Optimum design of stochastically excited non‐linear dynamic systems without geometric constraints

This paper presents an efficient procedure for min–max dynamic response optimization of stochastically excited non‐linear systems with multiple time‐delayed inputs. This procedure employs a stochastic linearization technique to overcome system non‐linearity and an auto‐covariance analysis technique to represent the original stochastic mechanical model in a suitable form for optimization. Special attention is given to the sensitivity analysis, due to the complex nature of the problem. Therefore, exact expressions are obtained in a simple form for the evaluation of the required gradients, which greatly improve the stability and efficiency of the optimization algorithm. The numerical results and performance are presented by means of solving two min–max dynamic response optimization problems. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The probability density evolution method for dynamic response analysis of non‐linear stochastic structures

The probability density evolution method (PDEM) for dynamic responses analysis of non‐linear stochastic structures is proposed. In the method, the dynamic response of non‐linear stochastic structures is firstly expressed in a formal solution, which is a function of the random parameters. In this sense, the dynamic responses are mutually uncoupled. A state equation is then constructed in the augmented state space. Based on the principle of preservation of probability, a one‐dimensional partial differential equation in terms of the joint probability density function is set up. The numerical solving algorithm, where the Newmark‐Beta time‐integration algorithm and the finite difference method with Lax–Wendroff difference scheme are brought together, is studied. In the numerical examples, free vibration of a single‐degree‐of‐freedom non‐linear conservative system and dynamic responses of an 8‐storey shear structure with bilinear hysteretic restoring forces, subjected to harmonic excitation and seismic excitation, respectively, are investigated. The investigations indicate that the probability density functions of dynamic responses of non‐linear stochastic structures are usually irregular and far from the well‐known distribution types. They exhibit obvious evolution characteristics. The comparisons with the analytical solution and Monte Carlo simulation method demonstrate that the proposed PDEM is of fair accuracy and efficiency. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical modelling of non‐linear electroelasticity

The numerical modelling of non‐linear electroelasticity is presented in this work. Based on well‐established basic equations of non‐linear electroelasticity a variational formulation is built and the finite element method is employed to solve the non‐linear electro‐mechanical coupling problem. Numerical examples are presented to show the accuracy of the implemented formulation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Predicting laser weld reliability with stochastic reduced‐order models

Laser welds are prevalent in complex engineering systems and they frequently govern failure. The weld process often results in partial penetration of the base metals, leaving sharp crack‐like features with a high degree of variability in the geometry and material properties of the welded structure. Accurate finite element predictions of the structural reliability of components containing laser welds requires the analysis of a large number of finite element meshes with very fine spatial resolution, where each mesh has different geometry and/or material properties in the welded region to address variability. Traditional modeling approaches cannot be efficiently employed. To this end, a method is presented for constructing a surrogate model, based on stochastic reduced‐order models, and is proposed to represent the laser welds within the component. Here, the uncertainty in weld microstructure and geometry is captured by calibrating plasticity parameters to experimental observations of necking as, because of the ductility of the welds, necking – and thus peak load – plays the pivotal role in structural failure. The proposed method is exercised for a simplified verification problem and compared with the traditional Monte Carlo simulation with rather remarkable results. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A two‐dimensional stochastic algorithm for the solution of the non‐linear Poisson–Boltzmann equation: validation with finite‐difference benchmarks

This paper presents a two‐dimensional floating random walk (FRW) algorithm for the solution of the non‐linear Poisson–Boltzmann (NPB) equation. In the past, the FRW method has not been applied to the solution of the NPB equation which can be attributed to the absence of analytical expressions for volumetric Green's functions. Previous studies using the FRW method have examined only the linearized Poisson–Boltzmann equation. No such linearization is needed for the present approach. Approximate volumetric Green's functions have been derived with the help of perturbation theory, and these expressions have been incorporated within the FRW framework. A unique advantage of this algorithm is that it requires no discretization of either the volume or the surface of the problem domains. Furthermore, each random walk is independent, so that the computational procedure is highly parallelizable. In our previous work, we have presented preliminary calculations for one‐dimensional and quasi‐one‐dimensional benchmark problems. In this paper, we present the detailed formulation of a two‐dimensional algorithm, along with extensive finite‐difference validation on fully two‐dimensional benchmark problems. The solution of the NPB equation has many interesting applications, including the modelling of plasma discharges, semiconductor device modelling and the modelling of biomolecular structures and dynamics. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A refined non‐linear non‐conforming triangular plate/shell element

A refined non‐conforming triangular plate/shell element for geometric non‐linear analysis of plates/shells using the total Lagrangian/updated Lagrangian approach is constructed in this paper based on the refined non‐conforming element method for geometric non‐linear analysis. The Allman's triangular plane element with vertex degrees of freedom and the refined triangular plate‐bending element RT9 are used to construct the present element. Numerical examples demonstrate that the accuracy of the new element is quite high in the geometric non‐linear analysis of plates/shells. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multi‐time‐step and two‐scale domain decomposition method for non‐linear structural dynamics

In this paper we propose a method to improve the means of taking into account the specific time‐scale and space‐scale characteristics in time‐dependent non‐linear problems. This method enables the use of arbitrary time steps in each subdomain: these can be coupled by prescribing continuous velocities at the interfaces, which are modelled using a dual Schur formulation. For certain subdomains, in space, we adopt a two‐scale resolution technique inspired by the multigrid methods in order to obtain the part of the solution related to small variation lengths on a refined scale and the part corresponding to large variation lengths on a coarse scale. For non‐linear problems, we propose an algorithm with a single iteration level to deal with both the non‐linear equilibrium and the two space scales thanks to a two‐grid method in which the relaxation steps are performed using a non‐linear, preconditioned conjugate gradient algorithm. Finally, we present an example which demonstrates the feasibility of the method. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Energy‐conserving and decaying Algorithms in non‐linear structural dynamics

A generalized formulation of the Energy‐Momentum Methodwill be developed within the framework of the Generalized‐α Methodwhich allows at the same time guaranteed conservation or decay of total energy and controllable numerical dissipation of unwanted high frequency response. Furthermore, the latter algorithm will be extended by the consistently integrated constraints of energy and momentum conservation originally derived for the Constraint Energy‐Momentum Algorithm. The goal of this general approach of implicit energy‐conserving and decaying time integration schemes is, to compare these algorithms on the basis of an equivalent notation by the means of an overall algorithmic design and hence to investigate their numerical properties. Numerical stability and controllable numerical dissipation of high frequencies will be studied in application to non‐linear structural dynamics. Among the methods considered will be the Newmark Method, the classical α‐methods, the Energy‐Momentum Methodwith and without numerical dissipation, the Constraint Energy‐Momentum Algorithm and the Constraint Energy Method. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Combining differential quadrature method with simulation technique to solve non‐linear differential equations

Nowadays, most of the ordinary differential equations (ODEs) can be solved by modelica‐based approaches, such as Matlab/Simulink, Dymola and LabView, which use simulation technique (ST). However, these kinds of approaches restrict the users in the enforcement of conditions at any instant of the time domain. This limitation is one of the most important drawbacks of the ST. Another method of solution, differential quadrature method (DQM), leads to very accurate results using only a few grids on the domain. On the other hand, DQM is not flexible for the solution of non‐linear ODEs and it is not so easy to impose multiple conditions on the same location. For these reasons, the author aims to eliminate the mentioned disadvantages of the simulation technique (ST) and DQM using favorable characteristics of each method in the other. This work aims to show how the combining method (CM) works simply by solving some non‐linear problems and how the CM gives more accurate results compared with those of other methods. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flexible multibody dynamics based on a non‐linear Euler–Bernoulli kinematics

This paper presents a new dynamic model of a multi‐beam system in the floating‐frame approach. The proposed solution can be used to model light flexible manipulators in fast dynamic conditions or large space structures undergoing moderate but finite deformations. The model is based on the non‐linear Euler–Bernoulli kinematics proposed in J. Mech. Mach. Theory 1999; 34 :205. From this ‘exact’ kinematics we develop two approximate models. The first one is a linear model with respect to the deformation parameters, the second is a quadratic one. These two models capture the dynamic stiffening, and are consistent in the sense that they contain all the terms up to their maximal order with respect to the energy conservation. These two models are tested by simulation and compared with the standard floating frame model based on linear elastic kinematics and with the finite element codes of Reference [23] (Module d'analyse de mécanismes flexibles MECANO: Manuel d'utilisation. LTAS report, University of Liege, Belgium, 1988). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A model updating strategy of non‐linear vibrating structures

The objective of this paper is to present a model updating strategy of non‐linear vibrating structures. Because modal analysis is no longer helpful in non‐linear structural dynamics, a special attention is devoted to the features extracted from the proper orthogonal decomposition and one of its non‐linear generalizations based on auto‐associative neural networks. The efficiency of the proposed procedure is illustrated using simulated data from a three‐dimensional portal frame. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improving stability by change of representation in time‐stepping analysis of non‐linear beams dynamics

In this paper we propose a change in the representation of the discrete motion equations in structural non‐linear dynamics to obtain an improvement in the stability of time numerical integrations. In particular, natural local state variables are indicated for a finite element approach to beam problems. The results, relative to Newmark approximations for the variations in the displacement and velocity vectors, show a significant increase in the range of stability of the time integration process and a reduction in the number of Newton iterations required in the time integration steps. The proposed method, further, preserves energy as well as the linear and angular momentum of the dynamical system. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new hybrid method for solving linear–non‐linear systems of equations

This paper presents a new method for solving any combination of linear–non‐linear equations. The method is based on the separation of linear equations in terms of some selected variables from the non‐linear ones. The linear group is solved by means of any method suitable for the linear system. This operation needs no iteration. The non‐linear group, however, is solved by an iteration technique based on a new formula using the Taylor series expansion. The method has been described and demonstrated in several examples of analytical systems with very good results. The new method needs the initial approximations for non‐linear variables only. This requires far less computation than the Newton–Raphson method. The method also has a very good convergence rate. The proposed method is most beneficial for engineering systems that very often involve a large number of linear equations with limited number of non‐linear equations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A time‐parallel implicit method for accelerating the solution of non‐linear structural dynamics problems

The parallel implicit time‐integration algorithm (PITA) is among a very limited number of time‐integrators that have been successfully applied to the time‐parallel solution of linear second‐order hyperbolic problems such as those encountered in structural dynamics. Time‐parallelism can be of paramount importance to fast computations, for example, when space‐parallelism is unfeasible as in problems with a relatively small number of degrees of freedom in general, and reduced‐order model applications in particular, or when reaching the fastest possible CPU time is desired and requires the exploitation of both space‐ and time‐parallelisms. This paper extends the previously developed PITA to the non‐linear case. It also demonstrates its application to the reduction of the time‐to‐solution on a Linux cluster of sample non‐linear structural dynamics problems. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A time domain FEM approach based on implicit Green's functions for non‐linear dynamic analysis

The present paper describes an unconditionally stable algorithm to integrate the equations of motion in time. The standard FEM displacement model is employed to perform space discretization, and the time‐marching process is carried out through an algorithm based on the Green's function of the mechanical system in nodal co‐ordinates. In the present ‘implicit Green's function approach’ (ImGA), mechanical system Green's functions are not explicitly computed; rather they are implicitly considered through an iterative pseudo‐forces process. Under certain simplifying hypothesis, iterations are not necessary and the ImGA becomes cheaper than standard Newmark/Newton–Raphson algorithm. At the end of the paper numerical examples are presented in order to illustrate the accuracy of the present approach. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical homogenization of N‐component composites including stochastic interface defects

The purpose of this paper is to present a mathematical formulation and numerical analysis for a homogenization problem of random elastic composites with stochastic interface defects. The homogenization of composites so defined is carried out in two steps: (i) probabilistic averaging of stochastic discontinuities in the interphase region, (ii) probabilistic homogenization by extending the effective modules method to media random in the micro‐scale. To obtain such an approach the classical mathematical homogenization method is formulated for n‐component composite with random elastic components and implemented in the FEM‐based computer program. The article contains also numerous computational experiments illustrating stochastic sensitivity of the model to interface defects parameters and verifying statistical convergence of probabilistic simulation procedure. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Relaxation iterative algorithms for solving cathodic protection systems with non‐linear polarization curves

This paper discusses the calculation of potential distribution of impressed cathodic protection (CP) models with non‐linear polarization curves. We propose a relaxation iterative algorithm for the non‐linear problem and prove both theoretically and numerically that this iterative sequence is convergent for any physical polarization curves. This feature is of significant importance in developing a computer code for the design of CP systems. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multi‐time‐step explicit–implicit method for non‐linear structural dynamics

We present a method with domain decomposition to solve time‐dependent non‐linear problems. This method enables arbitrary numeric schemes of the Newmark family to be coupled with different time steps in each subdomain: this coupling is achieved by prescribing continuity of velocities at the interface. We are more specifically interested in the coupling of implicit/explicit numeric schemes taking into account material and geometric non‐linearities. The interfaces are modelled using a dual Schur formulation where the Lagrange multipliers represent the interfacial forces. Unlike the continuous formulation, the discretized formulation of the dynamic problem is unable to verify simultaneously the continuity of displacements, velocities and accelerations at the interfaces. We show that, within the framework of the Newmark family of numeric schemes, continuity of velocities at the interfaces enables the definition of an algorithm which is stable for all cases envisaged. To prove this stability, we use an energy method, i.e. a global method over the whole time interval, in order to verify the algorithms properties. Then, we propose to extend this to non‐linear situations in the following cases: implicit linear/explicit non‐linear, explicit non‐linear/explicit non‐linear and implicit non‐linear/explicit non‐linear. Finally, we present some examples showing the feasibility of the method. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The global modal parameterization for non‐linear model‐order reduction in flexible multibody dynamics

In flexible multibody dynamics, advanced modelling methods lead to high‐order non‐linear differential‐algebraic equations (DAEs). The development of model reduction techniques is motivated by control design problems, for which compact ordinary differential equations (ODEs) in closed‐form are desirable. In a linear framework, reduction techniques classically rely on a projection of the dynamics onto a linear subspace. In flexible multibody dynamics, we propose to project the dynamics onto a submanifold of the configuration space, which allows to eliminate the non‐linear holonomic constraints and to preserve the Lagrangian structure. The construction of this submanifold follows from the definition of a global modal parameterization (GMP): the motion of the assembled mechanism is described in terms of rigid and flexible modes, which are configuration‐dependent. The numerical reduction procedure is presented, and an approximation strategy is also implemented in order to build a closed‐form expression of the reduced model in the configuration space. Numerical and experimental results illustrate the relevance of this approach. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Discontinuous Galerkin methods for non‐linear elasticity

This paper presents the formulation and a partial analysis of a class of discontinuous Galerkin methods for quasistatic non‐linear elasticity problems. These methods are endowed with several salient features. The equations that define the numerical scheme are the Euler–Lagrange equations of a one‐field variational principle, a trait that provides an elegant and simple derivation of the method. In consonance with general discontinuous Galerkin formulations, it is possible within this framework to choose different numerical fluxes. Numerical evidence suggests the absence of locking at near‐incompressible conditions in the finite deformations regime when piecewise linear elements are adopted. Finally, a conceivable surprising characteristic is that, as demonstrated with numerical examples, these methods provide a given accuracy level for a comparable, and often lower, computational cost than conforming formulations. Stabilization is occasionally needed for discontinuous Galerkin methods in linear elliptic problems. In this paper we propose a sufficient condition for the stability of each linearized non‐linear elastic problem that naturally includes material and geometric parameters; the latter needed to account for buckling. We then prove that when a similar condition is satisfied by the discrete problem, the method provides stable linearized deformed configurations upon the addition of a standard stabilization term. We conclude by discussing the complexity of the implementation, and propose a computationally efficient approach that avoids looping over both elements and element faces. Several numerical examples are then presented in two and three dimensions that illustrate the performance of a selected discontinuous Galerkin method within the class. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.