• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.335-341
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• 2009

In this paper, review of developed MLS-based finite elements and a proposal for their applications are described. The shape functions and their derivatives of MLS-based finite elements are constructed using Moving-Least Square approximation. In MLS-based finite element, using the adequate influence domain of weight function used in MLS approximation, kronecker delta condition could be satisfied at the element boundary. Moreover, because of the characteristics of MLS approximation, we could easily add extra nodes at an arbitrary position in MLS-based finite elements. For these reasons, until now, several variable-node elements(2D variable element for linear case and quadratic case and 3D variable-node elements) and finite crack elements are developed using MLS-based finite elements concept. MLS-based finite elements could be extended to 2D variable-node triangle element, 2D finite crack triangle element, variable-node shell element, finite crack shell element, and 3D polyhedron element. In this paper, we showed the feasibility of 3D polyhedron element at the case of femur meshing.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.349-370
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• 2012

Variable-node finite element families, termed (4 + k + l + m + n)-node elements with an arbitrary number of nodes (k, l, m, and n) on each of their edges, are developed based on the generic point interpolation with special bases having slope discontinuities in two-dimensional domains. They retain the linear interpolation between any two neighboring nodes, and passes the standard patch test when subdomain-wise $2{\times}2$ Gauss integration is employed. Their shape functions are automatically generated on the master domain of elements although a certain number of nodes are inserted on their edges. The elements can provide a flexibility to resolve nonmatching mesh problems like mesh connection and adaptive mesh refinement. In the case of adaptive mesh refinement problem, so-called "1-irregular node rule" working as a constraint in performing mesh adaptation is relaxed by adopting the variable-node elements. Through several examples, we show the performance of the variable-node finite elements in terms of accuracy and efficiency.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1994.10a
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• pp.1-8
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• 1994

A variable-node-flat shell element designated as CLS which has variable mid-side nodes with drilling freedom has been presented in this paper. The shell element to be applied in finite element analysis has been developed by combining a membrane element named as CLM with drilling rotation d.o.f. and plate bending element. The combined shell element possess six degrees of freedom per node. By introducing the variable-node elements which have physical midside nodes, some difficulties associated with imposing displacement constraints on irregular nodes to enforce interelement compatibility in common adaptive h-refinement on quadrilateral mesh are easily overcome. Detailed numerical studies show the excellent performance of the new shell elements developed in this study.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.271-274
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• 2007

The finite element linear buckling analysis of folded plate structures using adaptive h-refinement methods is presented in this paper. The variable-node flat shell element used in this study possesses the drilling D.O.F. which, in addition to improvement of the element behavior, permits an easy connection to other elements with six degrees of freedom per node. The Box-typed structures can be analyzed using these developed flat shell elements. By introducing the variable node elements some difficulties associated with connecting the different layer patterns, which are common in the adaptive h-refinement on quadrilateral mesh, can be overcome. To obtain better stress field for the error estimation, the super-convergent patch recovery is used. The convergent buckling modes and the critical loads associated with these modes can be obtained.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.172-176
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• 2008

In this paper, three dimensional linear conforming variable-finite elements are presented with the aid of a smoothed integration (a class of stabilized conforming nodal integration), for mnltiscale mechanics problems. These elements meet the desirable properties of an interpolation such as the Kronecker delta condition, the partition of unity condition and the positiveness of interpolation function. The necessary condition of linear exactness is fully relaxed by employing the smoothed integration, which renders us to meet the linear exactness in a straightforward manner. This novel element description extend the category of the conventional finite elements space to ration type function space and give the flexibility on the number of nodes of element which are fixed in the conventional finite elements. Several examples are provided to show the convergence and the accuracy of the proposed elements, and to demonstrate their potential with emphasis on the multiscale mechanics problems such as global/local analysis, nonmatching contact problems, and modeling of composite material with defects.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.104-111
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• 2002

A new triangular element fur the finite element analysis of plate-bending problems is presented. For the purpose of sharing the program code of 4 node plate-bending element, two nodes of the 4-node element are combined to form a triangular element. Thus, the presented element would bring about great deal of efficiency of the computer program. The proposed variable-node elements pass the patch tests, do not show spurious zero-energy modes, and do not produce shear locking phenomena. It is also shown that the elements produce reliable solutions through numerical tests for standard benchmark problems.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.168-175
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• 1996

This paper deals with the variable-node element for fluid flow and the adaptive h-version mesh refinement algorithm. The transient element has been formulated by the Galerkin approach in which the pressure term is replaced with the penalty function. The present element having variable mid-side node and is suitable for constructing a locally refined mesh avoiding the use of the highly distorted elements. A modified Gauss quadrature is needed to integrate the element matrices to solve the trouble associated with the discontinuity of derivatives of shape functions. Several numerical examples show that the proposed element can be effectively used in the h-version adapt ive mesh refinement

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.293-301
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• 2007

We present a new global-local analysis with the aid of MLS(Moving Least Square) variable-node finite elements which can possess an arbitrary number of nodes on element master domain. It enables us to connect one finite element with a few finite elements without complex remeshing. Compared to other type global-local analysis, it does not require any superimposed mesh or need not solve the equilibrium equation twice. To demonstrate the performance of the proposed scheme, we will show several examples in relation to capturing highly local stress field using global-local analysis.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.111-125
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• 1998

This paper deals with the development of variable-node element and its application to the adaptive h-version mesh refinement-recovery for the incompressible viscous flow analysis. The element which has variable mid-side nodes can be used in generating the transition zone between the refined and unrefined element and efficiently used for the construction of a refined mesh without generating distorted elements. A modified Guassian quadrature is needed to evaluate the element matrices due to the discontinuity of derivatives of the shape functions used for the element. The penalty function method which can reduce the number of the independent variables is adopted for the purpose of computational efficiency and the selective reduced integration is carried out for the convection and pressure terms to preserve the stability of solution. For the economical analysis of transient problems in which the locations to be refined are changed in accordance with the dynamic distribution of velocity gradient, not only the mesh refinement but also the mesh recovery is needed. The numerical examples show that the optimal mesh for the finite element analysis of a wind around the structures can be obtained automatically by the proposed scheme.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.105-122
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• 2001

A new three-dimensional 13-node hexahedral element with rotational degrees of freedom, which is designated as MR-H13 element, is presented. The proposed element is established by adding five nodes to one of the six faces of basic 8-node hexahedral element. The new element can be effectively used in the connection between the refined mesh and the coarser mesh. The derivation of the current element in this paper is based on the variational principles in which the rotation and skew-symmetric stress are introduced as independent variables. Numerical examples show that the performance of the new element is satisfactory.