Open AccessA Novel Space-Time Finite Element Algorithm to Investigate the Hygro-Mechanical Behaviours of Wood Fiber-Polymer Composites
Author(s) -
Nuttibase Charupeng,
Prapot Kunthong
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
mathematical modelling and engineering problems/mathematical modelling of engineering problems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.26
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 2369-0747
pISSN - 2369-0739
DOI - 10.18280/mmep.090115
Subject(s) - finite element method , algorithm , robustness (evolution) , materials science , durability , iterative and incremental development , computer science , composite material , mathematics , mathematical optimization , structural engineering , engineering , biochemistry , chemistry , software engineering , gene
Moisture-induced swelling, or hygroexpansion, has been known to greatly deteriorate the durability of wood fiber-polymer composites (WPC). It is generally very expensive to perform experiments to completely obtain the diffusion kinetics as the process occurs in a very extended period of time. For the first time, we have developed a space-time finite element algorithm that employs time discontinuous Galerkin (TDG) method for time-dependent 3D hygro-mechanical behaviours of WPC. The formulation of matrix equations in spatial and temporal domains are explained in detail. A block Gauss-Seidel iterative method is used in the predictor/multi-corrector multi-pass algorithm, which efficiently yields unconditionally stable and high-order accurate solutions. The model is validated by comparing the predicted time-dependent hygroexpansion with that obtained in a previous experimental study. The quantitative analysis ensures the reliability of model, based on a Fickian diffusion process. With our adaptive time-stepping scheme that bases on the embedded solution from the multi-pass iterations, the model efficiently progresses the kinetics with relatively large time steps. A runtime of a few hours compared to about three months of actual laboratory experimentation confirms the novelty and robustness of our model.