Couple stress-based unsymmetric 8-node planar membrane elements with good tolerances to mesh distortion

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Shang ◽  
Huanpu Wu

PurposeThe paper aims to propose two new 8-node quadrilateral membrane elements with good distortion tolerance for the modified couple stress elasticity based on the unsymmetric finite element method (FEM).Design/methodology/approachThe nodal rotation degrees of freedom (DOFs) are introduced into the virtual work principle and constrained by the penalty function for approximating the test functions of the physical rotation and curvature. Therefore, only the C0 continuity instead of C1 continuity is required for the displacement during the element construction. The first unsymmetric element assumes the test functions of the displacement and strain using the standard 8-node isoparametric interpolations, while these test functions in the second model are further enhanced by the nodal rotation DOFs. Besides, the trial functions in these two elements are constructed based on the stress functions that can a priori satisfy related governing equations.FindingsThe benchmark tests show that both the two elements can efficiently simulate the size-dependent plane problems, exhibiting good numerical accuracies and high distortion tolerances. In particular, they can still exactly reproduce the constant couple stress state when the element shape deteriorates severely into the degenerated triangle. Moreover, it can also be observed that the second element model, in which the linked interpolation technique is used, has better performance than the first one, especially in capturing the steep gradients of the physical rotations.Originality/valueAs the proposed new elements use only three DOFs per node, they can be readily incorporated into the existing finite element (FE) programs. Thus, they are of great benefit to analysis of size-dependent membrane behaviors of micro/nano structures.

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Liu ◽  
Wei Tang ◽  
Ying-Lin Ke ◽  
Qing-Liang Chen ◽  
Yunbo Bi

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a new model for optimizing pre-joining processes quickly and accurately, guiding workers to standardized operations. For the automatic riveting in panel assemblies, the traditional approach of determination of pre-joining processes entirely rests on the experience of workers, which leads to the improper number, location and sequence of pre-joining, the low quality stability and the high repair rate in most cases. Design/methodology/approach – The clearances computation with the complete finite element model for every process combination is time-consuming. Therefore a fast pre-joining processes optimization model (FPPOM) is proposed. This model treats both the measured initial clearances and the stiffness matrices of key points of panels as an input; considers the permissive clearances as an evaluation criterion; regards the optimal number, location and sequence as an objective; and takes the neighborhood-search-based adaptive genetic algorithm as a solution. Findings – A comparison between the FPPOM and complete finite element model with clearances (CFEMC) was made in practice. Further, the results indicate that running the FPPOM is time-saving by >90 per cent compared with the CFEMC. Practical implications – This paper provides practical insights into realizing the pre-joining processes optimization quickly. Originality/value – This paper is the first to propose the FPPOM, which could simplify the processes, reduce the degrees of freedom of nodes and conduct the manufacturers to standardized manipulations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-102
Author(s):  
Carsten Strzalka ◽  
◽  
Manfred Zehn ◽  

For the analysis of structural components, the finite element method (FEM) has become the most widely applied tool for numerical stress- and subsequent durability analyses. In industrial application advanced FE-models result in high numbers of degrees of freedom, making dynamic analyses time-consuming and expensive. As detailed finite element models are necessary for accurate stress results, the resulting data and connected numerical effort from dynamic stress analysis can be high. For the reduction of that effort, sophisticated methods have been developed to limit numerical calculations and processing of data to only small fractions of the global model. Therefore, detailed knowledge of the position of a component’s highly stressed areas is of great advantage for any present or subsequent analysis steps. In this paper an efficient method for the a priori detection of highly stressed areas of force-excited components is presented, based on modal stress superposition. As the component’s dynamic response and corresponding stress is always a function of its excitation, special attention is paid to the influence of the loading position. Based on the frequency domain solution of the modally decoupled equations of motion, a coefficient for a priori weighted superposition of modal von Mises stress fields is developed and validated on a simply supported cantilever beam structure with variable loading positions. The proposed approach is then applied to a simplified industrial model of a twist beam rear axle.


Author(s):  
Kevin Darques ◽  
Abdelmounaïm Tounzi ◽  
Yvonnick Le-menach ◽  
Karim Beddek

Purpose This paper aims to go deeper on the analysis of the shaft voltage of large turbogenerators. The main interest of this study is the investigation process developed. Design/methodology/approach The analysis of the shaft voltage because of several defects is based on a two-dimensional (2D) finite element modeling. This 2D finite element model is used to determine the shaft voltage because of eccentricities or rotor short-circuit. Findings Dynamic eccentricities and rotor short circuit do not have an inherent impact on the shaft voltage. Circulating currents in the stator winding because of defects impact the shaft voltage. Originality/value The original value of this paper is the investigation process developed. This study proposes to quantify the impact of a smooth stator and then to explore the contribution of the real stator winding on the shaft voltage.


Author(s):  
B Ashby ◽  
C Bortolozo ◽  
A Lukyanov ◽  
T Pryer

Summary In this article, we present a goal-oriented adaptive finite element method for a class of subsurface flow problems in porous media, which exhibit seepage faces. We focus on a representative case of the steady state flows governed by a nonlinear Darcy–Buckingham law with physical constraints on subsurface-atmosphere boundaries. This leads to the formulation of the problem as a variational inequality. The solutions to this problem are investigated using an adaptive finite element method based on a dual-weighted a posteriori error estimate, derived with the aim of reducing error in a specific target quantity. The quantity of interest is chosen as volumetric water flux across the seepage face, and therefore depends on an a priori unknown free boundary. We apply our method to challenging numerical examples as well as specific case studies, from which this research originates, illustrating the major difficulties that arise in practical situations. We summarise extensive numerical results that clearly demonstrate the designed method produces rapid error reduction measured against the number of degrees of freedom.


2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 2210-2249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Arefi

In this paper, modified couple stress formulation of a small scale doubly curved piezoelectric shell resting on Pasternak's foundation is presented based on first-order shear deformation theory. Size-dependent electro-elastic results of doubly curved shell are presented based on an analytical approach. The doubly curved piezoelectric shell is subjected to uniform transverse loads and applied voltage. To account the size dependency, modified couple stress theory is employed in conjunction with principle of virtual work. The numerical results are presented in both tabular and graphical forms to show the influence of small scale parameter, applied voltage, geometries and two parameters of Pasternak's foundation on the electro-elastic results of size-dependent doubly curved piezoelectric shell.


2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shixian Xu ◽  
Zhengtao Su ◽  
Jian Wu

Purpose This paper aims to research the influence of pressure, friction factors, roughness and actuating speed to the mixed lubrication models of outstroke and instroke. Design/methodology/approach Mixed lubrication model is solved by finite volume method, which consists of coupled fluid mechanics, deformation mechanics and contact mechanics analyses. The influence of friction factor on the finite element model is also considered. Then, contact pressure, film thickness, friction and leakage have been studied. Findings It was found that the amount of leakage is sensitive to the film thickness. The larger the film thickness is, the greater the influence received from the friction factor, however, the effect of oil film on the friction is negligible. The friction is determined mainly by the contact pressure. The trend of friction and leakage influenced by actuating velocity and roughness is also obtained. Originality/value The influence of friction factor on the finite element model is considered. This can make the calculation more accurate.


Author(s):  
Jordan J. Cox ◽  
Jeffrey A. Talbert ◽  
Eric Mulkay

Abstract This paper presents a method for naturally decomposing finite element models into sub-models which can be solved in a parallel fashion. The unique contribution of this paper is that the decomposition strategy comes from the geometric features used to construct the solid model that the finite element model represents. Domain composition and domain decomposition methods are used to insure global compatibility. These techniques reduce the N2 behavior of traditional matrix solving techniques, where N is the number of degrees of freedom in the global set of matrix equations, to a sum of m matrices with n2 behavior, where n represents the number of degrees of freedom in the smaller sub-model matrix equations.


2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tammy Haut Donahue ◽  
Maury L. Hull ◽  
Mark M. Rashid ◽  
Christopher R. Jacobs

Abstract A finite element model of the tibio-femoral joint in the human knee was created using a new technique for developing accurate solid models of soft tissues (i.e. cartilage and menisci). The model was used to demonstrate that constraining rotational degrees of freedom other than flexion/extension when the joint is loaded in compression markedly affects the load distribution between the medial and lateral sides of the joint. The model also was used to validate the assumption that the bones can be treated as rigid.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1852-1867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuang Wang ◽  
Gedong Jiang ◽  
Xuesong Mei ◽  
Chuang Zou ◽  
Xian Zhang ◽  
...  

Purpose Because of the compact structure, short flexspline (FS) harmonic drive (HD) is increasingly used. The stress calculation of FS is very important in design and optimization of HD system. This paper aims to study the stress calculation methods for short FS, based on mechanics analysis and finite element method (FEM). Design/methodology/approach A rapid stress calculation method, based on mechanics analysis, is proposed for the short FS of HD. To verify the stress calculation precision of short FS, a complete finite element model of HD is established. The results of stress and deformation of short FS in different lengths are solved by FEM. Findings Through the rapid calculation method, the analytical relationship between circumferential stress and length of cylinder was obtained. And the circumferential stress has proportional relation with the reciprocal of squared length. The FEM results verified that the rapid stress calculation method could obtain accurate results. Research limitations/implications The rapid mechanics analysis method is practiced to evaluate the strength of FS at the design stage of HD. And the complete model of HD could contribute to improving the accuracy of FEM results. Originality/value The rapid calculation method is developed based on mechanics analysis method of cylinder and equivalent additional bending moment model, through which the analytical relationship between circumferential stress and length of cylinder was obtained. The complete three-dimensional finite element model of HD takes the stiffness of bearing into consideration, which can be used in the numerical simulation in the future work to improve the accuracy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 579-589
Author(s):  
Muhamad Husnain Mohd Noh ◽  
Mohd Akramin Mohd Romlay ◽  
Chuan Zun Liang ◽  
Mohd Shamil Shaari ◽  
Akiyuki Takahashi

PurposeFailure of the materials occurs once the stress intensity factor (SIF) overtakes the material fracture toughness. At this level, the crack will grow rapidly resulting in unstable crack growth until a complete fracture happens. The SIF calculation of the materials can be conducted by experimental, theoretical and numerical techniques. Prediction of SIF is crucial to ensure safety life from the material failure. The aim of the simulation study is to evaluate the accuracy of SIF prediction using finite element analysis.Design/methodology/approachThe bootstrap resampling method is employed in S-version finite element model (S-FEM) to generate the random variables in this simulation analysis. The SIF analysis studies are promoted by bootstrap S-version Finite Element Model (BootstrapS-FEM). Virtual crack closure-integral method (VCCM) is an important concept to compute the energy release rate and SIF. The semielliptical crack shape is applied with different crack shape aspect ratio in this simulation analysis. The BootstrapS-FEM produces the prediction of SIFs for tension model.FindingsThe mean of BootstrapS-FEM is calculated from 100 samples by the resampling method. The bounds are computed based on the lower and upper bounds of the hundred samples of BootstrapS-FEM. The prediction of SIFs is validated with Newman–Raju solution and deterministic S-FEM within 95 percent confidence bounds. All possible values of SIF estimation by BootstrapS-FEM are plotted in a graph. The mean of the BootstrapS-FEM is referred to as point estimation. The Newman–Raju solution and deterministic S-FEM values are within the 95 percent confidence bounds. Thus, the BootstrapS-FEM is considered valid for the prediction with less than 6 percent of percentage error.Originality/valueThe bootstrap resampling method is employed in S-FEM to generate the random variables in this simulation analysis.


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