A Non-Incremental Nonlinear Finite Element Solution for Cable Problems

Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Sugiyama ◽  
Aki M. Mikkola ◽  
Ahmed A. Shabana

In this investigation, a nonlinear finite element method for the large deformation and rotation of cable problems is presented. This method is based on the finite element absolute nodal coordinate formulation that guarantees the continuity of all the displacement gradients and leads to a constant mass matrix. The classical cable theory is first reviewed and the assumptions used in this linear theory are defined in order to demonstrate the basic differences between the linear theory and the nonlinear finite element formulation proposed in this paper for cable applications. The elastic cable forces in the absolute nodal coordinate formulation are obtained in this investigation using a general continuum mechanics approach that accounts for the effect of all geometric nonlinearities. It is shown in this investigation that the use of the general continuum mechanics approach leads to a simpler and more efficient formulation as compared to the use of the assumptions of the linear theory that employs a local finite element coordinate system. The results obtained using the absolute nodal coordinate formulation show a good agreement with the results obtained using the classical cable theory when linear cable problems are considered. The results of this investigation obtained using explicit numerical integration also show the potential of the proposed finite element formulation in the nonlinear analysis of cables that experience large rotations and large deformations. It is also shown that the use of perturbation methods to linearize the finite element equations of motion leads to modal characteristics results that are in a good agreement with the linear theory. The generalization of the procedure presented in this paper to three-dimensional cable problems is demonstrated and the computer implementation in multibody algorithms is discussed.

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 746-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Sugiyama ◽  
Aki M. Mikkola ◽  
Ahmed A. Shabana

In this investigation, a nonlinear finite element method for the large deformation and rotation of cable problems is presented. This method is based on finite element absolute nodal coordinate formulation that guarantees the continuity of all displacement gradients and leads to a constant mass matrix. The classical cable theory is first reviewed and the assumptions used in this linear theory are defined in order to demonstrate the basic differences between the linear theory and the nonlinear finite element formulation proposed in this paper for cable applications. The elastic cable forces in the absolute nodal coordinate formulation are obtained using a general continuum mechanics approach that accounts for the effect of all geometric nonlinearities. It is shown in this investigation that the use of the general continuum mechanics approach leads to a simpler and more efficient formulation as compared to the use of the assumptions of the linear theory that employs a local finite element coordinate system. The results obtained using the absolute nodal coordinate formulation show a good agreement with the results obtained using the classical cable theory when linear cable problems are considered. In particular it is shown that the use of perturbation methods to linearize the finite element equations of motion leads to modal characteristics results that are in a good agreement with the linear theory. The results of this investigation obtained using explicit numerical integration also show the potential of the proposed finite element formulation in the nonlinear analysis of cables that experience large rotations and deformations. The generalization of the procedure presented in this paper to three-dimensional cable problems is demonstrated and the computer implementation in multibody algorithms is discussed.


2003 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 478-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Sugiyama ◽  
Ahmed A. Shabana

The objective of this investigation is to develop a nonlinear finite element formulation for the elastic-plastic analysis of flexible multibody systems. The Lagrangian plasticity theory based on J2 flow theory is used to account for the effect of plasticity in flexible multibody dynamics. It is demonstrated that the principle of objectivity that is an issue when existing finite element formulations using rate-type constitutive equations are used is automatically satisfied when the stress and strain rate are directly calculated in the Lagrangian descriptions using the absolute nodal coordinate formulation employed in this investigation. This is attributed to the fact that, in the finite element absolute nodal coordinate formulation, the position vector gradients can completely define the state of rotation and deformation within the element. As a consequence, the numerical algorithm used to determine the plastic deformations such as the radial return algorithm becomes much simpler when the absolute nodal coordinate formulation is used as compared to existing finite element formulations that employ incrementally objective algorithms. Several numerical examples are presented in order to demonstrate the use of the formulations presented in the paper.


Author(s):  
Bassam A. Hussein ◽  
Hiroyuki Sugiyama ◽  
Ahmed A. Shabana

The finite element absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) leads to beam and plate models that relax the assumption of the classical Euler-bernoulli and Timoshenko beam and Mindlin plate theories. In these more general models, the cross section is allowed to deform and it is no longer treated as a rigid surface. The coupling between the bending and cross section deformations leads to the new ANCF-coupled deformation modes that are examined in this study. While these coupled deformation can be source of numerical and convergence problems when thin and stiff beam models are considered, the inclusion of the effect of these modes in the dynamic model is necessary in the case of very flexible structures. In order to examine the effect of these coupled deformation modes in this investigation, three different large deformation dynamic beam models are discussed. Two of these models, which differ in the way the beam elastic forces are calculated in the absolute nodal coordinate formulation, allow for systematically eliminating the coupled deformation modes, while the third allows for including these modes. The first of these models is based on a general continuum mechanics approach that leads to a model that includes the ANCF-coupled deformation modes; while the second and third methods that can be used to eliminate the coupled deformation modes are based on the elastic line approach and the Hellinger-Reissner principle. It is shown in this study that the inclusion of the ANCF-coupled deformation modes introduces geometric stiffening effects that can not be captured using other finite element models.


Author(s):  
Oleg N. Dmitrochenko ◽  
Bassam A. Hussein ◽  
Ahmed A. Shabana

The effect of the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF)–coupled deformation modes on the accuracy and efficiency when higher order three-dimensional beam and plate finite elements are used is investigated in this study. It is shown that while computational efficiency can be achieved in some applications by neglecting the effect of some of the ANCF-coupled deformation modes, such modes introduce geometric stiffening/softening effects that can be significant in the case of very flexible structures. As shown in previous publications, for stiff structures, the effect of the ANCF-coupled deformation modes can be neglected. For such stiff structures, the solution does not strongly depend on some of the ANCF-coupled deformation modes, and formulations that include these modes lead to numerical results that are in good agreement with formulations that exclude them. In the case of a very flexible structure, on the other hand, the inclusion of the ANCF-coupled deformation modes becomes necessary in order to obtain an accurate solution. In this case of very flexible structures, the use of the general continuum mechanics approach leads to an efficient solution algorithm and to more accurate numerical results. In order to examine the effect of the elastic force formulation on the efficiency and the coupling between different modes of deformation, three different models are used again to formulate the elastic forces in the absolute nodal coordinate formulation. These three methods are the general continuum mechanics approach, the elastic line (midsurface) approach, and the elastic line (midsurface) approach with the Hellinger–Reissner principle. Three-dimensional absolute nodal coordinate formulation beam and plate elements are used in this study. In the general continuum mechanics approach, the coupling between the cross section deformation and the beam centerline or plate midsurface displacement is considered, while in the approaches based on the elastic line and the Hellinger–Reissner principle, this coupling is neglected. In addition to the fully parametrized beam element used in this study, three different plate elements, two fully parametrized and one reduced order thin plate elements, are used. The numerical results obtained using different finite elements and elastic force formulations are compared in this study.


Author(s):  
Marko K. Matikainen ◽  
Aki M. Mikkola

In this study, the improved description of elastic forces for the absolute nodal coordinate based plate element is introduced. The absolute nodal coordinate formulation, which utilizes global displacements and slope coordinates as nodal variables, can be used in large rotation and deformation dynamic analysis of beam and plate structures. The formulation avoids difficulties that arise when a rotation is interpolated in three-dimensional applications. In the absolute nodal coordinate formulation, a continuum mechanics approach has become the dominating procedure when elastic forces are defined. It has recently been perceived, however, that the continuum mechanics based absolute nodal coordinate elements suffer from serious shortcomings, including Poisson’s locking and poor convergence rate. These problems can be circumvented by modifying the displacement field of a finite element in the definition of elastic forces. This allows the use of the mixed type interpolation technique, leading to accurate and efficient finite element formulations. This approach has been previously applied to two- and three-dimensional absolute nodal coordinate based finite elements. In this study, the improved approach for elastic forces is extended to the absolute nodal coordinate plate element. The introduced plate element is compared in static examples to the continuum mechanics based absolute nodal coordinate plate element, as well as to commercial finite element software.


2005 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aki M. Mikkola ◽  
Marko K. Matikainen

Dynamic analysis of large rotation and deformation can be carried out using the absolute nodal coordinate formulation. This formulation, which utilizes global displacements and slope coordinates as nodal variables, make it possible to avoid the difficulties that arise when a rotation is interpolated in three-dimensional applications. In the absolute nodal coordinate formulation, a continuum mechanics approach has become the dominating procedure when elastic forces are defined. It has recently been perceived, however, that the continuum mechanics based absolute nodal coordinate elements suffer from serious shortcomings, including Poisson’s locking and poor convergence rate. These problems can be circumvented by modifying the displacement field of a finite element in the definition of elastic forces. This allows the use of the mixed type interpolation technique, leading to accurate and efficient finite element formulations. This approach has been previously applied to two- and three-dimensional absolute nodal coordinate based finite elements. In this study, the improved approach for elastic forces is extended to the absolute nodal coordinate plate element. The introduced plate element is compared in static examples to the continuum mechanics based absolute nodal coordinate plate element, as well as to commercial finite element software. A simple dynamic analysis is performed using the introduced element in order to demonstrate the capability of the element to conserve energy.


1999 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 498-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcello Campanelli ◽  
Marcello Berzeri ◽  
Ahmed A. Shabana

Many flexible multibody applications are characterized by high inertia forces and motion discontinuities. Because of these characteristics, problems can be encountered when large displacement finite element formulations are used in the simulation of flexible multibody systems. In this investigation, the performance of two different large displacement finite element formulations in the analysis of flexible multibody systems is investigated. These are the incremental corotational procedure proposed in an earlier article (Rankin, C. C., and Brogan, F. A., 1986, ASME J. Pressure Vessel Technol., 108, pp. 165–174) and the non-incremental absolute nodal coordinate formulation recently proposed (Shabana, A. A., 1998, Dynamics of Multibody Systems, 2nd ed., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge). It is demonstrated in this investigation that the limitation resulting from the use of the infinitesmal nodal rotations in the incremental corotational procedure can lead to simulation problems even when simple flexible multibody applications are considered. The absolute nodal coordinate formulation, on the other hand, does not employ infinitesimal or finite rotation coordinates and leads to a constant mass matrix. Despite the fact that the absolute nodal coordinate formulation leads to a non-linear expression for the elastic forces, the results presented in this study, surprisingly, demonstrate that such a formulation is efficient in static problems as compared to the incremental corotational procedure. The excellent performance of the absolute nodal coordinate formulation in static and dynamic problems can be attributed to the fact that such a formulation does not employ rotations and leads to exact representation of the rigid body motion of the finite element. [S1050-0472(00)00604-8]


Author(s):  
Marcello Berzeri ◽  
Marcello Campanelli ◽  
A. A. Shabana

Abstract The equivalence of the elastic forces of finite element formulations used in flexible multibody dynamics is the focus of this investigation. Two conceptually different finite element formulations that lead to exact modeling of the rigid body dynamics will be used. These are the floating frame of reference formulation and the absolute nodal coordinate formulation. It is demonstrated in this study that different element coordinate systems, which are used for the convenience of describing the element deformations in the absolute nodal coordinate formulation, lead to similar results as the element size is reduced. The equivalence of the elastic forces in the absolute nodal coordinate and the floating frame of reference formulations is shown. The result of this analysis clearly demonstrates that the instability observed in high speed rotor analytical models due to the neglect of the geometric centrifugal stiffening is not a problem inherent to a particular finite element formulation but only depends on the beam model that is used. Fourier analysis of the solutions obtained in this investigation also sheds new light on the fundamental problem of the choice of the deformable body coordinate system in the floating frame of reference formulation. A new method is presented and used to obtain a simple expression for the elastic forces in the absolute nodal coordinate formulation. This method, which employs a nonlinear elastic strain-displacement relationship, does not result in an unstable solution when the angular velocity is increased.


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