Superconvergence analysis of fully discrete finite element methods for semilinear parabolic optimal control problems

We study the superconvergence property of fully discrete finite element approximation for quadratic optimal control problems governed by semilinear parabolic equations with control constraints. The time discretization is based on difference methods, whereas the space discretization is done using finite element methods. The state and the adjoint state are approximated by piecewise linear functions and the control is approximated by piecewise constant functions. First, we define a fully discrete finite element approximation scheme for the semilinear parabolic control problem. Second, we derive the superconvergence properties for the control, the state and the adjoint state. Finally, we do some numerical experiments for illustrating our theoretical results.

Recovery Type A Posteriori Error Estimates of Fully Discrete Finite Element Methods for General Convex Parabolic Optimal Control Problems

This paper is concerned with recovery type a posteriori error estimates of fully discrete finite element approximation for general convex parabolic optimal control problems with pointwise control constraints.The time discretization is based on the backward Euler method.The state and the adjoint state are approximated by piecewise linear functions and the control is approximated by piecewise constant functions.We derive the superconvergence properties of finite element solutions.By using the superconvergence results,we obtain recovery type a posteriori error estimates.Some numerical examples are presented to verify the theoretical results.

Development of quadrilateral spline thin plate elements using the B-net method

The quadrilateral discrete Kirchhoff thin plate bending element DKQ is based on the isoparametric element Q8, however, the accuracy of the isoparametric quadrilateral elements will drop significantly due to mesh distortions. In a previous work, we constructed an 8-node quadrilateral spline element L8 using the triangular area coordinates and the B- net method, which can be insensitive to mesh distortions and possess the second order completeness in the Cartesian co- ordinates. In this paper, a thin plate spline element is devel- oped based on the spline element L8 and the refined tech- nique. Numerical examples show that the present element indeed possesses higher accuracy than the DKQ element for distorted meshes.

A Stable FE-FD Method for Anisotropic Parabolic PDEs with Moving Interfaces

In this paper,a new finite element and finite difference(FE-FD)method has been developed for anisotropic parabolic interface problems with a known moving interface using Cartesian meshes.In the spatial discretization,the standard P,FE discretization is applied so that the part of the coefficient matrix is symmetric positive definite,while near the interface,the maximum principle preserving immersed interface discretization is applied.In the time discretization,a modified Crank-Nicolson discretization is employed so that the hybrid FE-FD is stable and second order accurate.Correction terms are needed when the interface crosses grid lines.The moving interface is represented by the zero level set of a Lipschitz continuous function.Numerical experiments presented in this paper confirm second orderconvergence.

Tunnel failure in hard rock with multiple weak planes due to excavation unloading of in-situ stress

Natural geological structures in rock(e.g.,joints,weakness planes,defects)play a vital role in the stability of tunnels and underground operations during construction.We investigated the failure characteristics of a deep circular tunnel in a rock mass with multiple weakness planes using a 2D combined finite element method/discrete element method(FEM/DEM).Conventional triaxial compression tests were performed on typical hard rock(marble)specimens under a range of confinement stress conditions to validate the rationale and accuracy of the proposed numerical approach.Parametric analysis was subsequently conducted to investigate the influence of inclination angle,and length on the crack propagation behavior,failure mode,energy evolution,and displacement distribution of the surrounding rock.The results show that the inclination angle strongly affects tunnel stability,and the failure intensity and damage range increase with increasing inclination angle and then decrease.The dynamic disasters are more likely with increasing weak plane length.Shearing and sliding along multiple weak planes are also consistently accompanied by kinetic energy fluctuations and surges after unloading,which implies a potentially violent dynamic response around a deeply-buried tunnel.Interactions between slabbing and shearing near the excavation boundaries are also discussed.The results presented here provide important insight into deep tunnel failure in hard rock influenced by both unloading disturbance and tectonic activation.

THE PARTIAL PROJECTION METHOD IN THE FINITE ELEMENT DISCRETIZATION OF THE REISSNER-MINDLIN PLATE MODEL

In the paper a linear combination of both the standard mixed formulation and the displacement one of the Reissner-Mindlin plate theory is used to enhance stability of the former and to remove ''locking'' of the later. For this new stabilized formulation, a unified approach to convergence analysis is presented for a wide spectrum of finite element spaces. As long as the rotation space is appropriately enriched, the formulation is convergent for the finite element spaces of sufficiently high order. Optimal-order error estimates with constants independent of the plate thickness are proved for the various lower order methods of this kind.

EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL RESEARCH ON BULLDOZER WORKING PROCESS

A simulative analysis coupled with experiment on behaviors of a soil bed cut by a model bulldozer blade is carried out using the finite element/distinct element method（FE/DEM） facility built in the ELFEN package. Before simulation, tensile/compression, triaxial compression and the soil specimens are examined through uniaxial direct shear tests to obtain model characteristics and relevant parameters, then soil cutting experiments are carried out via a mini-soil bin system with a soil bed of 60/120 mm in width and 10 mm in depth cut by a 1/9 scale model bulldozer blade moving with the velocity of 10 mm/s. The soil constitutive model includes the tensile elastic model for tensile breakage and the compressive elastoplastic relationship with Mohr-Coulomb criterion. The cutting length in simulation is set as 1/4 of that in the experiment divided into 1 869 triangular elements. The comparison between the simulated results and experimental ones shows that the used model is capable of analyzing soil dynamic behaviors qualitatively, and the predicted fracturing profiles in general conform to the experiment. Hence the feasibility for analyzing soil fracturing behaviors in tillage or other similar processes is validated.

A New 3D Meso-mechanical Modeling Method of Coral Aggregate Concrete Considering Interface Characteristics

On the basis of the three-dimensional(3D)random aggregate&mortar two-phase mesoscale finite element model,C++programming was used to identify the node position information of the interface between the aggregate and mortar elements.The nodes were discretized at this position and the zero-thickness cohesive elements were inserted.After that,the crack energy release rate fracture criterion based on the fracture mechanics theory was assigned to the failure criterion of the interface transition zone(ITZ)elements.Finally,the three-phase mesomechanical model based on the combined finite discrete element method(FDEM)was constructed.Based on this model,the meso-crack extension and macro-mechanical behaviour of coral aggregate concrete(CAC)under uniaxial compression were successfully simulated.The results demonstrated that the meso-mechanical model based on FDEM has excellent applicability to simulate the compressive properties of CAC.

QUANTITATIVE PREDICTION FOR SPRINGBACK OF UNLOADING AND TRIMMING IN SHEET METAL STAMPING FORMING

Based on the elastic-plastic large deformation finite element formulation as well as the shell element combined discrete Kirchhoff theoretical plate element (DKT) with membrane square element, deep-drawing bending springback of typical U-pattern is studied. At the same time the springback values of the drawing of patterns' unloading and trimming about the satellite aerial reflecting surface are predicted and also compared with those of the practical punch. Above two springbacks all obtain satisfactory results, which provide a kind of effective quantitative pre-prediction of springback for the practical engineers.

A Dual-Horizon Nonlocal Diffusion Model and Its Finite Element Discretization

In this paper,we present a dual-horizon nonlocal diffusion model,in which the influence area at each point consists of a standard sphere horizon and an irregular dual horizon and its geometry is determined by the distribution of the varying horizon parameter.We prove the mass conservation and maximum principle of the proposed nonlocal model,and establish its well-posedness and convergence to the classical diffusion model.Noticing that the dual horizon-related term in fact vanishes in the corresponding variational formof themodel,we then propose a finite element discretization for its numerical solution,which avoids the difficulty of accurate calculations of integrals on irregular intersection regions between the mesh elements and the dual horizons.Various numerical experiments in two and three dimensions are also performed to illustrate the usage of the variable horizon and demonstrate the effectiveness of the numerical scheme.

Improvement of FEM's dynamic property

The discretization size is limited by the sampling theorem, and the limit is one half of the wavelength of the highest frequency of the problem. However, one half of the wavelength is an ideal value. In general, the discretization size that can ensure the accuracy of the simulation is much smaller than this value in the traditional finite element method. The possible reason of this phenomenon is analyzed in this paper, and an efficient method is given to improve the simulation accuracy.

Two-scale sparse finite element approximations

To reduce computational cost,we study some two-scale finite element approximations on sparse grids for elliptic partial differential equations of second order in a general setting.Over any tensor product domain ?R^d with d = 2,3,we construct the two-scale finite element approximations for both boundary value and eigenvalue problems by using a Boolean sum of some existing finite element approximations on a coarse grid and some univariate fine grids and hence they are cheaper approximations.As applications,we obtain some new efficient finite element discretizations for the two classes of problem:The new two-scale finite element approximation on a sparse grid not only has the less degrees of freedom but also achieves a good accuracy of approximation.

A New Dynamic Model for a Flexible Hub-Beam System

In this paper,a new dynamic model for the flexible hub-beam system is proposed by using the principle of continuum medium mechanics and the finite element discretization method.In the proposed model,the coupling deformation of any element of the beam is only related with the nodal coordinates of this element.So this model is suitable to the rotating beam in an arbitrary shape.Numerical examples of slender beams in straight and irregular shapes are carried out to demonstrate the validation of the proposed model.Simulation results indicate that the proposed model can be used valid for dynamic description of flexible rotating beam in irregular shape, and for both low and high rotation speeds.

A NEWTON MULTIGRID METHOD FOR QUASILINEAR PARABOLIC EQUATIONS

A combination of the classical Newton Method and the multigrid method, i.e., a Newton multigrid method is given for solving quasilinear parabolic equations discretized by finite elements. The convergence of the algorithm is obtained for only one step Newton iteration per level. The asymptotically computational cost for quasilinear parabolic problems is O（NNk） similar to multigrid method for linear parabolic problems.

The Rain on Underground Porous Media Part Ⅰ:Analysis of a Richards Model

The Richards equation models the water flow in a partially saturated underground porous medium under the surface.When it rains on the surface,boundary conditions of Signorini type must be considered on this part of the boundary.The authors first study this problem which results into a variational inequality and then propose a discretization by an implicit Euler's scheme in time and finite elements in space.The convergence of this discretization leads to the well-posedness of the problem.