Structural sensitivity analysis in nonlinear and transient problems using the local response function technique

The main aim of this work is the mathematical formulation, computational implementation and the application of the local version of the Response Function Method (RFM) to analyze structural design sensitivity in nonlinear structures and problems. This method is based on the Finite Element Method-based determination of the polynomial response function between design parameter and the structural state function like displacements or temperatures. One may use this numerical technique in its global version, where a single polynomial is determined for the entire computational domain or, in the case of nonlinear, transient analyses or the heterogeneous domains, in the local approach—where nodal response function are to be determined. The application of this methodology is illustrated with three examples—transient heat transfer in the homogeneous rod, the elastoplastic analysis of 2D truss as well as the eigenvibrations for a large scale 3D structure, where time, increment and eigenvalue dependent variations of the first and the second order sensitivities with respect to the physical and material parameters are computed. The first order gradients computed with the use of the RFM approach are contrasted with the finite difference computations.     

Shape design sensitivity analysis of kinematical boundaries

A new approach is used in this paper to derive the design sensitivity formulation with kinematical design boundaries. By employing the concept of the conventional finite difference approach, the variation of structural response due to change of the kinematic design boundary can be represented by the perturbed structure under a set of kinematical boundary conditions. Parameterization of the design variation with respect to the design variable enables us to transform the design sensitivity into the solutions of a boundary value problem with perturbation displacements on the design boundary. The perturbation diplacements can be evaluated from the stress and displacement fields of the initial problem. This approach can be treated as a special case of the general direct formulation, but the derivation using the finite difference procedure gives a strong physical meaning of the method, and the formulation derived provides an explicit form for design sensitivity calculation. The numerical implementation of this approach based on the boundary element method is discussed, and a few numerical examples are used to verify the proposed formulation.     

Design of minimum sensitivity systems

A method for the design of linear time-invariant multivariable minimum sensitivity systems is presented. The method utilizes a quadratic form in the parameter-induced output errors as a performance index to be minimized, with the constraint that a prescribed nominal transfer function matrix be obtained. An essential ingredient in the procedure is the use of a comparison sensitivity matrix. Two advantages that follow from the use of the sensitivity matrix are: 1) Physical realization constraints on the compensators may be included in the design. 2) The computational aspects of the problem are relatively simple and may be carried out routinely using any parameter optimization algorithm. A nontrivial multivariable example illustrates the procedure. The design method may be viewed as the second part in a two-part procedure, where the first part is the determination of a desired nominal transfer function. A two-degree-of-freedom feedback structure is used to realize an optimum or desired nominal closed-loop transfer matrix, as well as a minimum in a sensitivity index.     

Optimal cross-section and configuration design of elastic-plastic structures subject to dynamic cyclic loading

This paper shows an optimal design problem with continuum variational formulation, applied to nonlinear elasticplastic structures subject to dynamic loading. The total Lagrangian procedure is used to describe the response of the structure. The direct differentiation method is used to obtain the sensitivities of the structural response that are needed to solve the optimization problem. Since unloading and reloading of the structure are allowed, the structural response is path-dependent and an additional step is needed to integrate the constitutive equations. It can be shown, consequently, that design sensitivity analysis is also path-dependent. A finite element method with implicit time integration is used to discretize the state and sensitivity equations.A mathematical programming approach is used for the optimization process. Numerical applications are performed on a 3-D truss structure, where cross-sectional areas and nodal point coordinates are treated as design variables. Optimal designs have been obtained and compared by using two different strategies: a twolevel strategy where the levels are defined according to the type of design variables, cross sectional areas or node coordinates, and optimizing simultaneously with respect to both types of design variables. Comparisons have also been made between optimal designs obtained by considering or not considering the inertial term of the structural equilibrium.     

Sensitivity analysis of frictional contact response of axisymmetric composite structures

A computational procedure is presented for evaluating the sensitivity coefficients of the static frictional contact response of axisymmetric composite structures. The structures are assumed to consist of an arbitrary number of perfectly bonded homogeneous anisotropic layers. The material of each layer is assumed to be hyperelastic, and the effect of geometric nonlinearity is included. The sensitivity coefficients measure the sensitivity of the response to variations in different material, lamination and geometric parameters of the structure. A displacement finite element model is used for the discretization. The normal contact conditions are incorporated into the formulation by using a perturbed Lagrangian approach with the fundamental unknowns consisting of nodal displacements, and Lagrange multipliers associated with the contact conditions. The Lagrange multipliers are allowed to be discontinuous at interelement boundaries. Tangential contact conditions are incorporated by using a penalty method in conjunction with the classical Coulomb's friction model. The Newton-Raphson iterative scheme is used for the solution of the resulting nonlinear algebraic equations, and for the determination of the contact region, contact conditions (sliding or sticking), and the contact pressures. The sensitivity coefficients are evaluated by using a direct differentiation approach. Numerical results are presented for the frictional contact of a composite spherical cap pressed against a rigid plate.     

Geometry optimization of a slender cantilever beam subjected to lateral buckling

The paper deals with the geometry optimization of a slender cantilever beam subjected to a concentrated force acting at the free end. The two-parametric mathematical model of lateral torsional buckling is based on the Bernoulli–Euler beam theory and is given in dimensionless form. The optimization procedure is performed using the optimal control theory and the relation between state and adjoint variables is presented. The boundary value problem derived from the optimization procedure is solved numerically and compared to solutions obtained via an alternative optimization approach called sequential approximate optimization.     

Eulerian shape design sensitivity analysis and optimization with a fixed grid

Conventional shape optimization based on the finite element method uses Lagrangian representation in which the finite element mesh moves according to shape change, while modern topology optimization uses Eulerian representation. In this paper, an approach to shape optimization using Eulerian representation such that the mesh distortion problem in the conventional approach can be resolved is proposed. A continuum geometric model is defined on the fixed grid of finite elements. An active set of finite elements that defines the discrete domain is determined using a procedure similar to topology optimization, in which each element has a unique shape density. The shape design parameter that is defined on the geometric model is transformed into the corresponding shape density variation of the boundary elements. Using this transformation, it has been shown that the shape design problem can be treated as a parameter design problem, which is a much easier method than the former. A detailed derivation of how the shape design velocity field can be converted into the shape density variation is presented along with sensitivity calculation. Very efficient sensitivity coefficients are calculated by integrating only those elements that belong to the structural boundary. The accuracy of the sensitivity information is compared with that derived by the finite difference method with excellent agreement. Two design optimization problems are presented to show the feasibility of the proposed design approach.     

Evolutionary topology optimization of elastoplastic structures

We have recently proposed in (Fritzen et al., Int J Numer Methods Eng 106(6):430–453, 2016) an evolutionary topology optimization model for the design of multiscale elastoplastic structures, which is in general independent of the applied material law. Facing the variability of the final design for minor parameter changes when dealing with plastic structural designs, we further improve the robustness and the effectiveness of the BESO optimization procedure in this work by introducing a damping scheme on sensitivity numbers and by progressively reducing the sensitivity filtering radius. The damping scheme constraining the variance of the sensitivity numbers stabilizes the topological evolution process in particular for dissipative structural designs. By setting initially a large filter radius value and reducing it gradually, the emergence of the redundant structural branches, which are to be eliminated afterwards and are the main reasons deteriorating the design process, could be avoided. The robustness and the effectiveness of the improved model has been validated by means of benchmark numerical examples of conventional homogeneous structures.     

Fixed‐Structure ℋ∞ Controller Design for Systems with Polytopic Uncertainty: An LMI Solution

This note provides a new method for fixed‐structure H_∞ controller design for discrete‐time single input single output (SISO) systems with polytopic uncertainty. New conditions are derived based on the concept of robust strict positive realness (SPRness) of an uncertain polynomial with respect to a parameter‐dependent polynomial. The quality of this approximation depends on this SPR‐maker. A procedure is proposed for choosing the parameter‐dependent SPR‐maker that guarantees the improvement of the performance for the designed controller in comparison with the traditional approaches employed fixed SPR‐makers. The proposed conditions are given in terms of solutions to a set of linear matrix inequalities. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated by comparing with the existing results.     

Correlation between parameter sensitivity and counter-intuitive phenomenon of elastic–plastic beam dynamics

Method of parameter sensitivity is applied to study the counter-intuitive phenomenon observed in numerical, analytical and experimental studies on the dynamic response of elastic–plastic beams. Direct differentiation approach and central difference approach are used in parameter sensitivity analysis. It is shown that the direct differentiation approach is more suitable for extremely parameter-sensitive problems. A correlation between the parameter sensitivity analysis and the occurrence of the counter-intuitive phenomenon of beam dynamics is established, which is then used to identify the range of the loading parameters for the occurrence of the counter-intuitive phenomenon.     

Inherently robust micromachined gyroscopes with 2-DOF sense-mode oscillator

Commercialization of reliable vibratory micromachined gyroscopes for high-volume applications has proven to be extremely challenging, primarily due to the high sensitivity of the dynamical system response to fabrication and environmental variations. This paper reports a novel micromachined gyroscope with two degrees-of-freedom (DOF) sense-mode oscillator that provides inherent robustness against structural parameter variations. The 2-DOF sense-mode oscillator provides a frequency response with two resonant peaks and a flat region between the peaks, instead of a single resonance peak as in conventional gyroscopes. The device is nominally operated in the flat region of the sense-mode response curve, where the amplitude and phase of the response are insensitive to parameter fluctuations. Furthermore, the sensitivity is improved by utilizing dynamical amplification of oscillations in the 2-DOF sense-mode oscillator. Thus, improved robustness to variations in temperature, damping, and structural parameters is achieved, solely by the mechanical system design. Prototype gyroscopes were fabricated using a bulk-micromachining process, and the performance and robustness of the devices have been experimentally evaluated. With a 25 V dc bias and 3 V ac drive signal resulting in 5.8 /spl mu/m drive-mode amplitude, the gyroscope exhibited a measured noise-floor of 0.64/spl deg//s//spl radic/Hz over 50 Hz bandwidth in atmospheric pressure. The sense-mode response in the flat operating region was also experimentally demonstrated to be inherently insensitive to pressure, temperature, and dc bias variations.     

A series solution algorithm for initial boundary-value problems with variable properties

A multiple infinite trigonometric cum polynomial series method for solving initial-boundary value problems governed by hyperbolic differential equations with variable coefficients is developed. The method proposed herein can be easily applied to a broad class of engineering systems including those cases where boundary conditions may vary with time. In the proposed mathematical technique, the solution form is assumed as a combination of infinite Fourier series and polynomial series of nth order, where n is the order of the differential equation. The coefficients of the polynomial series are obtained as functions of undetermined Fourier series coefficients by satisfying the initial-boundary conditions. The variable coefficients are expanded in appropriate half-range sine or cosine series. Insertion of the above Fourier-polynomial series solutions into the differential equation and application of orthogonality conditions leads to a linear summation equation which can be solved in open form. However, the authors have developed a closed-form series solution consisting of a highly efficient algorithm. The major advantage of this technique is the development of a solution algorithm, coupled with the multiple infinite trigonometric cum polynomial series solutions, leading to fast converging series solutions. A representative initial and boundary value problem governed by hyperbolic partial differential equations of variable coefficients is presented herein to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the method.     

不确定性参数灵敏度分析的随机响应面法

动力学和控制系统中往往包含有不确定性参数,为此提出了一种基于随机响应面的不确定性参数灵敏度分析方法,以量化参数不确定性对响应变异性的影响.文中首先利用随机响应面建立不确定性参数和响应之间的表达式,然后通过求偏导方式推导参数的灵敏度系数,该系数综合反映了参数均值和标准差的影响.最后通过一根包含几何、材料不确定参数的数值梁来验证所提出方法,并与方差分析法结果进行了比较.     

基于ANSYS的静力问题结构可靠性分析方法

分别使用ANSYS中的拉丁超立方样本蒙特卡罗法、中心复合设计样本响应面法以及Box—Behnken矩阵样本响应面法进行结构可靠性分析和计算．比较分析结果证明,对于静力问题结构可靠性分析,响应面分析结果仅在输出参数的均值、最大值以及最小值上逼近蒙特卡罗法结果,确定目标的可靠度以及输出参数标准差结果偏差较大;对于灵敏度分析结果,仅有高灵敏度变量结果可信．     

A closed formula for the determination of the impulsive solutionsof linear homogeneous matrix differential equations

A closed formula is given, which allows the determination of the impulsive solutions of linear homogeneous matrix differential equations (LHMDE) directly in terms of finite and infinite spectral data of the associated polynomial matrix. Specifically, the notions of finite and infinite Jordan pairs for a general polynomial matrix are defined and it is pointed out the strong relationship among them and the impulsive solutions of LHMDE     

Parameter sensitivity study of the Nelder-Mead Simplex Method

This paper presents a parameter sensitivity study of the Nelder-Mead Simplex Method for unconstrained optimization. Nelder-Mead Simplex Method is very easy to implement in practice, because it does not require gradient computation; however, it is very sensitive to the choice of initial points selected. Fan-Zahara conducted a sensitivity study using a select set of test cases and suggested the best values for the parameters based on the highest percentage rate of successful minimization. Begambre-Laier used a strategy to control the Particle Swarm Optimization parameters based on the Nelder Mead Simplex Method in identifying structural damage. The main purpose of the paper is to extend their parameter sensitivity study to better understand the parameter’s behavior. The comprehensive parameter sensitivity study was conducted on seven test functions: B2, Beale, Booth, Wood, Rastrigin, Rosenbrock and Sphere Functions to search for common patterns and relationships each parameter has in producing the optimum solution. The results show important relations of the Nelder-Mead Simplex parameters: reflection, expansion, contraction, and Simplex size and how they impact the optimum solutions. This study is crucial, because better understanding of the parameters behavior can motivate current and future research using Nelder-Mead Simplex in creating an intelligent algorithm, which can be more effective, efficient, and save computational time.     

A symbolic-numerical algorithm for the computation of matrix elements in the parametric eigenvalue problem

A symbolic-numerical algorithm for the computation of the matrix elements in the parametric eigenvalue problem to a prescribed accuracy is presented. A procedure for calculating the oblate angular spheroidal functions that depend on a parameter is discussed. This procedure also yields the corresponding eigenvalues and the matrix elements (integrals of the eigenfunctions multiplied by their derivatives with respect to the parameter). The efficiency of the algorithm is confirmed by the computation of the eigenvalues, eigenfunctions, and the matrix elements and by the comparison with the known data and the asymptotic expansions for small and large values of the parameter. The algorithm is implemented as a package of programs in Maple-Fortran and is used for the reduction of a singular two-dimensional boundary value problem for the elliptic second-order partial differential equation to a regular boundary value problem for a system of second-order ordinary differential equations using the Kantorovich method.     

Comparison of Legendre polynomial approximation and variational iteration method for the solutions of general linear Fredholm integro-differential equations

In this study it is shown that the numerical solutions of linear Fredholm integro-differential equations obtained by using Legendre polynomials can also be found by using the variational iteration method. Furthermore the numerical solutions of the given problems which are solved by the variational iteration method obviously converge rapidly to exact solutions better than the Legendre polynomial technique. Additionally, although the powerful effect of the applied processes in Legendre polynomial approach arises in the situations where the initial approximation value is unknown, it is shown by the examples that the variational iteration method produces more certain solutions where the first initial function approximation value is estimated. In this paper, the Legendre polynomial approximation (LPA) and the variational iteration method (VIM) are implemented to obtain the solutions of the linear Fredholm integro-differential equations and the numerical solutions with respect to these methods are compared.