A finite‐strain gradient‐inelastic beam theory and a corresponding force‐based frame element formulation

This paper extends the gradient‐inelastic (GI) beam theory, introduced by the authors to simulate material softening phenomena, to further account for geometric nonlinearities and formulates a corresponding force‐based (FB) frame element computational formulation. Geometric nonlinearities are considered via a rigorously derived finite‐strain beam formulation, which is shown to coincide with Reissner's geometrically nonlinear beam formulation. The resulting finite‐strain GI beam theory: (i) accounts for large strains and rotations, unlike the majority of geometrically nonlinear beam formulations used in structural modeling that consider small strains and moderate rotations; (ii) ensures spatial continuity and boundedness of the finite section strain field during material softening via the gradient nonlocality relations, eliminating strain singularities in beams with softening materials; and (iii) decouples the gradient nonlocality relations from the constitutive relations, allowing use of any material model. On the basis of the proposed finite‐strain GI beam theory, an exact FB frame element formulation is derived, which is particularly novel in that it: (a) expresses the compatibility relations in terms of total strains/displacements, as opposed to strain/displacement rates that introduce accumulated computational error during their numerical time integration, and (b) directly integrates the strain‐displacement equations via a composite two‐point integration method derived from a cubic Hermite interpolating polynomial to calculate the displacement field over the element length and, thus, address the coupling between equilibrium and strain‐displacement equations. This approach achieves high accuracy and mesh convergence rate and avoids polynomial interpolations of individual section fields, which often lead to instabilities with mesh refinements. The FB formulation is then integrated into a corotational framework and is used to study the response of structures, simultaneously accounting for geometric nonlinearities and material softening. The FB formulation is further extended to capture member buckling triggered by minor perturbations/imperfections of the initial member geometry.     

Solution for the general integral‐type nonlocal plasticity model with Tikhonov regularization

A new solution approach, based on Tikhonov regularization on the Fredholm integral equations of the first kind, is proposed to find the approximate solutions of the strain softening problems. In this approach, the consistency condition is regularized with the Tikhonov stabilizers along with a regularization parameter, and the internal variable increments are solved from the resulting Euler's equations. It is shown that, as the regularization parameter is increased, the solutions converge to a unique one. A nonlocal yield condition and a nonlocal return mapping algorithm are proposed to carry out the integration of constitutive equations in the time and spatial domains. A global plastic dissipation principle is proposed to relax the classical local plastic dissipation postulate. Numerical examples show that the proposed approach leads to objective, mesh‐independent solutions of the softening‐induced localization problems. A comparison of the results from the proposed approach with those from the gradient‐dependent plasticity model shows that the two models give close solutions.     

A mixed finite element for the nonlinear analysis of in-plane loaded masonry walls

A mixed membrane eight-node quadrilateral finite element for the analysis of masonry walls is presented. Assuming that a nonlinear and history-dependent 2D stress-strain constitutive law is used to model masonry material, the element derivation is based on a Hu-Washizu variational statement, involving displacement, strain, and stress fields as primary variables. As the behavior of masonry structures is often characterized by strain localization phenomena, due to strain softening at material level, a discontinuous, piecewise constant interpolation of the strain field is considered at element level, to capture highly nonlinear strain spatial distributions also within finite elements. Newton's method of solution is adopted for the element state determination problem. For avoiding pathological sensitivity to the finite element mesh, a novel algorithm is proposed to perform an integral-type nonlocal regularization of the constitutive equations in the present mixed formulation. By the comparison with competing serendipity displacement-based formulation, numerical simulations prove high performances of the proposed finite element, especially when coarse meshes are adopted.     

A regularized force‐based beam element with a damage–plastic section constitutive law

A new beam finite element is presented, with a generalized section constitutive law based on damage mechanics and plasticity, to analyse the cyclic structural response of plane frames. Both displacement‐based and force‐based (FB) approaches are used and compared, to demonstrate the significant advantages of the FB formulation in the presence of material non‐linearity. In order to overcome the analytical problems and the pathological mesh dependency of the numerical response in the presence of strain‐softening post‐peak behaviour, a classical non‐local regularization procedure is adopted first, based on the integral definition of the associated variable governing the damaging evolution process. Subsequently, for the FB element a new simple regularization technique is proposed based on a selected integration procedure along the element length, which predefines the location of the Gauss points in the beam region, where the localization phenomena take place. As for the other computational aspects, an iterative element state determination is adopted for the FB formulation and a local predictor–corrector algorithm is used to solve the incremental evolution problems of the damage and plastic internal variables. Finally, some examples are shown on simple beams and frames, subjected to monotonically increasing and cyclic loading conditions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Finite element response sensitivity analysis using force‐based frame models

This paper presents a method to compute consistent response sensitivities of force‐based finite element models of structural frame systems to both material constitutive and discrete loading parameters. It has been shown that force‐based frame elements are superior to classical displacement‐based elements in the sense that they enable, at no significant additional costs, a drastic reduction in the number of elements required for a given level of accuracy in the computed response of the finite element model. This advantage of force‐based elements is of even more interest in structural reliability analysis, which requires accurate and efficient computation of structural response and structural response sensitivities. This paper focuses on material non‐linearities in the context of both static and dynamic response analysis. The formulation presented herein assumes the use of a general‐purpose non‐linear finite element analysis program based on the direct stiffness method. It is based on the general so‐called direct differentiation method (DDM) for computing response sensitivities. The complete analytical formulation is presented at the element level and details are provided about its implementation in a general‐purpose finite element analysis program. The new formulation and its implementation are validated through some application examples, in which analytical response sensitivities are compared with their counterparts obtained using forward finite difference (FFD) analysis. The force‐based finite element methodology augmented with the developed procedure for analytical response sensitivity computation offers a powerful general tool for structural response sensitivity analysis. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Finite element implementation of non‐linear elastoplastic constitutive laws using local and global explicit algorithms with automatic error control

Implicit stress integration algorithms have been demonstrated to provide a robust formulation for finite element analyses in computational mechanics, but are difficult and impractical to apply to increasingly complex non‐linear constitutive laws. This paper discusses the performance of fully explicit local and global algorithms with automatic error control used to integrate general non‐linear constitutive laws into a non‐linear finite element computer code. The local explicit stress integration procedure falls under the category of return mapping algorithm with standard operator split and does not require the determination of initial yield or the use of any form of stress adjustment to prevent drift from the yield surface. The global equations are solved using an explicit load stepping with automatic error control algorithm in which the convergence criterion is used to compute automatically the coarse load increment size. The proposed numerical procedure is illustrated here through the implementation of a set of elastoplastic constitutive relations including isotropic and kinematic hardening as well as small strain hysteretic non‐linearity. A series of numerical simulations confirm the robustness, accuracy and efficiency of the algorithms at the local and global level. Published in 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cyclic plastic behavior analysis based on the micromorphic mixed hardening plasticity model

In this paper, a small strain micromorphic elasto-plastic model with isotropic/kinematic hardening is presented for modeling the size effect and Bauschinger effect in material with microstructure. A nonlinear kinematic hardening model is embedded into the micromorphic framework by employing a backstress, a micro-backstress and a micro-couple-backstress in a physical way. The material intrinsic length scale is introduced in the constitutive law, leading to the presence of higher order stress. The present model is further implemented into a 2D plane strain finite element frame with a fully implicit stress integration scheme. The generalized consistent tangent modulus is derived to achieve the parabolic convergence of the global nodal force equilibrium equation. Two numerical examples, including a thin film and a plate with underlying structures subjected to cyclic loading, are analyzed to verify the theoretical developments and numerical formulations. Plastic behaviors in micromorphic continuum, such as size effect, Bauschinger effect, ratcheting effect and plastic shakedown phenomenon, are investigated.     

An analysis of a new class of integration algorithms for elastoplastic constitutive relations

An accuracy analysis of a new class of integration algorithms for finite deformation elastoplastic constitutive relations recently proposed by the authors, is carried out in this paper. For simplicity, attention is confined to infinitesimal deformations. The integration rules under consideration fall within the category of return mapping algorithms and follow in a straightforward manner from the theory of operator splitting applied to elastoplastic constitutive relations. General rate-independent and rate-dependent behaviour, with plastic hardening or softening, associated or non-associated flow rules and nonlinear elastic response can be efficiently treated within the present framework. Isoerror maps are presented which demonstrate the good accuracy properties of the algorithm even for strain increments much larger than the characteristic strains at yielding.     

Local and non‐local thermomechanical modeling of elastic‐plastic materials undergoing large strains

This paper deals with the numerical analysis of instabilities for elastic‐plastic materials undergoing large deformations in non‐isothermal conditions. The considered isotropic model is fully thermomechanically coupled and includes temperature‐induced softening, which is another source of strain localization next to geometrical effects. Due to complexity of the model, a symbolic‐numerical tool Ace is used for the preparation of user‐supplied subroutines for the finite element method. The computational verification is performed using two benchmark tests: necking of circular bar in tension and shear banding of elongated rectangular plate in plain strain conditions. The attention is focused on mesh dependence of the numerical results and the regularizing effect of heat conduction. The research reveals that the conductivity influences the shear band width and ductility of the material response; however, for the adiabatic case, the results are discretization sensitive, and another regularization is needed. A new gradient‐enhanced thermomechanical model is developed that introduces an internal length parameter governing the size of the shear band caused by thermal softening. The numerical verification of the non‐local model is performed for the adiabatic case. Subsequently, the simultaneous application of the gradient enhancement and heat conduction in the model is analyzed, which reproduces an evolving shear band. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

循环荷载作用下超高性能混凝土的轴拉力学性能及本构关系模型

对具有不同拉伸应变特性(应变强化和应变软化)的超高性能混凝土(Ultra high performance concrete, UHPC)进行了单调和循环荷载作用下的直接拉伸试验。试验结果表明:应变强化UHPC基体开裂后进入多点微裂纹分布的应变强化段,达到极限抗拉强度后进入单缝开裂的应变软化段;应变软化UHPC基体开裂后直接进入单缝开裂的应变软化段;循环荷载下两种类型UHPC的轴拉应力-应变曲线包络线与单调荷载下的应力-应变曲线基本一致;基于刚度退化过程建立了两种类型UHPC的轴拉损伤演化方程,根据实测应力-应变曲线和试件的裂缝分布形态建立了两种类型UHPC的轴拉本构关系模型,与试验结果基本吻合;采用能量法研究了应变强化UHPC两阶段轴拉本构关系在数值计算时的等效方法。最后,通过无筋应变强化UHPC抗弯试验梁的数值模拟对本文建立的应变强化UHPC轴拉本构关系模型和损伤演化方程及相关假定进行了验证,结果表明本文建立的应变强化UHPC轴拉本构模型能较好地预测UHPC弯拉构件的极限承载力,轴拉损伤变量能在宏观层面上较好地反应试件的裂缝分布状态。      

Assumed strain nodally integrated hexahedral finite element formulation for elastoplastic applications

In this work, a linear hexahedral element based on an assumed strain finite element technique is presented for the solution of plasticity problems. The element stems from the Nodally Integrated Continuum Element (NICE) formulation and its extensions. Assumed gradient operators are derived via nodal integration from the kinematic‐weighted residual; the degrees of freedom are only the displacements at the nodes. The adopted constitutive model is the classical associative von Mises plasticity model with isotropic and kinematic hardening; in particular, a double‐step midpoint integration algorithm is adopted for the integration and solution of the relevant nonlinear evolution equations. Efficiency of the proposed method is assessed through simple benchmark problems and comparison with reference solutions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A co-rotational weak-form quadrature planar beam element for geometric nonlinear static and dynamic analysis

The co-rotational formulation of quadrature planar beam element undergoing large displacement and large rotation is presented. A local frame co-rotates with the differential element and decomposes the motion into a rigid body movement and a strain-producing deformation. General explicit formulations of elemental vectors and matrices, including internal force vector, external force vector, tangent stiffness matrix, and mass matrix, are derived via the numerical integration together with the differential quadrature law. Thus, the element nodes and numerical integration method can be chosen arbitrarily based on the accuracy requirement and problem type. A number of case studies on the static, postbuckling, and dynamic response of beams and frame structures are conducted. The convergence study shows that the co-rotational quadrature element has an exponential rate of convergence and the reduced Gauss integration yield the highest accuracy. It is seen that the proposed co-rotational quadrature beam element is simple in formulations, computationally efficient, and capable of capturing the complex nonlinear behavior of beam and frame structures with high precision.     

Element free galerkin study of steady quasi-static crack growth in plane strain tension in elastic-plastic materials

Employing an extension of the convective mesh technique, an Element Free Galerkin (EFG) based formulation for steady quasi-static crack growth in elastic-plastic materials undergoing small scale yielding is established. In accordance with the steady state condition, a parallel path constitutive law integration scheme is implemented into the formulation and a body force type term is introduced for the contribution of crack tip plasticity. A detailed numerical analysis is performed for steady quasi-static growth of a mode I crack under plane strain conditions in elastic-perfectly plastic materials. The numerical solutions to this problem confirm the existence of an elastic unloading wedge. The computed near-tip stress distributions and the crack opening displacements for this problem provide good agreements with the corresponding asymptotic solutions and demonstrate the validity of the EFG based formulation. A rough estimate of the range of validity of the asymptotic solutions is also made based on the numerical solutions. In addition, the effect of strain hardening on the steady quasi-static crack growth is investigated. Both power hardening and linear hardening models are considered.     

基于弹塑性损伤本构模型的复合材料层合板破坏荷载预测

在连续损伤力学和塑性力学框架内,建立一个同时考虑塑性效应和损伤累积导致材料属性退化的复合材料弹塑性损伤本构模型。基于最近点投影回映算法,开发本构模型的应变驱动隐式积分算法以更新应力及与解答相关的状态变量,并推导与所开发算法相应的数值一致性切线刚度矩阵,保证有限元分析采用NewtonRaphson迭代法解答非线性问题的计算效率。采用断裂带模型对已开发的本构模型软化段进行规则化,以减轻有限元分析结果的网格相关性问题。对损伤变量进行粘滞规则化,并推导出相应的粘滞规则化数值一致性切线刚度张量,解决了在有限元隐式计算程序中采用含应变软化段本构关系的数值分析由于计算困难而提前终止的问题。开发包含数值积分算法的用户材料子程序UMAT,并嵌于有限元程序Abaqus v6.14中。通过对力学行为展现显著塑性效应的AS4/3501-6V型开口复合材料层合板的渐进失效分析,验证本文提出的材料本构模型的有效性。结果显示,预测结果与已报道的试验结果吻合良好,并且预测精度高于其他已有弹性损伤模型。表明已建立的弹塑性损伤本构模型能够准确预测力学行为,展现显著塑性效应的复合材料层合板的破坏荷载,为其构件和结构设计提供一种有效的分析方法。     

A regularized XFEM model for the transition from continuous to discontinuous displacements

This work focuses on the modelling through the extended finite element method of structural problems characterized by discontinuous displacement. As a model problem, an elastic isotropic domain characterized by a displacement discontinuity across a surface is studied. A regularization of the displacement field is introduced depending on a scalar parameter. The regularized solution is defined in a layer. The emerging strain and stress fields are independently modelled using specific constitutive assumptions. In particular, it is shown that the mechanical work spent within the regularization layer can be interpreted as an interface work provided that a spring‐like constitutive law is adopted. The accuracy of the integration procedures adopted for the stiffness matrix is assessed, as highly non‐linear terms appear. Standard Gauss quadrature is compared with adaptive quadrature and with a new technique, based on an equivalent polynomial approach. One‐ and two‐dimensional results are reported for varying discretization size, regularization parameter, and constitutive parameters. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the robustness and efficiency of integration algorithms for a 3D finite strain phenomenological SMA constitutive model

Most devices based on shape memory alloys experience large rotations and moderate or finite strains. This motivates the development of finite‐strain constitutive models together with the appropriate computational counterparts. To this end, in the present paper a three‐dimensional finite‐strain phenomenological constitutive model is investigated and a robust and efficient integration algorithm is proposed. Properly defining the variables, extensively used regularization schemes are avoided and a nucleation–completion criterion is defined. Moreover, introducing a logarithmic mapping, a new form of time‐discrete equations is proposed. The solution algorithm as well as a suitable initial guess for the resultant nonlinear equations are also deeply discussed. Extensive numerical tests are performed to show robustness as well as efficiency of the proposed integration algorithm. Implementation of the integration algorithm within a user‐defined subroutine UMAT in the commercial nonlinear finite element software ABAQUS/Standard makes also possible the solution of a variety of boundary value problems. The obtained results show the efficiency and robustness of the proposed approach and confirm the improved efficiency (in terms of solution CPU time) when a nucleation–completion criterion is used instead of regularization schemes, as well as when a logarithmic mapping is used for the time‐discrete evolution equation instead of an exponential mapping. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Non‐local boundary integral formulation for softening damage

A strongly non‐local boundary element method (BEM) for structures with strain‐softening damage treated by an integral‐type operator is developed. A plasticity model with yield limit degradation is implemented in a boundary element program using the initial‐stress boundary element method with iterations in each load increment. Regularized integral representations and boundary integral equations are used to avoid the difficulties associated with numerical computation of singular integrals. A numerical example is solved to verify the physical correctness and efficiency of the proposed formulation. The example consists of a softening strip perforated by a circular hole, subjected to tension. The strain‐softening damage is described by a plasticity model with a negative hardening parameter. The local formulation is shown to exhibit spurious sensitivity to cell mesh refinements, localization of softening damage into a band of single‐cell width, and excessive dependence of energy dissipation on the cell size. By contrast, the results for the non‐local theory are shown to be free of these physically incorrect features. Compared to the classical non‐local finite element approach, an additional advantage is that the internal cells need to be introduced only within the small zone (or band) in which the strain‐softening damage tends to localize within the structure. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Implementation of cyclic plasticity models based on a general form of kinematic hardening

This paper deals with implementation of cyclic plastic constitutive models in which a general form of strain hardening and dynamic recovery is employed to represent the multilinear, as well as non‐linear, evolution of back stress. First, in order to incorporate such a general form of kinematic hardening in finite element methods, successive substitution and its convergence are discussed for implicitly integrating stress; moreover, a new expression of consistent tangent modulus is derived by introducing a set of fourth‐rank constitutive parameters into discretized kinematic hardening. Then, the constitutive parameters introduced are specified in three cases of the general form of kinematic hardening; the three cases have distinct capabilities of simulating ratcheting and cyclic stress relaxation. Numerical examples are given to verify the convergence in successive substitution and the new expression of consistent tangent stiffness. Error maps for implicitly integrating stress under non‐proportional as well as proportional loading are also given to show that the multilinear case of the general form provides high accuracy even if strain increment is very large. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Asymptotic solution of mode-III crack in damaged softening materials

In this paper, a constitutive model of elasticity coupled with damage suggested by Lemaitre et al. [1] is used. The macroscopic stress-strain response of the model includes two stages: strain hardening and strain softening. The basic equation is derived for the anti-plane shear problem. Several lowest order asymptotic solutions are obtained, and assembled for the crack-tip fields.     

Micromechanical modelling of strain hardening and tension softening in cementitious composites

This paper will describe a procedure for modelling the complete macroscopic response (including strain hardening and tension softening) of two short fibre reinforced cementitious composites and show how their microstructural parameters influence this response. From a mathematical point of view it is necessary to examine how bridging forces imposed by the fibres alter the opening of multiple cracks in elastic solids under unidirectional tensile loading. The strain hardening is essentially due to elastic bridging forces which are proportional to crack opening displacements. After a certain critical crack opening displacement is reached, some fibres progressively debond from the elastic matrix and thereafter provide a residual bridging force by frictional pull-out, while others continue to provide full bridging. This results in a kind of elasto-plastic bridging law which governs the initial tension softening response of the composite. Besides the usual square-root singularity at crack tips, the elasto-plastic bridging law introduces a logarithmic singularity at the point of discontinuity in the bridging force. These singularities have been analytically isolated, so that only regular functions are subjected to numerical integration. Unbridged multiple crack problems have in the past been solved using double infinite series which have been found to be divergent. In this paper a superposition procedure will be described that eliminates the use of double infinite series and thus the problem of divergence. It is applicable to both unbridged and bridged multiple cracks. The paper will end by showing how the model of multiple bridged cracks can accurately predict the prolonged nonlinear strain hardening and the initial tension softening response of two cementitious composites.