• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 2019

Structural analysis remains as an essential part of any integrated civil engineering system in today's rapidly changing computing environment. Even with enormous advancements in capabilities of computers and mobile tools, enhancing computational efficiency of algorithms is necessary to meet the changing demands for quick real time response systems. The finite element method is still the most widely used method of computational structural analysis; a robust, reliable and automated finite element structural analysis module is essential in a modern integrated structural engineering system. To be a part of an automated finite element structural analysis, an efficient adaptive mesh generation scheme based on R-H refinement for the mesh and error estimates from representative strain values at Gauss points is described. A coefficient that depends on the shape of element is used to correct overly distorted elements. Two simple case studies show the validity and computational efficiency. The scheme is appropriate for nonlinear and dynamic problems in earthquake engineering which generally require a huge number of iterative computations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.153-160
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• 2010

It is necessary to determine accurate 3-dimensional coordinates of the building corner points that could be control or check points in order to verify the accuracy of 3D digital maps in the near future. The usual process of obtaining the coordinates of the building corner points is to set up the ground control points with a GPS and then to practice terrestrial survey such as distance or angle measurements. However, since an error in the ground control points can be propagated through the terrestrial survey into the final coordinates of the buildings, accurately should be considered as much as possible. The actual effect of the GPS-derived ground control point error on the estimates of the unknowns through the terrestrial survey is mathematically analyzed, and the simulation data is tested numerically. The error of the ground control points is tested in the cases of 1-4 cm for the horizontal components and 2-8 cm for the vertical component. The vertical component error is assigned twice the horizontal ones because of the characteristics of the GPS survey. The distance measurement is assumed for convenience and the precision of the estimated coordinates of the building corner points is almost linearly increased according to the errors of the ground control points. In addition, the final estimates themselves can vary by the simulated random errors depending on the precision of the survey instrument, but the precision of the estimates is almost independent of survey accuracy.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2024

An automated dynamic structural analysis module stands as a crucial element within a structural integrated mitigation system. This module must deliver prompt real-time responses to enable timely actions, such as evacuation or warnings, in response to the severity posed by the structural system. The finite element method, a widely adopted approximate structural analysis approach globally, owes its popularity in part to its user-friendly nature. However, the computational efficiency and accuracy of results depend on the user-provided finite element mesh, with the number of elements and their quality playing pivotal roles. This paper introduces a computationally efficient adaptive mesh generation scheme that optimally combines the h-method of node movement and the r-method of element division for mesh refinement. Adaptive mesh generation schemes automatically create finite element meshes, and in this case, representative strain values for a given mesh are employed for error estimates. When applied to dynamic problems analyzed in the time domain, meshes need to be modified at each time step, considering a few hundred or thousand steps. The algorithm's specifics are demonstrated through a standard cantilever beam example subjected to a concentrated load at the free end. Additionally, a portal frame example showcases the generation of various robust meshes. These examples illustrate the adaptive algorithm's capability to produce robust meshes, ensuring reasonable accuracy and efficient computing time. Moreover, the study highlights the potential for the scheme's effective application in complex structural dynamic problems, such as those subjected to seismic or erratic wind loads. It also emphasizes its suitability for general nonlinear analysis problems, establishing the versatility and reliability of the proposed adaptive mesh generation scheme.