Search results for "Finite elements"

A review on some discrete variational techniques for the approximation of essential boundary conditions

2022

We review different techniques to enforce essential boundary conditions, such as the (nonhomogeneous) Dirichlet boundary condition, within a discrete variational framework, and especially techniques that allow to account for them in a weak sense. Those are of special interest for discretizations such as geometrically unfitted finite elements or high order methods, for instance. Some of them remain primal, and add extra terms in the discrete weak form without adding a new unknown: this is the case of the boundary penalty and Nitsche techniques. Others are mixed, and involve a Lagrange multiplier with or without stabilization terms. For a simple setting, we detail the different associated for…

Analytical and Numerical Methods for the Evaluation of Critical Conditions in Longitudinal Bars of RC Columns

2017

Buckling collapse of reinforcing bars in concrete members is usually observed in framed structures after severe earthquakes. Second order effects modify the compressive response of steel bars, reducing ductility and affecting the post-elastic branch. Literature investigations show that instability can involve more stirrups, or it can be limited to the pitch. If the critical length is not carefully estimated, transverse steel’s failure can be achieved in brittle manner, causing the sudden loss of confinement in the inner concrete. This paper presents the results of a theoretical investigation, aiming to evaluate the reliability of different approaches for calculating critical conditions of l…

From single fiber to macro-level mechanics: A structural finite-element model for elastomeric fibrous biomaterials

2014

In the present work, we demonstrate that the mesoscopic in-plane mechanical behavior of membrane elastomeric scaffolds can be simulated by replication of actual quantified fibrous geometries. Elastomeric electrospun polyurethane (ES-PEUU) scaffolds, with and without particulate inclusions, were utilized. Simulations were developed from experimentally-derived fiber network geometries, based on a range of scaffold isotropic and anisotropic behaviors. These were chosen to evaluate the effects on macro-mechanics based on measurable geometric parameters such as fiber intersections, connectivity, orientation, and diameter. Simulations were conducted with only the fiber material model parameters a…

A numerical study on the effect of the interface material model on the tensile behaviour of FRCM strips

2019

Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites are becoming increasingly popular for strengthening masonry structures for which the compatibility of the inorganic matrix with the chemical and physical properties of the support makes it advantageous to adopt such systems. However, despite the large use of FRCMs for strengthening applications, the characterization and modelling of the mechanical response in tension of these systems is an open issue. In fact, the constitutive tensile law of the composite shows to be affected by different variables, such as the clamping system adopted during tensile test, the gauge length used for recording strains, the monitoring of the number of yarns…

Multi-physical modelling of Reverse ElectroDialysis

2016

Energy extraction from salinity gradients (salinity gradient power, SGP) represents a novel and valuable renewable energy source. Among the existing SGP technologies, reverse electrodialysis (RED) is the oldest and one of the most promising. RED is a membrane-based electrochemical process that directly converts the salinity gradient energy into electric current. More precisely, in a RED unit two solutions at different concentration flow in two series of alternated channels, which are formed by piling two alternated series of cation and anion exchange membranes (CEMs and AEMs, respectively). The chemical potential difference between the two solutions generates an electric potential differenc…

Non linear analysis of 3D elastoplastic framed structures

2014

Meso-modeling of heterogeneous structures via interphase model

2010

Comparison between the MHFEM formulation and a 2nd spatial order FV formulation of the linear groundwater flow problem

2008

Mixed and Mixed Hybrid Finite Elements (MHFE) methods have been widely used in the last decade for simulation of groundwater flow problem, petroleum reservoir problems, potential flow problems, etc. The main advantage of these methods is that, unlike the classical Galerkin approach, they guarantee local and global mass balance, as well the flux continuity between inter-element sides. The simple shape of the control volume, where the mass conservation is satisfied, makes also easier to couple this technique with a Finite Volume technique in the time splitting approach for the solution of advection-dispersion problems. In the present paper a new second spatial approximation order Finite Volum…

Comparison between the MHFEM formulation and a 2nd spatial order FV formulation of the linear ground problem

2008

Comparison of different 2nd order formulations for the solution of the 2D groundwater flow problem over irregular triangular meshes

2009

Mixed and Mixed Hybrid Finite Elements (MHFE) methods have been widely used in the last decade for simulation of groundwater flow problem, petroleum reservoir problems, potential flow problems, etc. The main advantage of these methods is that, unlike the classical Galerkin approach, they guarantee local and global mass balance, as well the flux continuity between inter-element sides. The simple shape of the control volume, where the mass conservation is satisfied, makes also easier to couple this technique with a Finite Volume technique in the time splitting approach for the solution of advection-dispersion problems. In the present paper, a new MHFE formulation is proposed for the solution …