It can be difficult to efficiently model ultrasonic waves in 3D structures, especially when the computational model needs to account for complex geometries. This contribution presents a solution based on the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method (SBFEM). It is a numerical tool suitable for elastodynamic problems. A space-tree discretisation, namely quad-trees, is used. This technique allows the decomposition of an image into quadrilaterals or quads, which are extruded to generate the 3D plate geometry. In particular, small quads resolve regions with discontinuities, allowing them to represent fine details in the structure. Moreover, this meshing technique allows for exploiting cell similarities, making the calculation procedure more efficient. The space-tree discretisations are generated from a high-resolution image containing all the information about damaged regions or boundary conditions. The resulting SBFEM polyhedral domains employ transition elements to ensure correct coupling between cells of different sizes. The analytical solution of a cylindrical scatterer serves as a reference to validate the proposed approach. Other examples also demonstrate the validity of the methodology and its flexibility.
In this contribution, we present three models to capture singularities in combination with the Spectral Element Method. The first model, the continued-fraction-based Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method, the second model, a new approach based on enrichment with static modes, and the third model, which uses an hp-refinement near the singularity, are compared among each other and evaluated in terms of their respective efficiency and accuracy.
Acoustic-structure interaction in the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method for primsatic geometries
(2019)
Due to the short wavelength compared to the dimensions of the structure, the simulation of ultrasonic waves is still a challenging task. A numerical method well suited for this purpose is the semi-analytical Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method (SBFEM). When applying this method, only the boundary of a computational domain is discretized using finite elements, while the interior is described by an analytical ansatz. Hence, the number of degrees of freedom is reduced significantly compared to the classical Finite Element Method (FEM).
In recent years, a particular formulation of the SBFEM for the simulation of ultrasonic guided waves was developed. The method constitutes an efficient algorithm for prismatic structures of arbitrary length, such as plates, pipes, or beams. Wave propagation phenomena in such structures can be modeled for isotropic and anisotropic inhomogeneous waveguides. Even though the method is an efficient tool for the simulation of guided waves in solid media, a reliable model for the simulation of acoustic wave propagation in fluids as well as acoustic-structure interaction in terms of SBFEM is still missing. In principle, the fluid can be described by a displacement-based formulation and thus be implemented in existing SBFEM algorithms for solid bodies. However, due to the discretization with classical finite elements, spurious modes occur, which cannot be separated from the physical modes straightforwardly. The spurious modes can be suppressed using a penalty parameter. Although very accurate results were achieved for some problems, this procedure has been proven unreliable for certain cases.
For this reason, we propose a different approach in this contribution. We employ a pressure model to simulate the acoustic behavior of fluids. The implementation of the pressure model results in a higher effort due to the necessity of incorporating coupling terms, but it presents a stable alternative without spurious modes. The accuracy of the method is demonstrated in comparison with analytical solutions and results obtained using the FEM.
This paper presents an approach to the automatic enrichment of finite elements in the vicinity of a stress singularity. The enrichment consists of semi-analytical singular modes constructed using the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method (SBFEM).
In contrast to analytical methods, the SBFEM provides modes for inhomogeneous and anisotropic materials without additional effort. The finite element basis can be of arbitrary order and remains unaltered by the enrichment. The approach requires enrichment in only one layer of elements around a node. Due to the compatibility of SBFEM with FEM, there is no Need for transitional elements, and there are no parasitic terms. The approach is tested for several benchmark problems. The stress intensity factors are computed based on techniques inspired by the SBFEM. The proposed procedure is compared to a Standard finite element implementation and shows a significant improvement in the error of the displacement field for problems involving singular stresses.
This work addresses the computation of stiffness matrices for general prismatic structures with an arbitrary cross section. The presented approach is based on the scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM), a semi-analytical method, which can be used to model structures by only discretizing the boundary of a domain. For prismatic structures, the process is further simplified, as only the cross section of the structure has to be discretized. Thus, a particular semi-analytical finite element is constructed for bounded and unbounded domains. The proposed approach leads to a frequency-dependent stiffness matrix. This stiffness matrix can easily be coupled to other prismatic SBFEM domains or general SBFEM domains. Necessary modifications to include forces along the scaling direction, such as body loads, are addressed. The results of the proposed approach are compared to those of traditional FEM models obtained using commercially available software.
This work introduces a semi-analytical formulation for the simulation and modeling of curved structures based on the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method (SBFEM). This approach adapts the fundamental idea of the SBFEM concept to scale a boundary to describe a geometry. Until now, scaling in SBFEM has exclusively been performed along a straight coordinate which enlarges, shrinks or shifts a given boundary.
In this novel approach, scaling is based on a polar or cylindrical coordinate system such that a boundary is shifted along a curved scaling direction. The derived formulations are used to compute the static and dynamic stiffness matrices of homogeneous curved structures. The resulting elements can be coupled to general SBFEM or FEM domains. For elastodynamic problems computations are performed in the frequency domain. Results of this work are validated using the Global Matrix Method and Standard Finite Element analysis.