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At least 1,027 records · Page 57

A finite element formulation of the eigenvalue problem in lined ducts with flow

A finite element method is used to formulate the eigenvalue problem for a lined duct with flow. Either two dimensional or axially symmetric ducts with sheared flows can be studied, although the examples cited are two dimensional. The primitive variables of velocity and pressure are used with quadratic shape functions in each element. Results indicate that a useful level of accuracy can be achieved with a modest number of elements. Spurious eigenvalues, easily identified by obviously inconsistent eigenvectors, occur in certain instances. If the number of elements is not too small, these spurious modes are among the higher order eigenvalues of otherwise questionable accuracy. The possibility of using higher order elements which have slope continuity is proposed for future investigations to eliminate the spurious results.

Astley, R. J.↗

Finite element structural model of a large, thin, completely free, flat plate

A finite element structural model of a 30.48 m x 30.48 m x 2.54 mm completely free aluminum plate is described and modal frequencies and mode shape data for the first 44 modes are presented. An explanation of the procedure for using the data is also presented. The model should prove useful for the investigation of controller design approaches for large flexible space structures.

Joshi, S. M.↗

Effect of grid system on finite element calculation

Detailed parametric studies of the effect of grid system on finite element calculation for potential flows were made. These studies led to the formulation of a design criteria for optimum mesh system and the development of two methods to generate the optimum mesh system. The guidelines for optimum mesh system are: (1) the mesh structure should be regular; (2) the element should be as regular and equilateral as possible; (3) the distribution of size of element should be consistent with that of flow variables to insure maximum uniformity in error distribution; (4) for non-Dirichlet boundary conditions, smaller boundary elements or higher order interpolation functions should be used; and (5) the mesh should accommodate the boundary geometry as accurately as possible. The results of the parametric studies are presented.

Lee, K. D.↗

Three dimensional finite element analysis of damage accumulation in composite laminate

A three dimensional finite-element computer program has been developed to analyze layered fiber-reinforced composite laminate. This program is capable of: (1) calculating the detailed stress distribution, (2) identifying the damage zone and mode of failure, (3) analyzing the damage accumulation, and (4) determining the ultimate strength of the composite laminate.

Lee, J. D.↗

A refined finite element for vibration analysis of twisted blades based on beam theory

A finite element method of discretizing beam segments of pretwisted rotating blades is presented. Employing the matrix displacement method, stiffness and mass properties are developed from basic mechanics of a pretwisted beam theory. By introducing the proper displacement functions, the effect of rotor blade rotational motion on the stiffness matrix is obtained systematically from the kinetic energy expression. Comparing with other beam elements the derivation of this element is more fundamental. This allows one to apply the same approach to more complicated problems including nonlinear effects or complex dynamic motions. Illustrative examples are given comparing numerical results with available data and other numerical solutions from rotating and nonrotating force fields. These examples show that accurate prediction of vibration frequencies for pretwisted blades can be obtained by employing a quite modest number of degrees of freedom.

Sisto, F.↗

Automatic finite element generators

The design and implementation of a software system for generating finite elements and related computations are described. Exact symbolic computational techniques are employed to derive strain-displacement matrices and element stiffness matrices. Methods for dealing with the excessive growth of symbolic expressions are discussed. Automatic FORTRAN code generation is described with emphasis on improving the efficiency of the resultant code.

Wang, P. S.↗

Finite element methods for the inhomogeneous Navier-Stokes equations

A conforming mixed finite element method for the stationary Navier-Stokes equations with inhomogeneous boundary conditions is considered. Estimates for the error in the velocity and pressure approximations are derived. A computational example is provided to illustrate the implementation of the method.

Peterson, J. S.↗

Nonlinear transient finite element analysis of rotor-bearing-stator systems

This paper extends the finite element scheme to handle the highly nonlinear interfacial fields generated in the fluid filled annulli of squeeze film and journal bearings so as to model the transient response of rotor-bearing-stator systems. Since such simulations are highly nonlinear, direct numerical integration schemes are employed to generate the overall response. In this context, the paper gives consideration to such items as (1) numerical efficiency/stability, (2) comparison of implicit and explicit schemes, (3) determines extent of response nonlinearity as well as (4) extensively benchmarks the overall concept/methodologies.

Padovan, J.↗

Finite element formulations for acoustical radiation

Finite and infinite element techniques are applied to linear acoustical problems involving infinite anechoic boundaries. Theory is presented for a simple one dimensional model based on Webster's horn equation. Results are then presented both for the one dimensional model and for two axisymmetric test cases. Comparisons with exact solutions indicate that both the infinite element and wave envelope schemes are effective in correctly predicting the near field. The wave envelope scheme is also shown to be capable of resolving the far field radiation pattern.

Astley, R. J.↗

A finite element method for nonlinear forced vibrations of beams

Techniques for defining a finite element model (FEM) for analysis of nonlinear vibrations in beam structures subjected to harmonic excitation are presented. The resulting model covers longitudinal deformation and inertial effects. The nonlinear oscillations of a beam element under forced excitation are modeled by a harmonic force matrix based on first order approximations of the Jacobian elliptic forcing function. Harmonic force and nonlinear stiffness matrices are derived and the nonlinear forced responses of beams are calculated under various boundary conditions. The results of FEM computations for simply-supported and clamped beams show that midplane stretching caused by large deflections increases the nonlinearity. Axially-restrained beams experience only hardening nonlinearity, while axially-free beams have reduced nonlinearity in deformation and inertia and an increase in linearity due to large deflection.

Mei, C.↗

Application of mathematical optimization procedures to a structural model of a large finite-element wing

An optimization system is described that consists of the finite-element analysis program known as Engineering Analysis Language (EAL), the CONMIN optimization program, and a piecewise linear analysis. The optimization analysis system (OPTEAL) is used to minimize the mass of a transport wing subject to stress constraints for two static load conditions. The optimization procedure and the optimization analysis system (OPTEAL) are described and the optiomized results with fully stressed design results compared.

Walsh, J. L.↗

Finite element prediction of aerothermal-structural interaction of aerodynamically heated panels

A finite element approach is used to study the aerothermal-structural interaction of aerodynamically heated panels. The Navier-Stokes equations for laminar compressible flow are solved together with the energy equation and quasi-static structural equations of the panel. Interactions between the flow, panel heat transfer and deformations are studied for a thin stainless steel panel aerodynamically heated by a Mach 6.6 flow and for a convectively cooled panel heated by a shock-boundary layer interaction.

Thornton, Earl A.↗

Efficient 3-D finite element failure analysis of compression loaded angle-ply plates with holes

Finite element stress analysis and the tensor polynomial failure criterion predict that failure always initiates at the interface between layers on the hole edge for notched angle-ply laminates loaded in compression. The angular location of initial failure is a function of the fiber orientation in the laminate. The dominant stress components initiating failure are shear. It is shown that approximate symmetry can be used to reduce the computer resources required for the case of unaxial loading.

Burns, S. W.↗

Mixed finite element models for free vibrations of thin-walled beams

Simple, mixed finite element models are developed for the free vibration analysis of curved thin-walled beams with arbitrary open cross section. The analytical formulation is based on a Vlasov's type thin-walled beam theory with the effects of flexural-torsional coupling, transverse shear deformation and rotary inertia included. The fundamental unknowns consist of seven internal forces and seven generalized displacements of the beam. The element characteristic arrays are obtained by using a perturbed Lagrangian-mixed variational principle. Only C(sup o) continuity is required for the generalized displacements. The internal forces and the Lagrange multiplier are allowed to be discontinuous at interelement boundaries. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the high accuracy and effectiveness of the elements developed. The standard of comparison is taken to be the solutions obtained by using 2-D plate/shell models for the beams.

Noor, Ahmed K.↗

A three-dimensional upwind finite element point implicit unstructured grid Euler solver

A three-dimensional upwind finite element technique that uses cell-centered quantities and implicit and/or explicit time marching was developed for computing hypersonic inviscid flows using adaptive unstructured grids. This technique was used to predict shock interference on a swept cylinder. An attempt was made to determine the flowfield and, in particular, the pressure augmentation caused by an impinging shock on the swept leading edge of a cowl lip of an engine inlet.

Thareja, Rajiv R.↗

Finite element procedures for time-dependent convection-diffusion-reaction systems

New finite element procedures based on the streamline-upwind/Petrov-Galerkin formulations are developed for time-dependent convection-diffusion-reaction equations. These procedures minimize spurious oscillations for convection-dominated and reaction-dominated problems. The results obtained for representative numerical examples are accurate with minimal oscillations. As a special application problem, the single-well chemical tracer test (a procedure for measuring oil remaining in a depleted field) is simulated numerically. The results show the importance of temperature effects on the interpreted value of residual oil saturation from such tests.

Tezduyar, T. E.↗

A least-squares finite element method for incompressible Navier-Stokes problems

A least-squares finite element method, based on the velocity-pressure-vorticity formulation, is developed for solving steady incompressible Navier-Stokes problems. This method leads to a minimization problem rather than to a saddle-point problem by the classic mixed method, and can thus accommodate equal-order interpolations. This method has no parameter to tune. The associated algebraic system is symmetric, and positive definite. Numerical results for the cavity flow at Reynolds number up to 10,000 and the backward-facing step flow at Reynolds number up to 900 are presented.

Jiang, Bo-Nan↗

Finite element solvers for incompressible fluid flows and heat transfer

Two different finite-element solvers for incompressible viscous flow, i.e., the mixed interpolation method and the SIMPLE-type iterative method, are compared and tested with some benchmark problems. The advantages of the SIMPLE-type iterative method are the decoupling of the governing equations and the use of equal-order interpolation functions for both velocity and pressure. Even though there is a significant difference between the two methods in terms of the pressure field, similar solutions are obtained for the velocity field.

Sohn, Jeong L.↗