Mixed Dimensional Coupling in Finite Element Stress Analysis

Proceedings, 10th International Meshing Roundtable, Sandia National Laboratories, pp.269-277, October 7-10 2001

MESHING
RESEARCH
CORNER

10th International Meshing Roundtable
Newport Beach, California, U.S.A.
October 7-10, 2001

School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering,
The Queen's University of Belfast,
Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road,
Belfast, BT9 5AH, Northern Ireland.
Email: c.armstrong@qub.ac.uk
Web: sog1.me.qub.ac.uk/femgroup.html

Abstract
In many finite element analysis models, there are usually regions that are ideal candidates for dimensional reduction. In order to capture stress concentrations at local details, it would be desirable to combine the reduced dimensional element types with higher dimensional elements in the whole global model. Therefore, it is important in such cases to integrate into the analyses some scheme for coupling the element types that conforins to the governing equations of the problem. In this paper, a novel method that can correctly couple beams to solids, beams to shells and shells to solids for elastic problems is presented. The approach adopted is to equate the work done on either side of the mixed dimensional interface and this leads to multi-point constraint equations, providing compatible relationships of the nodal degrees of freedom between the differing element types. Example results show that the proposed technique does not introduce any spurious stresses at the dimensional interface.

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