• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.91-106
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• 2007

A new class of finite elements is described for dealing with mesh gradation. The approach employs the moving least square (MLS) scheme to devise a class of elements with an arbitrary number of nodal points on the parental domain. This approach generally leads to elements with rational shape functions, which significantly extends the function space of the conventional finite element method. With a special choice of the nodal points and the base functions, the method results in useful elements with polynomial shape functions for which the $C^1$ continuity breaks down across the boundaries between the subdomains comprising one element. Among those, (4 + n)-noded MLS based finite elements possess the generality to be connected with an arbitrary number of linear elements at a side of a given element. It enables us to connect one finite element with a few finite elements without complex remeshing. The effectiveness of the new elements is demonstrated via appropriate numerical examples.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2001.06b
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• pp.590-595
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• 2001

To improve the modeling accuracy for the finite element method, this paper proposes a method to make a combined use of finite elements and exact dynamic elements. Exact interpolation functions for a Timoshenko beam element are derived and compared with interpolation functions of the finite element method (FEM). The exact interpolation functions are tested with the Laplace variable varied. The exact interpolation functions are used to gain more accurate mode shape functions for the finite element method. This paper also presents a combined use of finite elements and exact dynamic elements in design problems. A Timoshenko frame with tapered sections is tested to demonstrate the design procedure with the proposed method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.385-398
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• 1997

High order finite element have a greater convergence rate than low order finite elements, and in general produce more accurate results. These elements have the disadvantage of being more computationally expensive and often require a longer time to solve the finite element analysis. High order elements have been used in this paper to obtain a new eigenvalue solution with out re-solving the new model. The optimisation of the eigenvalue via the differentiation of the Rayleigh quotient has shown that the additional nodes associated with the higher order elements can be condensed out and solved using the original finite element solution. The higher order elements can then be used to calculate an improved eigenvalue for the finite element analysis.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.335-341
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• 2009

In this paper, review of developed MLS-based finite elements and a proposal for their applications are described. The shape functions and their derivatives of MLS-based finite elements are constructed using Moving-Least Square approximation. In MLS-based finite element, using the adequate influence domain of weight function used in MLS approximation, kronecker delta condition could be satisfied at the element boundary. Moreover, because of the characteristics of MLS approximation, we could easily add extra nodes at an arbitrary position in MLS-based finite elements. For these reasons, until now, several variable-node elements(2D variable element for linear case and quadratic case and 3D variable-node elements) and finite crack elements are developed using MLS-based finite elements concept. MLS-based finite elements could be extended to 2D variable-node triangle element, 2D finite crack triangle element, variable-node shell element, finite crack shell element, and 3D polyhedron element. In this paper, we showed the feasibility of 3D polyhedron element at the case of femur meshing.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2002

Although the finite element method has become an indispensible tool for the dynamic analysis of structures, difficulty remains to quantify the errors associated with discretization. To improve the modeling accuracy, this paper proposes a method to make a combined use of finite elements and exact dynamic elements. Exact interpolation functions for the Timoshenko beam element are derived using the exact dynamic element modeling (EDEM) and compared with interpolation functions of the finite element method (FEM). The exact interpolation functions are tested with the Laplace variable varied. A combined use of finite element method and exact interpolation functions is presented to gain more accurate mode shape functions. This paper also presents a combined use of finite elements and exact dynamic elements in design/reanalysis problems. Timoshenko flames with tapered sections are tested to demonstrate the design procedure with the proposed method. The numerical study shows that the combined use of finite element model and exact dynamic element model is very useful.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.3
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• pp.311-324
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• 2023

Herein, we present effective polygonal finite elements to which the strain-smoothed element (SSE) method is applied. Recently, the SSE method has been developed for conventional triangular and quadrilateral finite elements; furthermore, it has been shown to improve the performance of finite elements. Polygonal elements enable various applications through flexible mesh handling; however, further development is still required to use them more effectively in engineering practice. In this study, piecewise linear shape functions are adopted, the SSE method is applied through the triangulation of polygonal elements, and a smoothed strain field is constructed within the element. The strain-smoothed polygonal elements pass basic tests and show improved convergence behaviors in various numerical problems.

• 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.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.487-504
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• 2006

Several new versatile two-dimensional p-version finite elements are developed. The element matrices are integrated analytically to guarantee the accuracy and monotonic convergence of the predicted solutions of the proposed p-version elements. The analysis results show that the convergence rate of the present elements is very fast with respect to the number of additional Fourier or polynomial terms in shape functions, and their solutions are much more accurate than those of the linear finite elements for the same number of degrees of freedom. Additionally, the new p-version plate elements without the reduced integration can overcome the shear locking problem over the conventional h-version elements. Using the proposed p-version elements with fast convergent characteristic, the elasto-plastic impact of the structure attached with the absorber is simulated. Good agreement between the simulated and experimental results verifies the present p-version finite elements for the analyses of structural dynamic responses and the structural elasto-plastic impact. Further, using the elasto-plastic impact model and the p-version finite element method, the absorber of the T structure on the Qiantang River is designed for its collision protection.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.595-610
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• 2002

This paper presents an efficiency of various non-conforming (NC) modes in development of a series of new finite elements with the special emphasis on 4-node quadrilateral elements. The NC modes have been used as a key scheme to improve the behaviors of various types of new finite elements, i.e., Mindlin plate bending elements, membrane elements with drilling degrees of freedom, flat shell elements. The NC modes are classified into three groups according to the 'correction constants' of 'Direct Modification Method'. The first group is 'basic NC modes', which have been widely used by a number of researchers in the finite element communities. The basic NC modes are effective to improve the behaviors of regular shaped elements. The second group is 'hierarchical NC modes' which improve the behaviors of distorted elements effectively. The last group is 'higher order NC modes' which improve the behaviors of plate-bending elements. When the basic NC modes are combined with hierarchical or higher order NC modes, the elements become insensitive to mesh distortions. When the membrane component of a flat shell has 'hierarchical NC modes', the membrane locking can be suppressed. A number of numerical tests are carried out to show the positive effect of aforementioned various NC modes incorporated into various types of finite elements.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1992.04a
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• pp.58-64
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• 1992

It is usual that underground structures are constructed within multi-layered medium. In this paper, an efficient numerical model ling of multi-layered structural systems is studied using coupled analysis of finite elements and boundary elements. The finite elements are applied to the area in which the material nonlinearity is dominated, and the boundary elements are applied to the far field area where the nonlinearity is relatively weak. In the boundary element model 1 ins of the multi-layered medium, fundamental solutions are restricted. Thus, methods which can utilize existing Kelvin and Melan solution are sought for the interior multi-layered domain problem and semi infinite domain problem. Interior domain problem which has piecewise homogeneous layers is analyzed using boundary elements with Kelvin solution; by discretizing each homogeneous subregion and applying compatibility and equilibrium conditions between interfaces. Semi-infinite domain problem is analyzed using boundary elements with Melan solution, by superposing unit stiffness matrices which are obtained for each layer by enemy method. Each methodology is verified by comparing its results which the results from the finite element analysis and it is concluded that coupled analysis using boundary elements and finite elements can be reasonable and efficient if the superposition technique is applied for the multi-layered semi-infinite domain problems.