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Abstract: This paper presents the development and illustrates the application of semi-analytical solutions for plastic buckling (bifurcation) problems involving perfectly straight and uniformly compressed thin-walled metal members. These solutions are derived on the basis of a non-linear Generalised Beam Theory (GBT) formulation, recently proposed by two of the authors, that resorts to a linearised buckling analysis that adopts Hill’s hypo-elastic comparison solid method to obtain the plastic bifurcation loads and associated buckling mode shapes. Moreover, both small-strain incremental and deformation plasticity theories are employed. Several numerical illustrative examples are presented and discussed throughout the paper and closed-form analytical formulae are also derived. The accuracy of the GBT-based semi-analytical plastic bifurcation predictions is assessed through the comparison with (i) available theoretical solutions and/or (ii) results yielded by a special shell finite element model developed by one of the authors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, numerical investigation of airflow through a human upper airway is presented using an unstructured-based characteristic-based split (CBS) scheme. The CBS scheme used in the present study employs a fully explicit matrix-free solution procedure along with artificial compressibility. A one equation Spalrat–Allmaras (SA) turbulence model is employed to study low and moderate Reynolds number flows. A detailed discussion of the qualitative and quantitative results is presented. The results show a strong influence of the Reynolds number on the flow pattern and quantities of interest, pressure drop and wall shear stress. It is also apparent that SA model can be employed on unstructured meshes to predict the steady flow with good accuracy. Thus, the novelties of the present paper are: use of the unstructured mesh-based solution algorithm and the successful application of the SA model to a typical human upper airway. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we develop a “modified” immersed finite element method (mIFEM), a non-boundary-fitted numerical technique, to study fluid–structure interactions. Using this method, we can more precisely capture the solid dynamics by solving the solid governing equation instead of imposing it based on the fluid velocity field as in the original immersed finite element (IFEM). Using the IFEM may lead to severe solid mesh distortion because the solid deformation is been over-estimated, especially for high Reynolds number flows. In the mIFEM, the solid dynamics is solved using appropriate boundary conditions generated from the surrounding fluid, therefore produces more accurate and realistic coupled solutions. We show several 2-D and 3-D testing cases where the mIFEM has a noticeable advantage in handling complicated fluid–structure interactions when the solid behavior dominates the fluid flow. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this work, fully explicit numerical solutions for axial flow convection in cylindrical domains, completely or partially filled with a fluid saturated porous medium, are presented. Laminar natural convection in a vertical porous annulus and in a vertical annulus with a centrally located heat generating solid or porous rod, and laminar forced convection in a pipe partially filled with a porous medium are numerically simulated. Novel stability conditions are carried out for the axisymmetric version of the Artificial Compressibility (AC) Characteristic Based Split (CBS) algorithm, based on finite elements, in order to effectively solve the above problems. The results presented in this paper are validated against experimental and numerical data available from the literature. The problem taking into account the presence of the porous rod in the vertical annulus has been presented here for the first time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper deals with a new solid–fluid coupling algorithm between a rigid body and an unsteady compressible fluid flow, using an Embedded Boundary method. The coupling with a rigid body is a first step towards the coupling with a Discrete Element method. The flow is computed using a finite volume approach on a Cartesian grid. The expression of numerical fluxes does not affect the general coupling algorithm and we use a one-step high-order scheme proposed by Daru and Tenaud [V. Daru, C. Tenaud, J. Comput. Phys. (2004)]. The Embedded Boundary method is used to integrate the presence of a solid boundary in the fluid. The coupling algorithm is totally explicit and ensures exact mass conservation and a balance of momentum and energy between the fluid and the solid. It is shown that the scheme preserves uniform movement of both fluid and solid and introduces no numerical boundary roughness. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated on challenging one- and two-dimensional benchmarks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper we address the numerical approximation of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations in a moving domain by the spectral element method and high order time integrators. We present the Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) formulation of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations and propose a numerical method based on the following kernels: a Lagrange basis associated with Fekete points in the spectral element method context, BDF time integrators, an ALE map of high degree, and an algebraic linear solver. In particular, the high degree ALE map is appropriate to deal with a computational domain whose boundary is described with curved elements. Finally, we apply the proposed strategy to a test case. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) hybrid method combining the classical finite element (FE) method with the semi-analytical finite element (SAFE) technique is developed. This hybrid method is employed to study the interaction of guided waves with non-axisymmetric damages in cylinders. The near field surrounding the damage is analysed with the 3D FE method. The solution is expanded into sums of guided modes on both inlet and outlet cross-sections. Such eigenmode expansions enable separation into ingoing and outgoing waves, i.e., incident, reflected and transmitted waves. Using the SAFE method, elastic guided modes are then computed at the aforementioned cross-sections thus reducing the analysis to two dimensions (2D). The amplitudes of the incident modes are imposed, whereas those of the scattered modes are determined by solving the global system of the 3D hybrid FE-SAFE model. In this paper, a formula is proposed for the calculation of eigenforces and modal power flows from eigendisplacements and SAFE matrices. This has the advantage of simplifying the post-process of load eigenvectors in hybrid FE-SAFE methods. Results obtained for a vertical free-end cylinder are in good agreement with those published in the literature. Moreover, first results of the interaction of the fundamental compressional, flexural and torsional Pochhammer–Chree modes with non-axisymmetric vertical cracks are obtained and discussed. Then, the interactions of the fundamental compressional mode with oblique free-ends and cracks are briefly addressed. The power balance is shown to be satisfied with a good accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a 3D geometric modelling of a twin helical spring and its finite element analysis to study the spring mechanical behaviour under tensile axial loading. The spiralled shape graphic design is achieved through the use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools, of which a finite element model is generated. Thus, a 3D 18-dof pentaedric elements are employed to discretise the complex “wired-shape” of the spring, allowing the analysis of the mechanical response of the twin spiralled helical spring under an axial load. The study provides a clear match between the evolution of the theoretical and the numerical tensile and compression normal stresses, being of sinusoidal behaviour. The overall equivalent stress isovalues increases radially from 0° to 180°, being maximal on the internal radial zone at the section 180°. On the other hand, the minimum stress level is located in the centre of the filament cross section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper investigates the hyperelastic behaviour of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by means of a finite element-based lattice approach. A one-term incompressible Ogden-type hyperelastic model is chosen to describe the mechanical response of SWCNTs under tensile loading. In order to determine the material constants of the model, numerical tests are conducted on a representative arrangement of carbon atoms, establishing equality between the Ogden strain–energy and the variation of the Tersoff–Brenner interatomic potential. The material constants determined here are then used in numerical simulations carried out on SWCNTs models. A good predictive capability of the present model is found when the obtained results are compared to published data. A first conclusion obtained from the present work suggests that a value of 0.147nm for the Cuivalent diameter is suitable for the hyperelastic description of SWCNTs. A second conclusion reveals a prediction of 0.51 for the breaking strain of SWCNTs under tension, which is in excellent agreement with results obtained from molecular dynamics simulations and continuum theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study in this paper a P1 finite element approximation of the solution in of a biharmonic problem. Since the P1 finite element method only leads to an approximate solution in , a discrete Laplace operator is used in the numerical scheme. The convergence of the method is shown, for the general case of a solution with regularity, thanks to compactness results and to the use of a particular interpolation of regular functions with compact supports. An error estimate is proved in the case where the solution is in . The order of this error estimate is equal to 1 if the solution has a compact support, and only 1/5 otherwise. Numerical results show that these orders are not sharp in particular situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the following paper, we discuss the exhaustive use and implementation of stabilization finite element methods for the resolution of the 3D time-dependent incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. The proposed method starts by the use of a finite element variational multiscale (VMS) method, which consists in here of a decomposition for both the velocity and the pressure fields into coarse/resolved scales and fine/unresolved scales. This choice of decomposition is shown to be favorable for simulating flows at high Reynolds number. We explore the behaviour and accuracy of the proposed approximation on three test cases. First, the lid-driven square cavity at Reynolds number up to 50,000 is compared with the highly resolved numerical simulations and second, the lid-driven cubic cavity up to Re=12,000 is compared with the experimental data. Finally, we study the flow over a 2D backward-facing step at Re=42,000. Results show that the present implementation is able to exhibit good stability and accuracy properties for high Reynolds number flows with unstructured meshes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a finite element simulation of the behaviour of a vertical pile subjected to a cyclic lateral loading. First, the choice of a suitable constitutive model is discussed. The analytical solution of the model equations for a monotonic triaxial compression is given, and the model is compared with monotonic and cyclic triaxial tests on dry Fontainebleau sand. Simulations of tests carried out on a model pile with the geotechnical centrifuge of the French Public Works Research Laboratory (LCPC) were then performed with the model parameters derived from the triaxial tests. Results are in good agreement with experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present paper we investigate the capability of finite element methods to correctly reproduce the stability range of finite strain problems in the incompressible regime. To this end, we develop a numerical scheme, obtained combining a stream function formulation with an isogeometric NURBS approach, which is able to sharply estimate the stability limits of the continuous problem. Using such a method, we show a pair of benchmark problems on which various well-known finite element methods largely fail in approximating the correct stability range. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this work we extend the high-order discontinuous Galerkin (DG) finite element method to inviscid low Mach number flows. The method here presented is designed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the solution at low Mach numbers using both explicit and implicit schemes for the temporal discretization of the compressible Euler equations. The algorithm is based on a classical preconditioning technique that in general entails modifying both the instationary term of the governing equations and the dissipative term of the numerical flux function (full preconditioning approach). In the paper we show that full preconditioning is beneficial for explicit time integration while the implicit scheme turns out to be efficient and accurate using just the modified numerical flux function. Thus the implicit scheme could also be used for time accurate computations. The performance of the method is demonstrated by solving an inviscid flow past a NACA0012 airfoil at different low Mach numbers using various degrees of polynomial approximations. Computations with and without preconditioning are performed on different grid topologies to analyze the influence of the spatial discretization on the accuracy of the DG solutions at low Mach numbers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper deals with an industrial three rolls coater. The behaviour law of the elastomer roll cover in different environments is first established in order to be taken into account in the numerical simulation of the process. Cyclic compression tests are performed and compared to the corresponding numerical simulation to precisely determine the viscoelastic parameters. With the identified parameters, a finite element simulation of the process is then performed to evaluate the meniscus stability in real contact conditions. The influence of the determined elastomer behaviour laws on the free surface position is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]