An incompatible and unsymmetric four-node quadrilateral plane element with high numerical performance

Recent studies show that the unsymmetric finite element method exhibits excellent performance when the discretized meshes are severely distorted. In this article, a new unsymmetric 4-noded quadrilateral plane element is presented using both incompatible test functions and trial functions. Five internal nodes, one at the elemental central and four at the middle sides, are added to ensure the quadratic completeness of the elemental displacement field. Thereafter, the total nine nodes are applied to form the shape functions of trial function, and the Lagrange interpolation functions are adopted as the incompatible test shape functions of the internal nodes. The incompatible test displacements are then revised to satisfy the patch test. Numerical tests show that the present element can provide very good numerical accuracy with badly distorted meshes. Unlike the existing unsymmetric four-node plane elements in which the analytical stress fields are employed, the present element can be extended to boundary value problems of any differential equations with no difficulties.     

Modified and Trefftz unsymmetric finite element models

The unsymmetric finite element method employs compatible test functions but incompatible trial functions. The pertinent 8-node quadrilateral and 20-node hexahedron unsymmetric elements possess exceptional immunity to mesh distortion. It was noted later that they are not invariant and the proposed remedy is to formulate the element stiffness matrix in a local frame and then transform the matrix back to the global frame. In this paper, a more efficient approach will be proposed to secure the invariance. To our best knowledge, unsymmetric 4-node quadrilateral and 8-node hexahedron do not exist. They will be devised by using the Trefftz functions as the trial function. Numerical examples show that the two elements also possess exceptional immunity to mesh distortion with respect to other advanced elements of the same nodal configurations.     

A novel unsymmetric 8‐node plane element immune to mesh distortion under a quadratic displacement field

An 8‐node quadrilateral plane finite element is developed based on a novel unsymmetric formulation which is characterized by the use of two sets of shape functions, viz., the compatibility enforcing shape functions and completeness enforcing shape functions. The former are chosen to satisfy exactly the minimum inter‐ as well as intra‐element displacement continuity requirements, while the latter are chosen to satisfy all the (linear and higher order) completeness requirements so as to reproduce exactly a quadratic displacement field. Numerical results from test problems reveal that the new element is indeed capable of reproducing exactly a complete quadratic displacement field under all types of admissible mesh distortions. In this respect, the proposed 8‐node unsymmetric element emerges to be better than the existing symmetric QUAD8, QUAD8/9, QUAD9, QUAD12 and QUAD16 elements, and matches the performance of the quartic element, QUAD25. For test problems involving a cubic or higher order displacement field, the proposed element yields a solution accuracy that is comparable to or better than that of QUAD8, QUAD8/9 and QUAD9 elements. Furthermore, the element maintains a good accuracy even with the reduced 2× 2 numerical integration. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An unsymmetric 8‐node hexahedral element with high distortion tolerance

Among all 3D 8‐node hexahedral solid elements in current finite element library, the ‘best’ one can produce good results for bending problems using coarse regular meshes. However, once the mesh is distorted, the accuracy will drop dramatically. And how to solve this problem is still a challenge that remains outstanding. This paper develops an 8‐node, 24‐DOF (three conventional DOFs per node) hexahedral element based on the virtual work principle, in which two different sets of displacement fields are employed simultaneously to formulate an unsymmetric element stiffness matrix. The first set simply utilizes the formulations of the traditional 8‐node trilinear isoparametric element, while the second set mainly employs the analytical trial functions in terms of 3D oblique coordinates (R, S, T). The resulting element, denoted by US‐ATFH8, contains no adjustable factor and can be used for both isotropic and anisotropic cases. Numerical examples show it can strictly pass both the first‐order (constant stress/strain) patch test and the second‐order patch test for pure bending, remove the volume locking, and provide the invariance for coordinate rotation. Especially, it is insensitive to various severe mesh distortions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

4‐node unsymmetric quadrilateral membrane element with drilling DOFs insensitive to severe mesh‐distortion

The unsymmetric finite element method is a promising technique to produce distortion‐immune finite elements. In this work, a simple but robust 4‐node 12‐DOF unsymmetric quadrilateral membrane element is formulated. The test function of this new element is determined by a concise isoparametric‐based displacement field that is enriched by the Allman‐type drilling degrees of freedom. Meanwhile, a rational stress field, instead of the displacement one in the original unsymmetric formulation, is directly adopted to be the element's trial function. This stress field is obtained based on the analytical solutions of the plane stress/strain problem and the quasi‐conforming technique. Thus, it can a priori satisfy related governing equations. Numerical tests show that the presented new unsymmetric element, named as US‐Q4θ, exhibits excellent capabilities in predicting results of both displacement and stress, in most cases, superior to other existing 4‐node element models. In particular, it can still work very well in severely distorted meshes even when the element shape deteriorates into concave quadrangle or degenerated triangle.     

广义协调六结点平面曲边单元研究

主要运用广义协调原理,针对计算平面曲边单元的有限元算法进行了研究,并且利用点、周混合协调条件构造了三种高性能六结点曲边单元。第一、二种单元在平面直角坐标内分别采用解析试函数和完全三次多项式构造,第三种单元在六结点等参单元Q6的基础上附加广义协调泡状位移而成。这三种单元均能通过强式分片试验,并且显示了良好的计算精度和抗畸变能力。     

六面体单元体积坐标方法

基于二维问题四边形单元面积坐标法的成功思路,建立了三维六面体单元体积坐标的系统方法,包括:1)六面体单元特征参数的定义及单元退化模式研究;2)六面体单元体积坐标定义;3)六面体单元的体积坐标与直角坐标、等参坐标之间的关系;4)六面体体积坐标的微分公式。可以看到,六面体体积坐标保持了局部自然坐标的优点,并且与直角坐标始终保持线性关系。它为构造对网格畸变不敏感的新型六面体有限元模型提供了新工具。     

非协调元性能分析的两个定理

在构造非协调元的过程中,必须遵守一定的构造规律。本文从基本力学观点出发,提出并证明了两个定理。定理一、如果某种类型的有限单元共有n个独立参与整体刚度运算的自由度,则该单元最多只能精确模拟n种弹性力学基本解。该定理说明了单元的精度从根本上受自身自由度限制的,并指出了现有的四边形四结点单元发展空间不大,而四边形八结点Q8单元以及三维八结点H8单元仍然具有较大的发展余地。定理二则认为四边形四结点内参型非协调元如果能够通过小片试验,则不可能在任意畸变状态下精确表示纯弯场。该定理表明了畸变问题的尝试是有限制的。以上的结论虽然是针对非协调元的构造来提出的,但从论证过程看,应对其它类型的有限单元也适用。定理一和定理二对于今后新型有限元的发展可以起到一定的指导作用。     

A shape‐free 8‐node plane element unsymmetric analytical trial function method

The unsymmetric FEM is one of the effective techniques for developing finite element models immune to various mesh distortions. However, because of the inherent limitation of the metric shape functions, the resulting element models exhibit rotational frame dependence and interpolation failure under certain conditions. In this paper, by introducing the analytical trial function method used in the hybrid stress‐function element method, an effort was made to naturally eliminate these defects and improve accuracy. The key point of the new strategy is that the monomial terms (the trial functions) in the assumed metric displacement fields are replaced by the fundamental analytical solutions of plane problems. Furthermore, some rational conditions are imposed on the trial functions so that the assumed displacement fields possess fourth‐order completeness in Cartesian coordinates. The resulting element model, denoted by US‐ATFQ8, can still work well when interpolation failure modes for original unsymmetric element occur, and provide the invariance for the coordinate rotation. Numerical results show that the exact solutions for constant strain/stress, pure bending and linear bending problems can be obtained by the new element US‐ATFQ8 using arbitrary severely distorted meshes, and produce more accurate results for other more complicated problems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An unsymmetric 4‐node, 8‐DOF plane membrane element perfectly breaking through MacNeal's theorem

Among numerous finite element techniques, few models can perfectly (without any numerical problems) break through MacNeal's theorem: any 4‐node, 8‐DOF membrane element will either lock in in‐plane bending or fail to pass a C₀ patch test when the element's shape is an isosceles trapezoid. In this paper, a 4‐node plane quadrilateral membrane element is developed following the unsymmetric formulation concept, which means two different sets of interpolation functions for displacement fields are simultaneously used. The first set employs the shape functions of the traditional 4‐node bilinear isoparametric element, while the second set adopts a novel composite coordinate interpolation scheme with analytical trail function method, in which the Cartesian coordinates (x,y) and the second form of quadrilateral area coordinates (QACM‐II) (S,T) are applied together. The resulting element US‐ATFQ4 exhibits amazing performance in rigorous numerical tests. It is insensitive to various serious mesh distortions, free of trapezoidal locking, and can satisfy both the classical first‐order patch test and the second‐order patch test for pure bending. Furthermore, because of usage of the second form of quadrilateral area coordinates (QACM‐II), the new element provides the invariance for the coordinate rotation. It seems that the behaviors of the present model are beyond the well‐known contradiction defined by MacNeal's theorem. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

有限元新型自然坐标方法研究进展

网格畸变敏感问题一直是当前有限元法难以解决的问题,而新型自然坐标方法的诞生可以在一定程度上对解决这个难题有所帮助。该文介绍了有限元新型自然坐标方法研究的新近进展。包括第一类四边形面积坐标及其应用(单元构造,解析刚度矩阵的建立,以及在几何非线性问题中的应用等);第二类四边形面积坐标及其应用;六面体体积坐标及其应用。数值算例表明:无论网格如何扭曲畸变,这些基于新型自然坐标方法的有限元模型仍然保持高精度,对网格畸变不敏感。这显示了新型自然坐标方法是构造高性能单元模型的有效工具。     

An unsymmetric 8-node hexahedral solid-shell element with high distortion tolerance: Geometric nonlinear formulations

A recent distortion-tolerant unsymmetric 8-node hexahedral solid-shell element US-ATFHS8, which takes the analytical solutions of linear elasticity as the trial functions, is successfully extended to geometric nonlinear analysis. This extension is based on the corotational (CR) approach due to its simplicity and high efficiency, especially for geometric nonlinear analysis where the strain is still small. Based on the assumption that the analytical trial functions can properly work in each increment during the nonlinear analysis, the incremental corotational formulations of the nonlinear solid-shell element US-ATFHS8 are derived within the updated Lagrangian (UL) framework, in which an appropriate updated strategy for linear analytical trial functions is proposed. Numerical examples show that the present nonlinear element US-ATFHS8 possesses excellent performance for various rigorous tests no matter whether regular or distorted mesh is used. Especially, it even performs well in some situations that other conventional elements cannot work.     

Shape functions and integration formulas for three-dimensional finite element analysis

Shape functions and numerical integration formulas for three-dimensional finite element analysis as found in most finite element reference books are incomplete. For example, shape functions and integration formulas for a pyramid with a quadrilateral base are missing. It is also difficult to find symmetric higher-order integration formulas for triangular and tetrahedral elements. In general, these shape functions and integration formulas cannot be satisfactorily derived as degenerate cases of shape functions and integration formulas for hexahedral (brick) elements. In this paper we present C°-continuous quadrilateral pyramid elements and integration formulas for two- and three-dimensional elements.     

A new enhanced assumed strain quadrilateral membrane element with drilling degree of freedom and modified shape functions

A new four‐node quadrilateral membrane finite element with drilling rotational degree of freedom based on the enhanced assumed strain formulation is presented. A simple formulation is achieved by five incompatible modes that are added to the Allman‐type interpolation. Furthermore, modified shape functions are used to improve the behaviour of distorted elements. Numerical results show that the proposed new element exhibits good numerical accuracy and improved performance, and in many cases, superior to existing elements. In particular, Poisson's locking in nearly incompressible elasticity fades and the element performs well when it becomes considerably distorted even when it takes almost triangular shape. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A four‐noded quadrilateral element for composite laminated plates/shells using the refined zigzag theory

A new bilinear four‐noded quadrilateral element (called quadrilateral linear refined zigzag) for the analysis of composite laminated and sandwich plates/shells based on the refined zigzag theory is presented. The element has seven kinematic variables per node. Shear locking is avoided by introducing an assumed linear shear strain field. The performance of the element is studied in several examples where the reference solution is the 3D finite element analysis using 20‐noded hexahedral elements. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quadrilateral membrane elements with analytical element stiffness matrices formulated by the new quadrilateral area coordinate method (QACM‐II)

A novel strategy for developing low‐order membrane elements with analytical element stiffness matrices is proposed. First, some complete low‐order basic analytical solutions for plane stress problems are given in terms of the new quadrilateral area coordinates method (QACM‐II). Then, these solutions are taken as the trial functions for developing new membrane elements. Thus, the interpolation formulae for displacement fields naturally possess second‐order completeness in physical space (Cartesian coordinates). Finally, by introducing nodal conforming conditions, new 4‐node and 5‐node membrane elements with analytical element stiffness matrices are successfully constructed. The resulting models, denoted as QAC‐ATF4 and QAC‐ATF5, have high computational efficiency since the element stiffness matrices are formulated explicitly and no internal parameter is added. These two elements exhibit excellent performance in various bending problems with mesh distortion. It is demonstrated that the proposed strategy possesses advantages of both the analytical and the discrete method, and the QACM‐II is a powerful tool for constructing high‐performance quadrilateral finite element models. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enrichment of linear hexahedral finite elements using rotations of a virtual space fiber

The present paper deals with the enrichment of 3D low‐order finite elements. The used concept is based on the idea that a 3D virtual fiber, after a spatial rotation, introduces an enhancement of the strain field tensor approximation. A consistent stiffness matrix is obtained, allowing a better approximation of the actual solution compared with that resulting from low‐order finite elements. Implemented for two eight‐node hexahedral elements, the performance of the space fiber rotation concept is assessed by running some classical beam, plate, and shell benchmarks, and the obtained results are compared especially with those given by linear eight‐node and quadratic 20‐node hexahedral elements. In particular, it is shown that the developed elements accuracy is significantly superior to that of the classical eight‐node hexahedral element and close to that of the classical 20‐node hexahedral element. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new finite element approach for solving three‐dimensional problems using trimmed hexahedral elements

In this paper, a novel finite element approach is presented to solve three‐dimensional problems using trimmed hexahedral elements generated by cutting a simple block consisting of regular hexahedral elements with a computer‐aided design (CAD) surface. Trimmed hexahedral elements, which are polyhedral elements with curved faces, are placed at the boundaries of finite element models, and regular hexahedral elements remain in the interior regions. Shape functions for trimmed hexahedral elements are developed by using moving least square approximation with harmonic weight functions based on an extension of Wachspress coordinates to curved faces. A subdivision of polyhedral domains into tetrahedral sub‐domains is performed to construct shape functions for trimmed hexahedral elements, and numerical integration of the weak form can be carried out consistently over the tetrahedral sub‐domains. Trimmed hexahedral elements have similar properties to conventional finite elements regarding the continuity, the completeness, the node–element connectivity, and the inter‐element compatibility. Numerical examples for three‐dimensional linear elastic problems with complex geometries show the efficiency and effectiveness of the present method. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A spline wavelet finite‐element method in structural mechanics

The wavelet‐based methods are powerful to analyse the field problems with changes in gradients and singularities due to the excellent multi‐resolution properties of wavelet functions. Wavelet‐based finite elements are often constructed in the wavelet space where field displacements are expressed as a product of wavelet functions and wavelet coefficients. When a complex structural problem is analysed, the interface between different elements and boundary conditions cannot be easily treated as in the case of conventional finite‐element methods (FEMs). A new wavelet‐based FEM in structural mechanics is proposed in the paper by using the spline wavelets, in which the formulation is developed in a similar way of conventional displacement‐based FEM. The spline wavelet functions are used as the element displacement interpolation functions and the shape functions are expressed by wavelets. The detailed formulations of typical spline wavelet elements such as plane beam element, in‐plane triangular element, in‐plane rectangular element, tetrahedral solid element, and hexahedral solid element are derived. The numerical examples have illustrated that the proposed spline wavelet finite‐element formulation achieves a high numerical accuracy and fast convergence rate. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

含两个分量的四边形单元面积坐标理论

为了便于构造抗畸变的四边形单元,建立了一套新的四边形单元面积坐标理论(QAC-2),并给出了相关的积分和微分公式。该坐标系作为自然坐标,具有明确的物理意义,且只含有两个相互独立的坐标分量,因此易于实现与直角坐标和等参坐标的沟通,便于理解和应用;两个坐标分量与直角坐标之间满足线性变换,在构造单元时易于选择完备的多项式序列,且多项式的完备次数不会随着网格的畸变而下降,因此可以保证单元的精度和抗畸变性能。