanotube composites using a rigid-line inclusion model by the boundary integral equation method

The boundary integral equation (BIE) method is applied for the thermal analysis of fiber-reinforced composites, particularly the carbon-nanotube (CNT) composites, based on a rigid-line inclusion model. The steady state heat conduction equation is solved using the BIE in a two-dimensional infinite domain containing line inclusions which are assumed to have a much higher thermal conductivity (like CNTs) than that of the host medium. Thus the temperature along the length of a line inclusion can be assumed constant. In this way, each inclusion can be regarded as a rigid line (the opposite of a crack) in the medium. It is shown that, like the crack case, the hypersingular (derivative) BIE can be applied to model these rigid lines. The boundary element method (BEM), accelerated with the fast multipole method, is used to solve the established hypersingular BIE. Numerical examples with up to 10,000 rigid lines (with 1,000,000 equations), are successfully solved by the BEM code on a laptop computer. Effective thermal conductivity of fiber-reinforced composites are evaluated using the computed temperature and heat flux fields. These numerical results are compared with the analytical solution for a single inclusion case and with the experimental one reported in the literature for carbon-nanotube composites for multiple inclusion cases. Good agreements are observed in both situations, which clearly demonstrates the potential of the developed approach in large-scale modeling of fiber-reinforced composites, particularly that of the emerging carbon-nanotube composites.     

Polynomial particular solutions based boundary element analysis of acoustic eigenfrequency problems

The boundary element formulation for acoustic eigenfrequency analysis based on treating the forcing function, in the governing differential equation, as an initially unknown distributed source within the domain is presented. The volume integral due to this distributed source is eliminated by approximating the internal source by global interpolation and polynomial function representations and finding particular solutions for the governing, inhomogeneous equations. The resulting non-symmetric system matrix is solved by using Arnoldi's algorithm, modified to take advantage of the special structure of the substructured boundary element method. The techniques described here are embedded in a computer program GPBEST, and the numerical results are obtained by using this computer code.     

Permeance computation using indirect boundary integral equation method

An approach using indirect boundary integral equation method is proposed to determine the permeance between ferromagnetic poles in axisymmetric and three-dimensional magnetic systems. A generalised mathematical model is given for both types of magnetic systems. It consists of Fredholm integral equations of the first kind with respect to fictitious magnetic charge density sought in the form of simple layer potential. The system of boundary integral equations is solved using the method of mechanical quadratures. The approach is implemented in its own computer code. Results are presented for axisymmetric poles of electromagnets (cylinders, cones and frustum cones) and for a three-dimensional clapper-type system. Comparisons with known formulas are made and their accuracies are estimated. The approach presented is useful at the stage of preliminary design of magnetic systems. It is also applicable to computation of capacitances and electrical conductances     

Initial strain effects in multilayer composite laminates

A boundary integral formulation for the analysis of stress fields induced in composite laminates by initial strains, such as may be due to temperature changes and moisture absorption is presented. The study is formulated on the basis of the theory of generalized orthotropic thermo-elasticity and the governing integral equations are directly deduced through the generalized reciprocity theorem. A suitable expression of the problem fundamental solutions is given for use in computations. The resulting linear system of algebraic equations is obtained by the boundary element method and stress interlaminar distributions in the boundary-layer are calculated by using a boundary only discretization. The approach is general and it does not require a priori assumptions. Numerical results are presented to show the potential of the proposed approach.     

A new boundary integral equation method for analysis of cracked linear elastic bodies

Abstract

A novel integral equation method is developed in this paper for the analysis of two‐dimensional general anisotropic elastic bodies with cracks. In contrast to the conventional boundary integral methods based on reciprocal work theorem, the present method is derived from Stroh's formalism for anisotropic elasticity in conjunction with Cauchy's integral formula. The proposed boundary integral equations contain boundary displacement gradients and tractions on the non‐crack boundary and the dislocations on the crack lines. In cases where only the crack faces are subjected to tractions, the integrals on the non‐crack boundary are non‐singular. The boundary integral equations can be solved using Gaussian‐type integration formulas directly without dividing the boundary into discrete elements. Numerical examples of stress intensity factors are given to illustrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the present method.     

Heat transfer during fluidized-bed coating

A fully implicit numerical method for linear parabolic free boundary problems with coupled and integral boundary conditions is described. The partial differential equation and the boundary conditions are time discretized with the method of lines. An auxiliary function is introduced to remove the coupled and integral boundary conditions from the resulting free boundary problem for ordinary differential equations. Once separated boundary conditions are obtained, invariant imbedding is used to solve the free boundary problem numerically. The method is illustrated by solving the heat transfer equations for the fluidized-bed coating of a thin-walled cylinder.     

Some numerical results using the modified Nyström method to solve the 2-D potential problem

In this paper, the author uses the modified Nyström method on the boundary integral equation formulated by using the single-layer potential representation to solve two-dimensional potential problems in which the boundary condition is mixed and/or the domain has corners. For these problems, he either augments the single-layer potential representation with exceptional functions or uses a graded mesh. The modified Nyström method requires only O(n²) arithmetic operations to formulate the matrices and is similar to the Nyström method, except the numerical difficulty in integrating the logarithmic kernel is overcome. He compares his approach numerically with three other approaches previously published. In comparison with using the Galerkin-collocation method on the boundary integral equation formulated by using Green's theorem, his approach requires fewer computations and obtains more accurate solutions, especially for small meshes. In comparison with using the Nyström method on the boundary integral equation formulated by using the double-layer potential representation, his approach obtains more accurate solutions away from the boundary. In comparison with using the extension-BEM method, his approach is more direct, but still obtains accurate interior solution using a small mesh.     

Three-dimensional unsteady thermal stress analysis by triple-reciprocity boundary element method

The conventional boundary element method (BEM) requires a domain integral in unsteady thermal stress analysis with heat generation and/or an initial temperature distribution. In this paper, it is shown that the three-dimensional unsteady thermal stress problem can be solved effectively using the triple-reciprocity boundary element method without internal cells. In this method, the distributions of heat generation and initial temperature are interpolated using integral equations and higher order time-dependent fundamental solutions. A new computer program was developed and applied for solving several test problems.     

Dual boundary element analysis of oblique incident wave passing a thin submerged breakwater

In this paper, the dual integral formulation for the modified Helmholtz equation in solving the propagation of oblique incident wave passing a thin barrier (a degenerate boundary) is derived. All the improper integrals for the kernel functions in the dual integral equations are reformulated into regular integrals by integrating by parts and are calculated by means of the Gaussian quadrature rule. The jump properties for the single layer potential, double layer potential and their directional derivatives are examined and the potential distributions are shown. To demonstrate the validity of the present formulation, the transmission and reflection coefficients of oblique incident wave passing a thin rigid barrier are determined by the developed dual boundary element method program. Also, the results are obtained for the cases of wave scattering by a rigid barrier with a finite or zero thickness in a constant water depth and compared with those of experiment and analytical solution using eigenfunction expansion method. Good agreement is observed.     

Dual boundary element analysis using complex variables for potential problems with or without a degenerate boundary

The dual boundary element method in the real domain proposed by Hong and Chen in 1988 is extended to the complex variable dual boundary element method. This novel method can simplify the calculation for a hypersingular integral, and an exact integration for the influence coefficients is obtained. In addition, the Hadamard integral formula is obtained by taking the derivative of the Cauchy integral formula. The two equations (the Cauchy and Hadamard integral formula) constitute the basis for the complex variable dual boundary integral equations. After discretizing the two equations, the complex variable dual boundary element method is implemented. In determining the influence coefficients, the residue for a single-order pole in the Cauchy formula is extended to one of higher order in the Hadamard formula. In addition, the use of a simple solution and equilibrium condition is employed to check the influence matrices. To extract the finite part in the Hadamard formula, the extended residue theorem is employed. The role of the Hadamard integral formula is examined for the boundary value problems with a degenerate boundary. Finally, some numerical examples, including the potential flow with a sheet pile and the torsion problem for a cracked bar, are considered to verify the validity of the proposed formulation. The results are compared with those of real dual BEM and analytical solutions where available. A good agreement is obtained.     

Layerwise fundamental solutions and three-dimensional model for layered media

A hybrid method is presented for the analysis of layers, plates, and multilayered systems consisting of isotropic and linear elastic materials. The problem is formulated for the general case of a multilayered system using a total potential energy formulation and employing the layerwise laminate theory of Reddy. The developed boundary integral equation model is two-dimensional, displacement based and assumes piecewise continuous distribution of the displacement components through the system's thickness. A one-dimensional finite element model is used for the analysis of the multilayered system through its thickness, and integral Fourier transforms are used to obtain the exact solution for the in-plane problem. Explicit expressions are obtained for the fundamental solution of a typical infinite layer (element), which can be applied in a two-dimensional boundary integral equation model to analyze layered structures. This model describes the three-dimensional displacement field at arbitrary points either in the domain of the layered medium or on its boundary. The proposed method provides a simple, efficient, and versatile model for a three-dimensional analysis of thick plates or multilayered systems.Visiting Assistant ProfessorOscar S. Wyatt, Jr. Chair     

Computational aspects in 2D SBEM analysis with domain inelastic actions

The Symmetric Boundary Element Method, applied to structures subjected to temperature and inelastic actions, shows singular domain integrals. In the present paper the strong singularity involved in the domain integrals of the stresses and tractions is removed, and by means of a limiting operation, this traction is evaluated on the boundary. First the weakly singular domain integral in the Somigliana Identity (S.I.) of the displacements is regularized and the singular integral is transformed into a boundary one using the Radial Integration Method; subsequently, using the differential operator applied to the displacement field, the S.I. of the tractions inside the body is obtained and through a limit operation its expression is evaluated on the boundary. The latter operation makes it possible to substitute the strongly singular domain integral in a strongly singular boundary one, defined as a Cauchy Principal Value, with which the related free term is associated. The expressions thus obtained for the displacements and the tractions, in which domain integrals are substituted by boundary integrals, were utilized in the Galerkin approach, for the evaluation in closed form of the load coefficients connected to domain inelastic actions. This strategy makes it possible to evaluate the load coefficients avoiding considerable difficulties due to the geometry of the solid analyzed; the obtained coefficients were implemented in the Karnak.sGbem calculus code. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An accurate scalar potential finite element method for linear,two-dimensional magnetostatics problems

We have assessed the accuracy of a commercially available computer software package for finite element method calculations of magnetostatic fields. The computer program, MSC/NASTRAN,

1 Available from the MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation, Los Angeles, CA 90041, U.S.A.

is well known for its wide applicability in structural analysis and heat transfer problems. We exploit the fact that the differential equations of magnetostatics are identical to those for heat transfer if the magnetic field problem is formulated with the reduced scalar potential.¹ Consequently, the powerful, optimized numerical routines of NASTRAN can immediately be applied to two- and three-dimensional linear magneto-statics problems. Application of the NASTRAN reduced scalar potential approach to a ‘worst case’ two-dimensional problem for which an analytic solution is available has yielded much better accuracy than was recently reported² for a reduced scalar potential calculation using a different finite element program. Furthermore, our method exhibits completely satisfactory performance with regard to computational expense and accuracy for a linear electromagnet with an air gap. Our analysis opens the way for large three-dimensional magnetostatics calculations at far greater economy than is possible with the more commonly used vector potential and boundary integral methods.     

弹性力学问题的虚边界元－最小二乘法及误差评估

本文从［１］提出的虚边界原理出发,采用最小二乘法建立满足弹性力学问题边界条件的边界积分方程,再用线性虚边界元将其离散化。然后详细地研究了这些离散化的边界积分方程的解折特性。文中引用了误差分析的拉依达（ｐａИＴａ）准则,用来衡量解的误差水平,取得了理想的效果。编制了微机程序,程序中采用高斯积分格式,并考虑了虚,实边界对称条件的具体处理。本文方法不仅可以成功地处理边界条件连续的情况,而且对边界条件不连续的情况也能得出满意的结果。数值算例表明,程序可靠,虚边界变动时算法稳定,具有较高的处理精度。     

弹性力学问题的虚边界元－最小二乘法及误差评估

本文从［１］提出的虚边界原理出发,采用最小二乘法建立满足弹性力学问题边界条件的边界积分方程,再用线性虚边界元将其离散化。然后详细地研究了这些离散化的边界积分方程的解折特性。文中引用了误差分析的拉依达（ｐａИＴａ）准则,用来衡量解的误差水平,取得了理想的效果。编制了微机程序,程序中采用高斯积分格式,并考虑了虚,实边界对称条件的具体处理。本文方法不仅可以成功地处理边界条件连续的情况,而且对边界条件不连续的情况也能得出满意的结果。数值算例表明,程序可靠,虚边界变动时算法稳定,具有较高的处理精度。     

The fast multipole boundary element method for potential problems: A tutorial

The fast multipole method (FMM) has been regarded as one of the top 10 algorithms in scientific computing that were developed in the 20th century. Combined with the FMM, the boundary element method (BEM) can now solve large-scale problems with several million degrees of freedom on a desktop computer within hours. This opened up a wide range of applications for the BEM that has been hindered for many years by the lack of efficiencies in the solution process, although it has been regarded as superb in the modeling stage. However, understanding the fast multipole BEM is even more difficult as compared with the conventional BEM, because of the added complexities and different approaches in both FMM formulations and implementations. This paper is an introduction to the fast multipole BEM for potential problems, which is aimed to overcome this hurdle for people who are familiar with the conventional BEM and want to learn and adopt the fast multipole approach. The basic concept and main procedures in the FMM for solving boundary integral equations are described in detail using the 2D potential problem as an example. The structure of a fast multipole BEM program is presented and the source code is also made available that can help the development of fast multipole BEM codes for solving other problems. Numerical examples are presented to further demonstrate the efficiency, accuracy and potentials of the fast multipole BEM for solving large-scale problems.