An automatic adaptive refinement procedure for the reproducing kernel particle method. Part I: Stress recovery and a posteriori error estimation

In this study, an adaptive refinement procedure using the reproducing kernel particle method (RKPM) for the solution of 2D elastostatic problems is suggested. This adaptive refinement procedure is based on the Zienkiewicz and Zhu (ZZ) error estimator for the a posteriori error estimation and an adaptive finite point mesh generator for new point mesh generation. The presentation of the work is divided into two parts. In Part I, concentration will be paid on the stress recovery and the a posteriori error estimation processes for the RKPM. The proposed error estimator is different from most recovery type error estimators suggested previously in such a way that, rather than using the least-squares fitting approach, the recovery stress field is constructed by an extraction function approach. Numerical studies using 2D benchmark boundary value problems indicated that the recovered stress field obtained is more accurate and converges at a higher rate than the RKPM stress field. In Part II of the study, concentration will be shifted to the development of an adaptive refinement algorithm for the RKPM.     

Adaptive finite element analysis of crack propagation in elastic fracture mechanics based on averaging techniques

A goal-oriented a posteriori error estimator is presented in this paper for the error obtained while approximately evaluating the J-integral in elastic fracture mechanics using the finite element method. The J-integral provides a criterion for crack propagation of a pre-existing crack. Its accurate evaluation is therefore of considerable importance in engineering applications to prevent failure of structures. This goal can be attained by adaptive finite element methods based on the well-established strategy of solving an auxiliary dual problem in order to control the error of a (non)linear functional, here the J-integral. In this paper, the adaptive strategy is based on a goal-oriented a posteriori error estimator that uses averaging techniques. The paper is concluded by a numerical example that illustrates our theoretical results.     

Smart computational fracture of materials and structures

The use of the finite element method for complex engineering problems is now common. To ease the burden on the engineer the development of smart or adaptive computational methods is now required to model complex problems. In this paper we investigate the development of an adaptive finite element method for fracture-related problems. The adaptive method involves various stages which include the finite element analysis, error estimation/indication, mesh refinement and fracture/failure analysis in a loop. Some simple error estimators, based on stress projection, are used to investigate the adaptive finite element process. Element refinement is based on three schemes; the first and second are a simple and hierarchical refinement scheme with transitioning which avoids the need for constraint equations between element boundaries. Another scheme based on constraint equations between elements is also examined. The energy norm is used to estimate the element error. The software has the ability to introduce a discrete fracture in the structure according to standard fracture analysis practice. Crack tip parameters are calculated using a least-squares fit of the displacements into the asymptotic crack tip displacement field. Some simple examples are used to investigate the adaptive process, its behavior and some of the practical problems encountered. The convergence and equilibrium of the adaptive process, in terms of global error in the energy norm, are investigated. In the example the same problem is analyzed using both a fine computational grid and a coarse one. The coarse mesh is then adapted using the three different procedures available. The estimated error in the solution and the stress intensity are shown against the number of elements and number of iterations. Some further areas of research in adaptive finite element analysis are discussed.     

3D adaptive finite element modeling of non-planar curved crack growth using the weighted superconvergent patch recovery method

In this paper, an adaptive finite element analysis is presented for 3D modeling of non-planar curved crack growth. The fracture mechanical evaluation is performed based on a general technique for non-planar curved cracks. The Schollmann’s crack kinking criterion is used for the process of crack propagation in 3D problems. The Zienkiewicz-Zhu error estimator is employed in conjunction with a weighted SPR technique at each patch to improve the accuracy of error estimation. Applying the proposed technique to 3D non-planar curved crack growth problems shows significant improvements particularly at the boundaries and near crack tip regions. Several numerical examples are presented to illustrate the robustness of the proposed technique.     

Adaptive finite element analysis of mixed‐mode crack problems with automatic mesh generator

Fully automatic advancing front type mesh generator to take care of crack and fracture problems has been presented. It is coupled with Zienkiewicz and Zhu error estimator, the refinement methodology depends on the concept of strain energy concentration for adaptive analysis of mixed‐mode crack problems. No investigation is reported in this direction so far. It has been found that the above combination proved to be very powerful for adaptive finite element analysis of mixed‐mode crack problems in two‐dimensional isotropic solids. Very accurate stress intensity factors have been obtained for a target error of 10 per cent with a minimum number of steps. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Extended isogeometric analysis based on PHT‐splines for crack propagation near inclusions

Adaptive local refinement is one of the main issues for isogeometric analysis (IGA). In this paper, an adaptive extended IGA (XIGA) approach based on polynomial splines over hierarchical T‐meshes (PHT‐splines) for modeling crack propagation is presented. The PHT‐splines overcome certain limitations of nonuniform rational B‐splines–based formulations; in particular, they make local refinements feasible. To drive the adaptive mesh refinement, we present a recovery‐based error estimator for the proposed method. The method is based on the XIGA method, in which discontinuous enrichment functions are added to the IGA approximation and this method does not require remeshing as the cracks grow. In addition, crack propagation is modeled by successive linear extensions that are determined by the stress intensity factors under linear elastic fracture mechanics. The proposed method has been used to analyze numerical examples, and the stress intensity factors results were compared with reference results. The findings demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method.     

A node enrichment adaptive refinement in Discrete Least Squares Meshless method for solution of elasticity problems

In this paper, an adaptive refinement procedure is proposed to be used with Discrete Least Squares Meshless (DLSM) method for accurate solution of planar elasticity problems. DLSM method is a newly introduced meshless method based on the least squares concept. The method is based on the minimization of a least squares functional defined as the weighted summation of the squared residual of the governing differential equation and its boundary conditions at nodal points used to discretize the domain and its boundaries. A Moving Least Square (MLS) method is used to construct the shape function making the approach a fully least squares based approach. An error estimate and adaptive refinement strategy is proposed in this paper to increase the efficiency of the DLSM method. For this, a residual based error estimator is introduced and used to discover the region of higher errors. The proposed error estimator has the advantages of being available at the end of each analysis contributing to the efficiency of the proposed method. An enrichment method is then used by adding more nodes to the area of higher errors as indicated by the error estimator. A Voronoi diagram is used to locate the position of the nodes to be added to the current nodal configuration. Efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed procedure is examined by adaptively solving two benchmark problems. The results show the ability of the proposed strategy for accurate simulation of elasticity problems.     

An automatic adaptive refinement procedure for the reproducing kernel particle method. Part II: Adaptive refinement

In Part II of this study, an automatic adaptive refinement procedure using the reproducing kernel particle method (RKPM) for the solution of 2D linear boundary value problems is suggested. Based in the theoretical development and the numerical experiments done in Part I of this study, the Zienkiewicz and Zhu (Z–Z) error estimation scheme is combined with a new stress recovery procedure for the a posteriori error estimation of the adaptive refinement procedure. By considering the a priori convergence rate of the RKPM and the estimated error norm, an adaptive refinement strategy for the determination of optimal point distribution is proposed. In the suggested adaptive refinement scheme, the local refinement indicators used are computed by considering the partition of unity property of the RKPM shape functions. In addition, a simple but effective variable support size definition scheme is suggested to ensure the robustness of the adaptive RKPM procedure. The performance of the suggested adaptive procedure is tested by using it to solve several benchmark problems. Numerical results indicated that the suggested refinement scheme can lead to the generation of nearly optimal meshes for both smooth and singular problems. The optimal convergence rate of the RKPM is restored and thus the effectivity indices of the Z–Z error estimator are converging to the ideal value of unity as the meshes are refined.     

MODIFIED CRACK CLOSURE INTEGRAL (MCCI) FOR 3-d PROBLEMS USING 20-NODED BRICK ELEMENTS

Abstract— The Modified Crack Closure Integral (MCCI) technique based on Irwin's crack closure integral concept is very effective for estimation of strain energy release rates G in individual as well as mixed-mode configurations in linear elastic fracture mechanics problems. In a finite element approach, MCCI can be evaluated in the post-processing stage in terms of nodal forces and displacements near the crack tip. The MCCI expressions are however, element dependent and require a systematic derivation using stress and displacement distributions in the crack tip elements.
Earlier a general procedure was proposed by the present authors for the derivation of MCCI expressions for 3-dimensional (3-d) crack problems modelled with 8-noded brick elements. A concept of sub-area integration was proposed to estimate strain energy release rates at a large number of points along the crack front. In the present paper a similar procedure is adopted for the derivation of MCCI expressions for 3-d cracks modelled with 20-noded brick elements. Numerical results are presented for center crack tension and edge crack shear specimens in thick slabs, showing a comparison between present results and those available in the literature.     

A posteriori error estimates and adaptive procedures for the meshless Galerkin boundary node method for 3D potential problems

The Galerkin boundary node method (GBNM) is a boundary only meshless method that combines variational formulations of boundary integral equations with the moving least-squares approximations. This paper presents the mathematical derivation of a posteriori error estimates and adaptive refinement procedures for the GBNM for 3D potential problems. Two types of error estimators are developed in detail. One is a perturbation error estimator that is formulated based on the difference between numerical solutions obtained using two successive nodal arrangements. The other is a projection error estimator that is formulated based on the difference between the GBNM solution itself and its L²-orthogonal projection. The reliability and efficiency of both types of error estimators is established. That is, these error estimators are proven to have an upper and a lower bound by the constant multiples of the exact error in the energy norm. A localization technique is introduced to accommodate the non-local property of integral operators for the needed local and computable a posteriori error indicators. Convergence analysis results of corresponding adaptive meshless procedures are also given. Numerical examples with high singularities illustrate the theoretical results and show that the proposed adaptive procedures are simple, effective and efficient.     

Phase-field modeling of brittle fracture in a 3D polycrystalline material via an adaptive isogeometric-meshfree approach

Phase-field modeling, which introduces the regularized representation of sharp crack topologies, provides a convenient strategy for tackling 3D fracture problems. In this work, an adaptive isogeometric-meshfree approach is developed for the phase-field modeling of brittle fracture in a 3D polycrystalline material. The isogeometric-meshfree approach uses moving least-squares approximations to construct the equivalence between isogeometric basis functions and meshfree shape functions, thus inheriting the flexible local mesh refinement scheme from a meshfree method. This refinement scheme is improved by introducing an error estimator that includes both the phase field and its gradient. With the present approach, numerical implementations of the adaptive phase-field modeling that introduces the anisotropy of fracture resistance in polycrystals are proposed. In this way, propagating cracks can be dynamically tracked, and the mesh near cracks is refined in a meshfree manner without requiring a priori knowledge of crack paths. Furthermore, the intergranular and transgranular crack propagation patterns in polycrystalline materials can be simulated by the present approach. A series of numerical examples that deal with the isotropic and anisotropic fracture are investigated to demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

基于应力超收敛恢复技术的广义特征值问题后验误差估计

根据有限元解的超收敛特性提出了一种基于应力超收敛恢复技术的广义特征值问题后验误差估计。通过对单元内的应力超收敛点以及相邻单元的应力超收敛点进行插值或外推处理,得到单元内其它点处更高精度的应力解。通过高精度的应力值可以得到结构处理后改进的势能。将改进的势能代入瑞利商,最终得到比原始有限元解更高精度的特征解。将后处理特征解作为“准精确解”代替误差估计因子中未知的精确解,实现后验误差估计过程。数值计算结果表明,所提出的后验误差估计是渐进精确的,因此可作为结构广义特征值问题自适应有限元方法的误差估计因子。     

Adaptive mesh refinement and coarsening for cohesive zone modeling of dynamic fracture

Adaptive mesh refinement and coarsening schemes are proposed for efficient computational simulation of dynamic cohesive fracture. The adaptive mesh refinement consists of a sequence of edge‐split operators, whereas the adaptive mesh coarsening is based on a sequence of vertex‐removal (or edge‐collapse) operators. Nodal perturbation and edge‐swap operators are also employed around the crack tip region to improve crack geometry representation, and cohesive surface elements are adaptively inserted whenever and wherever they are needed by means of an extrinsic cohesive zone model approach. Such adaptive mesh modification events are maintained in conjunction with a topological data structure (TopS). The so‐called PPR potential‐based cohesive model (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 2009; 57 :891–908) is utilized for the constitutive relationship of the cohesive zone model. The examples investigated include mode I fracture, mixed‐mode fracture and crack branching problems. The computational results using mesh adaptivity (refinement and coarsening) are consistent with the results using uniform mesh refinement. The present approach significantly reduces computational cost while exhibiting a multiscale effect that captures both global macro‐crack and local micro‐cracks. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An r-h Adaptive Strategy Based On Material Forces and Error Assessment

A new r-h adaptive scheme is proposed and formulated. It involves a combination of the configurational force based r-adaption with weighted Laplacian smoothing and mesh enrichment by h-refinement. A Zienkiewicz-Zhu best guess stress error estimator is used in the h-refinement strategy. The best sequence for combining the effectiveness of r- and h- adaption has been evolved at in this study. A further reduction in the potential energy and the relative error norm of the system is found to be achieved with combined r-adaption and mesh enrichment (in the form h-refinement). Numerical study confirms that the proposed combined r-h adaption is more efficient than a purely h-adaptive approach and more flexible than a purely r-adaptive approach with better convergence characteristics.     

Modeling of cohesive crack growth using an adaptive mesh refinement via the modified-SPR technique

In this paper, an adaptive finite element procedure is presented in modeling of mixed-mode cohesive crack propagation via the modified superconvergent path recovery technique. The adaptive mesh refinement is performed based on the Zienkiewicz–Zhu error estimator. The weighted-SPR recovery technique is employed to improve the accuracy of error estimation. The Espinosa–Zavattieri bilinear cohesive zone model is applied to implement the traction-separation law. It is worth mentioning that no previous information is necessary for the path of crack growth and no region of the domain is necessary to be filled by the cohesive elements. The maximum principal stress criterion is employed for predicting the direction of extension of the cohesive crack in order to implement the cohesive elements. Several numerical examples are analyzed numerically to demonstrate the capability and efficiency of proposed computational algorithm.     

On the development of adaptive random differential quadrature method with an error recovery technique and its application in the locally high gradient problems

An adaptive numerical method called, the adaptive random differential quadrature (ARDQ) method is presented in this paper. In the ARDQ method, the random differential quadrature (RDQ) method is coupled with a posteriori error estimator based on relative error norm in the displacement field. An error recovery technique, based on the least square averaging over the local interpolation domain, is proposed which improves the solution accuracy as the spacing, h → 0. In the adaptive refinement, a novel convex hull approach with the vectors cross product is proposed to ensure that the newly created nodes are always within the computational domain. The ARDQ method numerical accuracy is successfully evaluated by solving several 1D, 2D and irregular domain problems having locally high gradients. It is concluded from the convergence values that the ARDQ method coupled with error recovery technique can be effectively used to solve the locally high gradient initial and boundary value problems.     

大坝有限元分析应力取值的研究

提出了基于误差控制下的自适应网格的有限元应力取值标准:即给定一全局误差限作为自适应有限元网格剖分的准则,以此网格计算所得应力即为有限元应力取值。应用适用于工程计算的Z2后验误差估计方法以及h-型自适应策略,对一个典型的重力坝剖面进行了线弹性自适应有限元计算。计算结果表明:给定一个全局误差限,网格剖分调整若干次后即可满足误差要求,不会出现因角缘应力集中出现剖分不收敛的情况;存在一个全局误差限,使得当继续降低误差限时,坝踵和坝趾的角缘应力趋于稳定值。     

A posteriori error estimates in finite element solution of structure vibration problems with applications to acoustical fluid-structure analysis

We present an a posteriori error estimator for piecewise linear finite element approximations of structure vibration problems. We prove that this estimator is equivalent to the energy norm of the error. Also, we introduce an adaptive mesh-refinement procedure based on the proposed estimator to analize fluid-structure interaction problems. Finally, numerical results for some test examples are presented which show the efficiency of the error estimator and the mesh-refinement techniques.     

Adaptive finite element analysis of mixed-mode fracture problems containing multiple crack-tips with an automatic mesh generator

A fully automatic advancing front type mesh generator to take care of crack problems has been presented. It is coupled with the Zienkiewicz and Zhu error estimator and the refinement methodology depends on the concept of strain energy concentration for completely automatic adaptive analysis of mixed-mode crack problems. For the first time energy based path independent M ₁-integral has been used to extract mixed-mode stress intensity factors in randomly changing quadratic triangular meshes. To fulfill the objective of automatic adaptive procedures, an approach has been suggested and validated for generation of integration paths automatically without user intervention. Stress intensity factors have been obtained within engineering accuracy.     

On error estimator and adaptivity in the meshless Galerkin boundary node method

In this article, a simple a posteriori error estimator and an effective adaptive refinement process for the meshless Galerkin boundary node method (GBNM) are presented. The error estimator is formulated by the difference between the GBNM solution itself and its L ²-orthogonal projection. With the help of a localization technique, the error is estimated by easily computable local error indicators and hence an adaptive algorithm for h-adaptivity is formulated. The convergence of this adaptive algorithm is verified theoretically in Sobolev spaces. Numerical examples involving potential and elasticity problems are also provided to illustrate the performance and usefulness of this adaptive meshless method.