A unified immersed finite element error analysis for one-dimensional interface problems

It has been noted that the traditional scaling argument cannot be directly applied to the error analysis of immersed finite elements (IFE) because, in general, the spaces on the reference element associated with the IFE spaces on different interface elements via the standard affine mapping are not the same. By analyzing a mapping from the involved Sobolev space to the IFE space, this article is able to extend the scaling argument framework to the error estimation for the approximation capability of a class of IFE spaces in one spatial dimension. As demonstrations of the versatility of this unified error analysis framework, the manuscript applies the proposed scaling argument to obtain optimal IFE error estimates for a typical first-order linear hyperbolic interface problem, a second-order elliptic interface problem, and the fourth-order Euler-Bernoulli beam interface problem, respectively

Three embedded techniques for finite element heat flow problem with embedded discontinuities

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00466-017-1382-7The present paper explores the solution of a heat conduction problem considering discontinuities embedded within the mesh and aligned at arbitrary angles with respect to the mesh edges. Three alternative approaches are proposed as solutions to the problem. The difference between these approaches compared to alternatives, such as the eXtended Finite Element Method (X-FEM), is that the current proposal attempts to preserve the global matrix graph in order to improve performance. The first two alternatives comprise an enrichment of the Finite Element (FE) space obtained through the addition of some new local degrees of freedom to allow capturing discontinuities within the element. The new degrees of freedom are statically condensed prior to assembly, so that the graph of the final system is not changed. The third approach is based on the use of modified FE-shape functions that substitute the standard ones on the cut elements. The imposition of both Neumann and Dirichlet boundary conditions is considered at the embedded interface. The results of all the proposed methods are then compared with a reference solution obtained using the standard FE on a mesh containing the actual discontinuity.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Residual-based error estimation and adaptivity for stabilized immersed isogeometric analysis using truncated hierarchical B-splines

We propose an adaptive mesh refinement strategy for immersed isogeometric analysis, with application to steady heat conduction and viscous flow problems. The proposed strategy is based on residual-based error estimation, which has been tailored to the immersed setting by the incorporation of appropriately scaled stabilization and boundary terms. Element-wise error indicators are elaborated for the Laplace and Stokes problems, and a THB-spline-based local mesh refinement strategy is proposed. The error estimation .and adaptivity procedure is applied to a series of benchmark problems, demonstrating the suitability of the technique for a range of smooth and non-smooth problems. The adaptivity strategy is also integrated in a scan-based analysis workflow, capable of generating reliable, error-controlled, results from scan data, without the need for extensive user interactions or interventions.Comment: Submitted to Journal of Mechanic

Scan-based immersed isogeometric analysis

Scan-based simulations contain innate topologically complex three-dimensional geometries, represented by large data sets in formats which are not directly suitable for analysis. Consequently, performing high-fidelity scan-based simulations at practical computational costs is still very challenging. The main objective of this dissertation is to develop an efficient and robust scan-based simulation strategy by acquiring a profound understanding of three prominent challenges in scan-based IGA, viz.: i) balancing the accuracy and computational effort associated with numerical integration; ii) the preservation of topology in the spline-based segmentation procedure; and iii) the control of accuracy using error estimation and adaptivity techniques. In three-dimensional immersed isogeometric simulations, the computational effort associated with integration can be the critical component. A myriad of integration strategies has been proposed over the past years to ameliorate the difficulties associated with integration, but a general optimal integration framework that suits a broad class of engineering problems is not yet available. In this dissertation we provide a thorough investigation of the accuracy and computational effort of the octree integration technique. We quantify the contribution of the integration error using the theoretical basis provided by Strang’s first lemma. Based on this study we propose an error-estimate-based adaptive integration procedure for immersed IGA. To exploit the advantageous properties of IGA in a scan-based setting, it is important to extract a smooth geometry. This can be established by convoluting the voxel data using B-splines, but this can induce problematic topological changes when features with a size similar to that of the voxels are encountered. This dissertation presents a topology-preserving segmentation procedure using truncated hierarchical (TH)B-splines. A moving-window-based topological anomaly detection algorithm is proposed to identify regions in which (TH)B-spline refinements must be performed. The criterion to identify topological anomalies is based on the Euler characteristic, giving it the capability to distinguish between topological and shape changes. A Fourier analysis is presented to explain the effectiveness of the developed procedure. An additional computational challenge in the context of immersed IGA is the construction of optimal approximations using locally refined splines. For scan-based volumetric domains, hierarchical splines are particularly suitable, as they optimally leverage the advantages offered by the availability of a geometrically simple background mesh. Although truncated hierarchical B-splines have been successfully applied in the context of IGA, their application in the immersed setting is largely unexplored. In this dissertation we propose a computational strategy for the application of error estimation-based mesh adaptivity for stabilized immersed IGA. The conducted analyses and developed computational techniques for scan-based immersed IGA are interrelated, and together constitute a significant improvement in the efficiency and robustness of the analysis paradigm. In combination with other state-of-the-art developments regarding immersed FEM/IGA (\emph{e.g.}, iterative solution techniques, parallel computing), the research in this thesis opens the doors to scan-based simulations with more sophisticated physical behavior, geometries of increased complexity, and larger scan-data sizes.Scan-based simulations contain innate topologically complex three-dimensional geometries, represented by large data sets in formats which are not directly suitable for analysis. Consequently, performing high-fidelity scan-based simulations at practical computational costs is still very challenging. The main objective of this dissertation is to develop an efficient and robust scan-based simulation strategy by acquiring a profound understanding of three prominent challenges in scan-based IGA, viz.: i) balancing the accuracy and computational effort associated with numerical integration; ii) the preservation of topology in the spline-based segmentation procedure; and iii) the control of accuracy using error estimation and adaptivity techniques. In three-dimensional immersed isogeometric simulations, the computational effort associated with integration can be the critical component. A myriad of integration strategies has been proposed over the past years to ameliorate the difficulties associated with integration, but a general optimal integration framework that suits a broad class of engineering problems is not yet available. In this dissertation we provide a thorough investigation of the accuracy and computational effort of the octree integration technique. We quantify the contribution of the integration error using the theoretical basis provided by Strang’s first lemma. Based on this study we propose an error-estimate-based adaptive integration procedure for immersed IGA. To exploit the advantageous properties of IGA in a scan-based setting, it is important to extract a smooth geometry. This can be established by convoluting the voxel data using B-splines, but this can induce problematic topological changes when features with a size similar to that of the voxels are encountered. This dissertation presents a topology-preserving segmentation procedure using truncated hierarchical (TH)B-splines. A moving-window-based topological anomaly detection algorithm is proposed to identify regions in which (TH)B-spline refinements must be performed. The criterion to identify topological anomalies is based on the Euler characteristic, giving it the capability to distinguish between topological and shape changes. A Fourier analysis is presented to explain the effectiveness of the developed procedure. An additional computational challenge in the context of immersed IGA is the construction of optimal approximations using locally refined splines. For scan-based volumetric domains, hierarchical splines are particularly suitable, as they optimally leverage the advantages offered by the availability of a geometrically simple background mesh. Although truncated hierarchical B-splines have been successfully applied in the context of IGA, their application in the immersed setting is largely unexplored. In this dissertation we propose a computational strategy for the application of error estimation-based mesh adaptivity for stabilized immersed IGA. The conducted analyses and developed computational techniques for scan-based immersed IGA are interrelated, and together constitute a significant improvement in the efficiency and robustness of the analysis paradigm. In combination with other state-of-the-art developments regarding immersed FEM/IGA (\emph{e.g.}, iterative solution techniques, parallel computing), the research in this thesis opens the doors to scan-based simulations with more sophisticated physical behavior, geometries of increased complexity, and larger scan-data sizes

Simulation of pore-scale flow using finite element-methods

I present a new finite element (FE) simulation method to simulate pore-scale flow. Within the pore-space, I solve a simplified form of the incompressible Navier-Stoke’s equation, yielding the velocity field in a two-step solution approach. First, Poisson’s equation is solved with homogeneous boundary conditions, and then the pore pressure is computed and the velocity field obtained for no slip conditions at the grain boundaries. From the computed velocity field I estimate the effective permeability of porous media samples characterized by thin section micrographs, micro-CT scans and synthetically generated grain packings. This two-step process is much simpler than solving the full Navier Stokes equation and therefore provides the opportunity to study pore geometries with hundreds of thousands of pores in a computationally more cost effective manner than solving the full Navier-Stoke’s equation. My numerical model is verified with an analytical solution and validated on samples whose permeabilities and porosities had been measured in laboratory experiments (Akanji and Matthai, 2010). Comparisons were also made with Stokes solver, published experimental, approximate and exact permeability data. Starting with a numerically constructed synthetic grain packings, I also investigated the extent to which the details of pore micro-structure affect the hydraulic permeability (Garcia et al., 2009). I then estimate the hydraulic anisotropy of unconsolidated granular packings. With the future aim to simulate multiphase flow within the pore-space, I also compute the radii and derive capillary pressure from the Young-Laplace equation (Akanji and Matthai,2010