• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.3A
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• pp.439-445
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• 2006

Analysis problems of tunnels whose geometrical dimensions are very small compared with surrounding media can be treated as infinite region problems. In such cases, even if finite element models can be applied, excessive number of elements is required to obtain satisfactory accuracy. However, inaccurate results may be produced due to assumed artificial boundary conditions. To solve these problems, a hybrid model, which models the region of interest with finite elements and the surrounding infinite media with infinite elements, is introduced for the analysis of infinite region. Three-dimensional isoparametric infinite elements with various decay characteristics are formulated in this paper and the corresponding parameters are presented by means of parametric studies. Three-dimensional tunnel analysis performed on a representative example verifies the applicability of hybrid model using infinite elements.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.633-648
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• 2011

This paper investigates the aspect-ratio locking of the isoparametric 8-node quadrilateral (QUAD8) element. An important finding is that, if finite element solution is carried out with in exact arithmetic (i.e., with no truncation and round off errors), the locking tendency of the element is completely avoided even for aspect-ratios as high as 100000. The current finite element codes mostly use floating point arithmetic. Thus, they can only avoid this locking for aspect-ratios up to 100 or 1000. A novel method is proposed in the paper to avoid aspect-ratio locking in floating point computations. In this method, the offending terms of the strain-displacement matrix (i.e., $\mathbf{B}$-matrix) are multiplied by suitable scaling factors to avoid ill-conditioning of stiffness matrix. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the method. The examples reveal that aspect-ratio locking is avoided even for aspect-ratios as high as 100000.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.3-10
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• 2000

In this study, a new smart beam finite element is proposed for the finite element modeling of the beam-type smart structure with bonded plate-type piezoelectric sensors and actuators. Constitutive equations far the direct piezoelectric effect and converse piezoelectric effect of piezoelectric materials are considered. By using the variational principle, the equations of motion for the smart beam finite element are derived. The presented 2-node beam finite element is isoparametric element based on Timoshenko beam theory. The validity of the proposed beam element is shown through comparing the analysis results of the verification examples with those of other previous researches. Therefore, by analyzing smart structures with smart beam finite elements, it is possible to simulate the control of the structural behavior by piezoelectric actuators with applied voltages and the monitoring of the structure behavior by piezoelectric sensors with sensed voltages.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.547-564
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• 2001

The numerical formulation of a two-phase interface element appropriate for porous lining system is presented. The formulation is isoparametric and can be applied both for 2-D and 3-D analysis. Biot's theory is utilized as the basis for the development of the element constitutive theory. In order to be capable of simulating the reinforcing characteristics of some geotextiles utilized as lining system, a reinforcement component has also been implemented into the formulation. By employing this specially developed interface finite element, the influence of soil consolidation on the stress distribution along the lining system of a reservoir and a landfill has been investigated.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.20-30
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• 1997

A discrete joint finite element with joint surface degradation was developed to investigate the shear behavior of rough rock joint. Isoparametric formulation was used for facilitating the implementation of the element in existing Finite Element Codes. The elasto-plastic joint deformation model with the discontinuity constitutive law proposed by Plesha was applied to the element. The reliability of the developed finite element code was successfully testified through numerical direct shear tests conducted under both constant normal stress and constant normal displacement conditions. The result of the numerical direct shear test showed that the code can capture characteristic deformation features envisaged in the direct shear test of rough rock joint.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.269-278
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• 2003

In this study, the method of the finite element modeling for free vibration control of beam-type smart structures with bonded plate-type piezoelectric sensors and actuators is proposed. Constitutive equations for the direct piezoelectric effect and converse piezoelectric effect of piezoelectric materials are considered. By using the variational principle, the equations of motion for the smart beam finite element are derived, The proposed 2-node beam finite element is an isoparametric element based on Timoshenko beam theory. Therefore, by analyzing beam-type smart structures with smart beam finite elements, it is possible to simulate the control of the structural behavior by applying voltages to piezoelectric actuators and monitoring of the structural behavior by sensing voltages of piezoelectric sensors. By using the smart beam finite element and constant-gain feed back control scheme, the formulation of the free vibration control for the beam structures with bonded plate-type piezoelectric sensors and actuators is proposed.

• Selected Papers of The Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.91-100
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• 1993

A displacement-based finite element method Is presented for the geometrically nonlinear analysis of eccentrically stiffened plates. A nonlinear degenerated shell element and a nonlinear degenerated eccentric isoparametric beam (isobeam) element are formulated on the basis of Total Agrangian and Updated Lagrangian descriptions. In the formulation of the isobeam element, some additional local decrees of freedom are implementd to describe the stiffener's local plate buckling modes. Therefore this element can be effectively employed to model the eccentric stiffener with fewer D.O.F's than the case of a degenerated shell element. Some detailed buckling and nonlinear analyses of an eccentrically stiffened plate are performed to estimate the critical buckling loads and the post buckling behaviors including the local plate buckling of the stiffeners discretized with the degenerated shell elements and the isobeam elements. The critical buckling loads are found to be higher than the analytical plate buckling load but lower than Euler buckling load of the corresponding column, i.e, buckling strength requirements of the Classification Societies for the stiffened plates.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.62-69
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• 1996

In this study, an equivalent domain integral (EDI) method is presented to estimate the track-till integral parameter, J-value, for two dimensional cracked elastic bodies which may quantify the severity of the crack-tit) stress fields. The conventional J-integral method based on line integral has been converted to equivalent area or domain integrals by using the divergence theorem. It is noted that the EDI method is very attractive because all the quantities necessary for computation of the domain integrals are readily available in a finite element analysis. The details and its implementation are extened to both h-version finite element model with 8-node isoparametric element and p-version finite element model with high order hierarchic element using Legendre type shape fuctions. The variations with respect to the different path of domain integrals from the crack-tip front and the choice of 5-function have been tested by several examples.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.767-788
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• 2004

The classical 8-node isoparametric serendipity element uses parametric shape functions for both test and trial functions. Although this element performs well in general, it yields poor results under severe mesh distortions. The distortion sensitivity is caused by the lack of continuity and/or completeness of shape functions used for test and trial functions. A recent element using parametric and metric shape functions for constructing the test and trial functions exhibits distortion immunity. This paper discusses the choice of parametric or metric shape functions as the basis for test and/or trial functions, satisfaction of continuity and completeness requirements, and their connection to distortion sensitivity. Also, the performances of four types of elements, viz., parametric, metric, parametric-metric, and metric-parametric, are compared for distorted meshes, and their merits and demerits are discussed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.16 no.6 s.73
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• pp.819-832
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• 2004

This study describes an efficient and facile method for configuration optimum design of structures. One of the ways to achieve numerical shape representation and the selection of design variables is using the design element concept. Using this technique, the number of design variables could be drastically reduced. Isoparametric mapping was utilized to automatically generate the finite element mesh during the optimization process, and this made it possible to easily calculate the derivatives of the coordinates of generated finite element nodes w.r.t. the design variables. For the structural analysis, finite element analysis was adopted in the optimization procedure, and two different techniques(the deterministic method, a modified method of feasible direction; and the stochastic method, a genetic algorithms) were applied to obtain the minimum volumes and section areas for an efficient configuration optimization procedure. Futhermore, spline interpolation was introduced to present a realistic optimum configuration that meet the manufacturing requirements. According to the results of several numerical examples(steel structures), the two techniques suggested in this study simplified the process of configuration optimum design of structures, and yielded improved objective function values with a robust convergence rate. This study's applicability and capability have therefore been demonstrated.