• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.469-488
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• 2008

Finite element methods have often been used for structural analyses of various mechanical problems. When finite element analyses are utilized to resolve mechanical systems, numerical uncertainties in the initial data such as structural parameters and loading conditions may result in uncertainties in the structural responses. Therefore the initial data have to be as accurate as possible in order to obtain reliable structural analysis results. The typical finite element method may not properly represent discrete systems when using uncertain data, since all input data of material properties and applied loads are defined by nominal values. An interval finite element analysis, which uses the interval arithmetic as introduced by Moore (1966) is proposed as a non-stochastic method in this study and serves a new numerical tool for evaluating the uncertainties of the initial data in structural analyses. According to this method, the element stiffness matrix includes interval terms of the lower and upper bounds of the structural parameters, and interval change functions are devised. Numerical uncertainties in the initial data are described as a tolerance error and tree graphs of uncertain data are constructed by numerical uncertainty combinations of each parameter. The structural responses calculated by all uncertainty cases can be easily estimated so that structural safety can be included in the design. Numerical applications of truss and frame structures demonstrate the efficiency of the present method with respect to numerical analyses of structural uncertainties.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.703-708
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• 2017

The goal of this study is to evaluate behavior uncertainties of structures by using interval finite element analysis based on interval factor method as a specific non-stochastic tool. The interval finite element method, i.e., interval FEM, is a finite element method that uses interval parameters in situations where it is not possible to get reliable probabilistic characteristics of the structure. The present method solves the uncertainty problems of a 2D solid structure, in which structural characteristics are assumed to be represented as interval parameters. An interval analysis method using interval factors is applied to obtain the solution. Numerical applications verify the intuitive effectiveness of the present method to investigate structural uncertainties such as displacement and stress without the application of probability theory.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.311-318
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• 2020

The goal of this study is to analytically and non-stochastically generate structural uncertainty behaviors of isotropic beams and laminated composite plates under plane stress conditions by using an interval finite element method. Uncertainty parameters of structural properties considering resistance and load effect are formulated by interval arithmetic and then linked to the finite element method. Under plane stress state, the isotropic cantilever beam is modeled and the laminated composite plate is cross-ply lay-up [0/90]. Triangular shape with a clamped-free boundary condition is given as geometry. Through uncertainties of both Young's modulus for resistance and applied forces for load effect, the change of structural maximum deflection and maximum von-Mises stress are analyzed. Numerical applications verify the effective generation of structural behavior uncertainties through the non-stochastic approach using interval arithmetic and immediately the feasibility of the present method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.643-658
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• 2008

In this paper, we present a quadratic element model based on non-conforming displacement modes and modified shape functions. This new and refined 8-node hybrid stress plane element consists of two additional non-conforming modes that are added to the translational degree of freedom to improve the behavior of a membrane component. Further, the modification of the shape functions through quadratic polynomials in x-y coordinates enables retaining reasonable accuracy even when the element becomes considerably distorted. To establish its accuracy and efficiency, the element is compared with existing elements and - over a wide range of mesh distortions - it is demonstrated to be exceptionally accurate in predicting displacements and stresses.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.27-34
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• 1998

A versatile flat shell element has been developed by combining a membrane element with drilling degree-of-freedom and a plate bending element. This element is formulated by the enhanced displacement field with the additional non-conforming displacement modes. Thus the element possesses six degrees-of-freedom (DOF) per node which permits an easy connection to other six DOF elements as well as the improvement of the element behavior. In plate bending part, this element is established by the combined use of the addition of non-conforming modes, the reduced (or selective) integration scheme, and the construction of the substitute shear strain fields. The achieved improvement may be attributable to the fact that the merits of these individual techniques are merged into the new element in a complementary manner. In membrane part, this element shows better membrane behavior as the nonconforming displacement mode is added to drilling mode.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.134-141
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• 1997

A geometrically non-linear finite element formulation of spatial cable networks is presented using three cable elements. Firstly, derivation procedures of tangent stiffness and mass matrices for the space truss element and the elastic catenary cable element, and the isoparametric cable element are summarized. The load incremental method based on Newton-Raphson iteration method and the dynamic relaxation method are presented in order to determine the initial static state of cable nets subjected to self-weights and support motions. Furthermore, static non-linear analysis of cable structures under additional live loads are performed based on the initial configuration. Challenging example problems are presented and discussed in order to demonstrate the feasibility of the present finite element method and investigate static non-linear behaviors of cable nets.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.259-264
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• 2007

In this paper, to analyze the initial valued non-homogeneous elastic half space by the scaled boundary analysis, the infinite element approach was introduced. The free surface of the initial valued non-homogeneous elastic half space was mode1ed as a circumferential direction of boundary scaled boundary coordinate. The infinite element was used to represent the infinite length of the free surface. The initial value of material property(elastic modulus) was considered by the combination of the position of the sealing center and the power function of the radial direction. By use of the mapping type infinite element, the consistent e1ements formulation could be available. The performance and the feasibility of proposed approach are examined by two numerical examples.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2015

In order to increase endurance flight efficiency of long endurance electric powered UAV, main wing of UAV should have high aspect ratio and low structural weight. Since a spar which consists of thin and slender structure for weight reduction can cause catastrophic failure during the flight, it is important to develop verification method of structural integrity of the spar with the light weight design. In this paper, process of structural analysis using non-linear finite element method was introduced for the verification of structural integrity of the spar. The static strength test of the spar was conducted to identify structural characteristic under the static load. Then, the experimental result of the spar was compared to the analytical result from the non-linear finite element analysis. It was found that the developed process of structural analysis could predict well the non-linear structural behavior of the spar under ultimate load.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.325-340
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• 2001

This paper addresses an efficient modification method that eliminates the undesirable effects of strains due to various non-conforming modes so that the non-conforming element can pass the patch test unconditionally. The scheme is incorporated in the element formulation to establish new types of non-conforming hexahedral elements designated as NHx and NVHx for the regular element and variable node element, respectively. Non-conforming displacement modes are selectively added to the ordinary (conforming) element displacement assumptions to improve the bending behavior of the distorted solid element. To verify the validation of proposed direct modification method and the improvement of element behavior, several numerical tests are carried out. Test results show that the proposed method is effective and its applications to non-conforming solid elements guarantee for the element to pass the patch test.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.591-598
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• 2002

The interface element method for non-matching FEM meshes is extended using stabilized nodal integration. Two non-matching meshes are shown to be joined together compatibly, with the aid of the moving least square approximation. Using stabilized nodal integration, the interface element method is able to satisfy the patch test, which guarantees the convergence of the method.