• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2017

The purpose of the present study is the presentation of the appropriate element and shape function in the solution of the neutron diffusion equation in two-dimensional (2D) geometries. To this end, the multigroup neutron diffusion equation is solved using the Galerkin finite element method in both rectangular and hexagonal reactor cores. The spatial discretization of the equation is performed using unstructured triangular and quadrilateral finite elements. Calculations are performed using both linear and quadratic approximations of shape function in the Galerkin finite element method, based on which results are compared. Using the power iteration method, the neutron flux distributions with the corresponding eigenvalue are obtained. The results are then validated against the valid results for IAEA-2D and BIBLIS-2D benchmark problems. To investigate the dependency of the results to the type and number of the elements, and shape function order, a sensitivity analysis of the calculations to the mentioned parameters is performed. It is shown that the triangular elements and second order of the shape function in each element give the best results in comparison to the other states.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.213-227
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• 2024

In this study, a framework for coupling of the convolution quadrature time-domain boundary element method (CQBEM) and image-based finite element method (IMFEM) is presented for 2-D elastic wave propagation. This coupling method has three advantages: 1) the finite element modeling for heterogeneous areas can be performed without difficulties by using digital data for the analysis model, 2) wave propagation in an infinite domain can be calculated with high accuracy by using the CQBEM, and 3) a small time-step size can be used. In general, a small time-step size cannot be used in the classical time-domain boundary element method. However, the CQBEM used in this analysis can address a small time-step size. This makes it possible to couple the CQBEM and image-based FEM which require a small-time step size. In this study, the formulation and validation of the pro-posed method are described and confirmed by solving fundamental elastic wave scattering problems. As a numerical example, elastic wave scattering in inhomogeneous media is demonstrated using the proposed coupling method.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.173-194
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• 2015

Site response analysis is an important topic in earthquake engineering. A time-domain numerical method called as one-dimensional (1D) finite element artificial boundary method is proposed to simulate the homogeneous plane elastic wave propagation in a layered half space subjected to the obliquely incident plane body wave. In this method, an exact artificial boundary condition combining the absorbing boundary condition with the inputting boundary condition is developed to model the wave absorption and input effects of the truncated half space under layer system. The spatially two-dimensional (2D) problem consisting of the layer system with the artificial boundary condition is transformed equivalently into a 1D one along the vertical direction according to Snell's law. The resulting 1D problem is solved by the finite element method with a new explicit time integration algorithm. The 1D finite element artificial boundary method is verified by analyzing two engineering sites in time domain and by comparing with the frequency-domain transfer matrix method with fast Fourier transform.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.587-602
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• 2023

This article presents the numerical modelling of transient heat transfer in highly heterogeneous composite materials where the thermal conductivity, specific heat and density are assumed to be directional-dependent. This article uses a coupled finite element-finite difference scheme to perform the transient heat transfer analysis of unidirectional (1D) and multidirectional (2D/3D) functionally graded composite panels. Here, 1D/2D/3D functionally graded structures are subjected to nonuniform heat source and inhomogeneous boundary conditions. Here, the multidirectional functionally graded materials are modelled by varying material properties in individual or in-combination of spatial directions. Here, fully spatial-dependent material properties are evaluated using Voigt's micromechanics scheme via multivariable power-law functions. The weak form is obtained through the Galerkin method and solved further via the element-space and time-step discretisation through the 2D-isoparametric finite element and the implicit backward finite difference schemes, respectively. The present model is verified by comparing it with the previously reported results and the commercially available finite element tool. The numerous illustrations confirm the significance of boundary conditions and material heterogeneity on the transient temperature responses of 1D/2D/3D functionally graded panels.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.113-129
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• 2000

This study evaluates the behavior and strength of an anchorage zone of the prestressed concrete box girder bridge on the Kyungboo highway railroad using the 2D SUB-3D STM approach and a linear elastic finite element analysis. The 2D SUB-3D STM approach utilizes several two-dimensional sub strut-tie models that represent the compressive and tensile stress flows of each projected plane of the three-dimensional structural concrete in the selection of a three dimensional strut-tie model, evaluation of the effective strengths of the concrete struts, and verification of the geometric compatibility condition and bearing capacity of the critical nodal zones in the selected three-dimensional strut-tie model. The finite element analysis uses an 8-node brick element and the longitudinal prestressing force is considered as the equivalent nodal force. Analysis results show that the 2D SUB-3D STM approach and linear elastic finite element method can be effectively applied to the analysis and design of three-dimensional structural concrete including a prestressed concrete box girder anchorage zone.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.321-336
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• 2012

As an improvement on the isoparametric element method, the derivation presented in this paper is close to that done by Wang (1990) for the 2-D finite element. We extend this idea to solve 3-D crack problems in this paper. A new displacement modelling is constructed with local solutions of three-dimensional cracks and a quasi-compatible isoparametric element for three-dimensional fracture mechanics analysis is presented. The stress intensity factors can be solved directly by means of the present method without any post-processing. A new method for calculating the stress intensity factors of three-dimensional cracks with complex geometries and loads is obtained. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the validity of the present method. The accuracy of the results obtained by the proposed element is demonstrated by solving several crack problems. The results illustrate that this method not only saves much calculating time but also increases the accuracy of solutions. Because this quasi-compatible finite element of 3-D cracks contains any singularities and easily meets the requirement of compatibility, it can be easily implemented and incorporated into existing finite element codes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.76 no.3
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• pp.379-393
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• 2020

In this paper, we propose an automatic procedure to improve the accuracy of finite element solutions using enriched 2D solid finite elements (4-node quadrilateral and 3-node triangular elements). The enriched elements can improve solution accuracy without mesh refinement by adding cover functions to the displacement interpolation of the standard elements. The enrichment scheme is more effective when used adaptively for areas with insufficient accuracy rather than the entire model. For given meshes, an error for each node is estimated, and then proper degrees of cover functions are applied to the selected nodes. A new error estimation method and cover function selection scheme are devised for the proposed adaptive enrichment scheme. Herein, we demonstrate the proposed enrichment scheme through several 2D problems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.383-390
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• 1995

A 2-D four-noded finite element which contains a ${\lambda}$ singularity is developed. The new element is compatible with quadratic standard isoparametric elements. The element is tested on two different examples. In the first example, an edge crack problem is analyzed using two different meshes and different integration orders. The second example is a crack perpendicular to the interface problem which is solved for different material properties and in turn different singularity order ${\lambda}$. The results of those examples illustrate the efficiency of the proposed element.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.3 no.2 s.8
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• pp.85-90
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• 2003

If we use a third order approximation for the displacement function of beam element in finite element methods, finite element solutions of beams yield nodal displacement values matching to beam theory results to have no connection with the number increasing of elements of beams. It is assumed that, as the member displacement value at beam nodes are correct, the calculation procedure of beam element stiffness matrix have no numerical errors. A the member forces are calculated by the equations of $\frac{-M}{EI}=\frac{{d^2}{\omega}}{dx^2}\;and\;\frac{dM}{dx}=V$, the member forces at nodes of beams have errors in a moment and a shear magnitudes in the case of smaller number of element. The nodal displacement value of plate subject to the lateral load converge to the exact values according to the increase of the number of the element. So it is assumed that the procedures of plate element stiffness matrix calculations has a error in the fundamental assumptions. The beam methods for the high accuracy ratio solution Is also applied to the plate analysis. The method of reducing a error ratio of member forces and element stiffness matrix in the finite element methods is studied. Results of study were as follows. 1. The matrixes of EI[B] and [K] in the equations of M(x)=EI[B]{q} and M(x) = [K]{q}+{Q} of beams are same. 2. The equations of $\frac{-M}{EI}=\frac{{d^2}{\omega}}{dx^2}\;and\;\frac{dM}{dx}=V$ for the member forces have a error ratio in a finite element method of uniformly loaded structures, so equilibrium node loads {Q} must be substituted in the equation of member forces as the numerical examples of this paper revealed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.353-362
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• 2012

In this paper decay and mapped elastodynamic infinite elements, based on modified Bessel shape functions and appropriate for Soil-Structure Interaction problems are described and discussed. These elements can be treated as a new form of the recently proposed Elastodynamic Infinite Elements with United Shape Functions (EIEUSF) infinite elements. The formulation of 2D horizontal type infinite elements (HIE) is demonstrated, but by similar techniques 2D vertical (VIE) and 2D corner (CIE) infinite elements can also be formulated. It is demonstrated that the application of the elastodynamical infinite elements is the easier and appropriate way to achieve an adequate simulation including basic aspects of Soil-Structure Interaction. Continuity along the artificial boundary (the line between finite and infinite elements) is discussed as well and the application of the proposed elastodynamical infinite elements in the Finite Element Method is explained in brief. Finally, a numerical example shows the computational efficiency of the proposed infinite elements.