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Methods for connecting dissimilar three‐dimensional finite element meshes
Author(s) -
Dohrmann C. R.,
Key S. W.,
Heinstein M. W.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal for numerical methods in engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.421
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1097-0207
pISSN - 0029-5981
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0207(20000220)47:5<1057::aid-nme821>3.0.co;2-g
Subject(s) - polygon mesh , finite element method , planar , constraint (computer aided design) , elasticity (physics) , linear elasticity , surface (topology) , computer science , mathematics , geometry , calculus (dental) , structural engineering , engineering , physics , computer graphics (images) , medicine , dentistry , thermodynamics
Two methods are presented for connecting dissimilar three‐dimensional finite element meshes. The first method combines the concept of master and slave surfaces with the uniform strain approach for finite elements. By modifying the boundaries of elements on a slave surface, corrections are made to element formulations such that first‐order patch tests are passed. The second method is based entirely on constraint equations, but only passes a weaker form of the patch test for non‐planar surfaces. Both methods can be used to connect meshes with different element types. In addition, master and slave surfaces can be designated independently of relative mesh resolutions. Example problems in three‐dimensional linear elasticity are presented. Published in 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.