Element-free Galerkin method for free vibration of rectangular plates with interior elastic point supports and elastically restrained edges

The element-free Galerkin method is proposed to solve free vibration of rectangular plates with finite interior elastic point supports and elastically restrained edges.Based on the extended Hamilton＇s principle for the elastic dynamics system,the dimensionless equations of motion of rectangular plates with finite interior elastic point supports and the edge elastically restrained are established using the element-free Galerkin method.Through numerical calculation,curves of the natural frequency of thin plates with three edges simply supported and one edge elastically restrained,and three edges clamped and the other edge elastically restrained versus the spring constant,locations of elastic point support and the elastic stiffness of edge elastically restrained are obtained.Effects of elastic point supports and edge elastically restrained on the free vibration characteristics of the thin plates are analyzed.

The dimension split element-free Galerkin method for three-dimensional potential problems

This paper presents the dimension split element-free Galerkin （DSEFG） method for three-dimensional potential problems, and the corresponding formulae are obtained. The main idea of the DSEFG method is that a three-dimensional potential problem can be transformed into a series of two-dimensional problems. For these two-dimensional problems, the improved moving least-squares （IMLS） approximation is applied to construct the shape function, which uses an orthogonal function system with a weight function as the basis functions. The Galerkin weak form is applied to obtain a discretized system equation, and the penalty method is employed to impose the essential boundary condition. The finite difference method is selected in the splitting direction. For the purposes of demonstration, some selected numerical examples are solved using the DSEFG method. The convergence study and error analysis of the DSEFG method are presented. The numerical examples show that the DSEFG method has greater computational precision and computational efficiency than the IEFG method.

Adaptive element free Galerkin method applied to analysis of earthquake induced liquefaction

An automatically adaptive element free method is presented to analyze the seismic response of liquefiable soils. The method is based on the element free Galerkin method （EFGM） and the fission procedure that is part of h-refinement, indicated by error estimation. In the proposed method, a posteriori error estimate procedure that depends on the energy norm of stress and the T-Belytschko （TB） stress recovery scheme is incorporated. The effective cyclic elasto-plastic constitutive model is used to describe the nonlinear behavior of the saturated soil. The governing equations are established by u-p formulation. The proposed method can effectively avoid the volumetric locking due to large deformation that usually occurs in numerical computations using the finite element method （FEM）. The efficiency of the proposed method is demonstrated by evaluating the seismic response of an embankment and comparing it to results obtained through FEM. It is shown that the proposed method provides an accurate seismic analysis of saturated soil that includes the effects of liquefaction .

Element-free Galerkin (EFG) method for a kind of two-dimensional linear hyperbolic equation

The present paper deals with the numerical solution of a two-dimensional linear hyperbolic equation by using the element-free Galerkin （EFG） method which is based on the moving least-square approximation for the test and trial functions. A variational method is used to obtain the discrete equations, and the essential boundary conditions are enforced by the penalty method. Compared with numerical methods based on mesh, the EFG method for hyperbolic problems needs only the scattered nodes instead of meshing the domain of the problem. It neither requires any element connectivity nor suffers much degradation in accuracy when nodal arrangements are very irregular. The effectiveness of the EFG method for two-dimensional hyperbolic problems is investigated by two numerical examples in this paper.

An improved interpolating element-free Galerkin method with a nonsingular weight function for two-dimensional potential problems

In this paper, an improved interpolating moving least-square （IIMLS） method is presented. The shape function of the IIMLS method satisfies the property of the Kronecker 5 function. The weight function used in the IIMLS method is nonsingular. Then the IIMLS method can overcome the difficulties caused by the singularity of the weight function in the IMLS method. The number of unknown coefficients in the trial function of the IIMLS method is less than that of the moving least-square （MLS） approximation. Then by combining the IIMLS method with the Galerkin weak form of the potential problem, the improved interpolating element-free Galerkin （IIEFG） method for two-dimensional potential problems is presented. Compared with the conventional element-free Galerkin （EFG） method, the IIEFG method can directly use the essential boundary conditions. Then the IIEFG method has higher accuracy. For demonstration, three numerical examples are solved using the IIEFG method.

Topology optimization using the improved element-free Galerkin method for elasticity

The improved element-free Galerkin （IEFG） method of elasticity is used to solve the topology optimization problems. In this method, the improved moving least-squares approximation is used to form the shape function. In a topology opti- mization process, the entire structure volume is considered as the constraint. From the solid isotropic microstructures with penalization, we select relative node density as a design variable. Then we choose the minimization of compliance to be an objective function, and compute its sensitivity with the adjoint method. The IEFG method in this paper can overcome the disadvantages of the singular matrices that sometimes appear in conventional element-free Galerkin （EFG） method. The central processing unit （CPU） time of each example is given to show that the IEFG method is more efficient than the EFG method under the same precision, and the advantage that the IEFG method does not form singular matrices is also shown.

A locking-free anisotropic nonconforming rectangular finite element approximation for the planar elasticity problem

This paper deals with a new nonconforming anisotropic rectangular finite element approximation for the planar elasticity problem with pure displacement boundary condition. By use of the special properties of this element, and by introducing the complementary space and a series of novel techniques, the optimal error estimates of the energy norm and the L^2-norm are obtained. The restrictions of regularity assumption and quasi-uniform assumption or the inverse assumption on the meshes required in the conventional finite element methods analysis are to be got rid of and the applicable scope of the nonconforming finite elements is extended.

An element-free Galerkin method for ground penetrating radar numerical simulation

An element-free Galerkin method(EFGM) is used to solve the two-dimensional(2D) ground penetrating radar(GPR)modelling problems, due to its simple pre-processing, the absence of elements and high accuracy. Different from element-based numerical methods, this approach makes nodes free from the elemental restraint and avoids the explicit mesh discretization. First, we derived the boundary value problem for the 2D GPR simulation problems. Second, a penalty function approach and a boundary condition truncated method were used to enforce the essential and the absorbing boundary conditions, respectively. A three-layered GPR model was used to verify our element-free approach. The numerical solutions show that our solutions have an excellent agreement with solutions of a finite element method(FEM). Then, we used the EFGM to simulate one more complex model to show its capability and limitations. Simulation results show that one obvious advantage of EFGM is the absence of element mesh, which makes the method very flexible. Due to the use of MLS fitting, a key feature of EFM, is that both the dependent variable and its gradient are continuous and have high precision.

Meshless analysis of an improved element-free Galerkin method for linear and nonlinear elliptic problems

We first give a stabilized improved moving least squares （IMLS） approximation, which has better computational stability and precision than the IMLS approximation. Then, analysis of the improved element-free Galerkin method is provided theoretically for both linear and nonlinear elliptic boundary value problems. Finally, numerical examples are given to verify the theoretical analysis.

An improved boundary element-free method (IBEFM) for two-dimensional potential problems

The interpolating moving least-squares （IMLS） method is discussed first in this paper. And the formulae of the IMLS method obtained by Lancaster are revised. Then on the basis of the boundary element-free method （BEFM）, combining the boundary integral equation （BIE） method with the IMLS method, the improved boundary element-free method （IBEFM） for two-dimensional potential problems is presented, and the corresponding formulae of the IBEFM are obtained. In the BEFM, boundary conditions are applied directly, but the shape function in the MLS does not satisfy the property of the Kronecker ~ function. This is a problem of the BEFM, and must be solved theoretically. In the IMLS method, when the shape function satisfies the property of the Kronecker 5 function, then the boundary conditions, in the meshless method based on the IMLS method, can be applied directly. Then the IBEFM, based on the IMLS method, is a direct meshless boundary integral equation method in which the basic unknown quantity is the real solution of the nodal variables, and the boundary conditions can be applied directly and easily, thus it gives a greater computational precision. Some numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the method.

Buckling analysis of super-long rock-socketed filling piles in soft soil area by element free Galerkin method

In order to discuss the buckling stability of super-long rock-socketed filling piles widely used in bridge engineering in soft soil area such as Dongting Lake, the second stability type was adopted instead of traditional first type, and a newly invented numerical analysis method, i.e. the element-free Galerkin method (EFGM), was introduced to consider the non-concordant deformation and nonlinearity of the pile-soil interface. Then, based on the nonlinear elastic-ideal plastic pile-soil interface model, a nonlinear iterative algorithm was given to analyze the pile-soil interaction, and a program for buckling analysis of piles by the EFGM (PBAP-EFGM) and arc length method was worked out as well. The application results in an engineering example show that, the shape of pile top load-settlement curve obtained by the program agrees well with the measured one, of which the difference may be caused mainly by those uncertain factors such as possible initial defects of pile shaft and the eccentric loading during the test process. However, the calculated critical load is very close with the measured ultimate load of the test pile, and the corresponding relative error is only 5.6%, far better than the calculated values by linear and nonlinear incremental buckling analysis (with a greater relative error of 37.0% and 15.4% respectively), which also verifies the rationality and feasibility of the present method.

Analysis of elastoplasticity problems using an improved complex variable element-free Galerkin method

In this paper, based on the conjugate of the complex basis function, a new complex variable moving least-squares approximation is discussed. Then using the new approximation to obtain the shape function, an improved complex variable element-free Galerkin（ICVEFG） method is presented for two-dimensional（2D） elastoplasticity problems. Compared with the previous complex variable moving least-squares approximation, the new approximation has greater computational precision and efficiency. Using the penalty method to apply the essential boundary conditions, and using the constrained Galerkin weak form of 2D elastoplasticity to obtain the system equations, we obtain the corresponding formulae of the ICVEFG method for 2D elastoplasticity. Three selected numerical examples are presented using the ICVEFG method to show that the ICVEFG method has the advantages such as greater precision and computational efficiency over the conventional meshless methods.

A new complex variable element-free Galerkin method for two-dimensional potential problems

In this paper, based on the element-free Galerkin （EFG） method and the improved complex variable moving least- square （ICVMLS） approximation, a new meshless method, which is the improved complex variable element-free Galerkin （ICVEFG） method for two-dimensional potential problems, is presented. In the method, the integral weak form of control equations is employed, and the Lagrange multiplier is used to apply the essential boundary conditions. Then the corresponding formulas of the ICVEFG method for two-dimensional potential problems are obtained. Compared with the complex variable moving least-square （CVMLS） approximation proposed by Cheng, the functional in the ICVMLS approximation has an explicit physical meaning. Furthermore, the ICVEFG method has greater computational precision and efficiency. Three numerical examples are given to show the validity of the proposed method.

An improved complex variable element-free Galerkin method for two-dimensional elasticity problems

In this paper, the improved complex variable moving least-squares （ICVMLS） approximation is presented. The ICVMLS approximation has an explicit physics meaning. Compared with the complex variable moving least-squares （CVMLS） approximations presented by Cheng and Ren, the ICVMLS approximation has a great computational precision and efficiency. Based on the element-free Galerkin （EFG） method and the ICVMLS approximation, the improved complex variable element-free Galerkin （ICVEFG） method is presented for two-dimensional elasticity problems, and the corresponding formulae are obtained. Compared with the conventional EFC method, the ICVEFG method has a great computational accuracy and efficiency. For the purpose of demonstration, three selected numerical examples are solved using the ICVEFG method.

An improved interpolating element-free Galerkin method for elasticity

Based on the improved interpolating moving least-squares （ⅡMLS） method and the Galerkin weak form, an improved interpolating element-free Galerkin （ⅡEFG） method is presented for two-dimensional elasticity problems in this paper. Compared with the interpolating moving least-squares （IMLS） method presented by Lancaster, the ⅡMLS method uses the nonsingular weight function. The number of unknown coefficients in the trial function of the ⅡMLS method is less than that of the MLS approximation and the shape function of the ⅡMLS method satisfies the property of Kronecker δ function. Thus in the ⅡEFG method, the essential boundary conditions can be applied directly and easily, then the numerical solutions can be obtained with higher precision than those obtained by the interpolating element-free Galerkin （IEFG） method. For the purposes of demonstration, four numerical examples are solved using the ⅡEFG method.

The improved element-free Galerkin method forthree-dimensional wave equation

The paper presents the improved element-free Galerkin （IEFG） method for three-dimensional wave propa- gation. The improved moving least-squares （IMLS） approx- imation is employed to construct the shape function, which uses an orthogonal function system with a weight function as the basis function. Compared with the conventional moving least-squares （MLS） approximation, the algebraic equation system in the IMLS approximation is not ill-conditioned, and can be solved directly without deriving the inverse matrix. Because there are fewer coefficients in the IMLS than in the MLS approximation, fewer nodes are selected in the IEFG method than in the element-free Galerkin method. Thus, the IEFG method has a higher computing speed. In the IEFG method, the Galerkin weak form is employed to obtain a dis- cretized system equation, and the penalty method is applied to impose the essential boundary condition. The traditional difference method for two-point boundary value problems is selected for the time discretization. As the wave equations and the boundary-initial conditions depend on time, the scal- ing parameter, number of nodes and the time step length are considered for the convergence study.

NEW ALGORITHM OF COUPLING ELEMENT-FREE GALERKIN WITH FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

Through the construction of a new ramp function, the element-flee Galerkin method and finite element coupling method were applied to the whole field, and was made fit for the structure of element nodes within the interface regions, both satisfying the essential boundary conditions and deploying meshless nodes and finite elements in a convenient and flexible way, which can meet the requirements of computation for complicated field. The comparison between the results of the present study and the corresponding analytical solutions shows this method is feasible and effective.

A LOCKING-FREE ANISOTROPIC NONCONFORMING FINITE ELEMENT FOR PLANAR LINEAR ELASTICITY PROBLEM

The main aim of this article is to study the approximation of a locking-free anisotropic nonconforming finite element for the pure displacement boundary value problem of planar linear elasticity. The optimal error estimates are obtained by using some novel approaches and techniques. The method proposed in this article is robust in the sense that the convergence estimates in the energy and L^2-norms are independent-of the Lame parameter λ.

Application in metal rheological forming of element-free Galerkin method

The element-free method is a new numerical technique presented in recent years.It uses the moving least square(MLS) approximation as its shape function,and it is determined by the basic function and weight function.The weight function is the mainly determining factor,so it greatly affects the accuracy of the computational results.The element-free Galerkin method(EFGM) was applied for the solution to plastic large deformation.The simulation of metal rheological forming was successfully done by programming and its results were visualized by using the plotting and data analyses software Tecplot.Then plastic strain under different stages during rheological forming and the three principal stresses at the last deformation were obtained.The example shows the feasibility of EFGM used for metal rheological forming and provides a new method for numerical simulation of rheological forming of complex parts.

Element-free Galerkin method for a kind of KdV equation

The present paper deals with the numerical solution of the third-order nonlinear KdV equation using the element-free Calerkin （EFG） method which is based on the moving least-squares approximation. A variational method is used to obtain discrete equations, and the essential boundary conditions are enforced by the penalty method. Compared with numerical methods based on mesh, the EFG method for KdV equations needs only scattered nodes instead of meshing the domain of the problem. It does not require any element connectivity and does not suffer much degradation in accuracy when nodal arrangements are very irregular. The effectiveness of the EFG method for the KdV equation is investigated by two numerical examples in this paper.