Effect of Boundary Constraints in the Formulation of the Partition of Unity Method: One-dimensional Setting

The paper examines an effect of boundary constraints applied to the enhanced degrees of freedom of partition of unity based discontinuous elements. To highlight the present issue the problem is studied in a one-dimensional setting. In particular, an example of a one-dimensional bar element crossed by a set of discontinuities having a finite elastic stiffness clearly shows a need for proper approximation of the displacement field within a discontinuous element in order to correctly represent the structural response. While the discontinuous elements with boundary constraints applied to the enhanced degrees of freedom display an unrealistic dependence of the global response on the locations of the discontinuities, the discontinuous elements with complete approximation of the discontinuous part of the displacement field provide the expected global response independent of the locations of the discontinuities

Numerical Implementation of Isotropic Consolidation of Clayey Soils

This paper reports on implementation of several numerical techniques to solve a set of governing equations resulting from simple one dimensional isotropic consolidation of soils that behave according to the Cam clay model. Three different methods of solving the equations of consolidation, namely the collocation method, the finite volume method and the finite element method, are presented. Apart from evaluating their efficiency, which becomes particularly crucial when implementing these techniques in the framework of an optimization problem aimed at tuning the model parameters, a set of parameters of a Cam clay model driving the time dependent response of the soils (deformation dependent variation of the coefficient of permeability and preconsolidation pressure) is also discussed

Variable Local Moduli of Elasticity as Inputs to FEM-based Models of Beams made from Glued Laminated Timber

The present paper is concerned with the formulation of advanced FEM based models of beams made from glued timber segments. These models account for variable elastic moduli in individual segments and their analysis is based on the application of LHS method. All results from probabilistic calculations are compared with experimental measurements conducted on twenty beams as well as with the FEM results derived for the same beams assuming deterministic analysis with piecewise constant moduli in individual segments. The main contribution of enhanced probabilistic models is seen primarily in the ability to provide cost effective designs of long-span glued timber structures

Reliability - Based Designof Precast Buildings

We present a numerical analysis of a precast structure regarding random properties of the material characteristics of joints, as well as the random character of loading, especially due to temperature impact. Using FEM we compare some of our results with a deterministic nonlinear solution

On Adequacy of Two-point Averaging Schemes for Composites with Nonlinear Viscoelastic Phases

Finite element simulations on fibrous composites with nonlinear viscoelastic response of the matrix phase are performed to explain why so called two-point averaging schemes may fail to deliver a realistic macroscopic response. Nevertheless, the potential of two-point averaging schemes (the overall response estimated in terms of localized averages of a two-phase composite medium) has been put forward in number of studies either in its original format or modified to overcome the inherited stiffness of classical ”elastic” localization rules. However, when the material model and geometry of the microstructure promote the formation of shear bands, none of the existing two-point averaging schemes will provide an adequate macroscopic response, since they all fail to capture the above phenomenon. Several examples are presented here to support this statement.

Analysis of coupled heat and moisture transfer in masonry structures

Evaluation of effective or macroscopic coefficients of thermal conductivity under coupled heat and moisture transfer is presented. The paper first gives a detailed summary on the solution of a simple steady state heat conduction problem with an emphasis on various types of boundary conditions applied to the representative volume element -- a periodic unit cell. Since the results essentially suggest no superiority of any type of boundary conditions, the paper proceeds with the coupled nonlinear heat and moisture problem subjecting the selected representative volume element to the prescribed macroscopically uniform heat flux. This allows for a direct use of the academic or commercially available codes. Here, the presented results are derived with the help of the SIFEL (SIimple Finite Elements) system.Comment: 23 pages, 11 figure

Acta Polytechnica Vol. 48 No. 6/2008 Simple Numerical Model of Laminated Glass

This paper presents a simple Finite Element model aimed at efficient simulation of layered glass units. The approach is based on considering the independent kinematics of each layer, tied together via Lagrange multipliers. Validation and verification of the resulting model against independent data demonstrate its accuracy, showing its potential for generalization towards more complex problems

Numerical Implementation of Isotropic Consolidation of Clayey Soils

This paper reports on implementation of several numerical techniques to solve a set of governing equations resulting from simple one dimensional isotropic consolidation of soils that behave according to the Cam clay model. Three different methods of solving the equations of consolidation, namely the collocation method, the finite volume method and the finite element method, are presented. Apart from evaluating their efficiency, which becomes particularly crucial when implementing these techniques in the framework of an optimization problem aimed at tuning the model parameters, a set of parameters of a Cam clay model driving the time dependent response of the soils (deformation dependent variation of the coefficient of permeability and preconsolidation pressure) is also discussed