• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.703-708
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• 2017

The goal of this study is to evaluate behavior uncertainties of structures by using interval finite element analysis based on interval factor method as a specific non-stochastic tool. The interval finite element method, i.e., interval FEM, is a finite element method that uses interval parameters in situations where it is not possible to get reliable probabilistic characteristics of the structure. The present method solves the uncertainty problems of a 2D solid structure, in which structural characteristics are assumed to be represented as interval parameters. An interval analysis method using interval factors is applied to obtain the solution. Numerical applications verify the intuitive effectiveness of the present method to investigate structural uncertainties such as displacement and stress without the application of probability theory.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.469-488
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• 2008

Finite element methods have often been used for structural analyses of various mechanical problems. When finite element analyses are utilized to resolve mechanical systems, numerical uncertainties in the initial data such as structural parameters and loading conditions may result in uncertainties in the structural responses. Therefore the initial data have to be as accurate as possible in order to obtain reliable structural analysis results. The typical finite element method may not properly represent discrete systems when using uncertain data, since all input data of material properties and applied loads are defined by nominal values. An interval finite element analysis, which uses the interval arithmetic as introduced by Moore (1966) is proposed as a non-stochastic method in this study and serves a new numerical tool for evaluating the uncertainties of the initial data in structural analyses. According to this method, the element stiffness matrix includes interval terms of the lower and upper bounds of the structural parameters, and interval change functions are devised. Numerical uncertainties in the initial data are described as a tolerance error and tree graphs of uncertain data are constructed by numerical uncertainty combinations of each parameter. The structural responses calculated by all uncertainty cases can be easily estimated so that structural safety can be included in the design. Numerical applications of truss and frame structures demonstrate the efficiency of the present method with respect to numerical analyses of structural uncertainties.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.669-684
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• 2001

A new method for solving the uncertain eigenvalue problems of the structures with interval parameters, interval finite element method based on the element, is presented in this paper. The calculations are done on the element basis, hence, the efforts are greatly reduced. In order to illustrate the accuracy of the method, a continuous beam system is given, the results obtained by it are compared with those obtained by Chen and Qiu (1994); in order to demonstrate that the proposed method provides safe bounds for the eigenfrequencies, an undamping spring-mass system, in which the exact interval bounds are known, is given, the results obtained by it are compared with those obtained by Qiu et al. (1999), where the exact interval bounds are given. The numerical results show that the proposed method is effective for estimating the eigenvalue bounds of structures with interval parameters.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 2012

This paper strongly addresses to the problem of the mechanical systems in which parameters are uncertain and bounded. Interval calculation is used to find sharp bounds of the structural parameters for infilled frame system modeled with finite element method. Infill walls are generally treated as non-structural elements considerably to improve the lateral stiffness, strength and ductility of the structure together with the frame elements. Because of their complex nature, they are often neglected in the analytical model of building structures. However, in seismic design, ignoring the effect of infill wall in a numerical model does not accurately simulate the physical behavior. In this context, there are still some uncertainties in mechanical and also geometrical properties in the analysis and design procedure of infill walls. Structural uncertainties can be studied with a finite element formulation to determine sharp bounds of the structural parameters such as wall thickness and Young's modulus. In order to accomplish this sharp solution as much as possible, interval finite element approach can be considered, too. The structural parameters can be considered as interval variables by using the interval number, thus the structural stiffness matrix may be divided into the product of two parts which correspond to the interval values and the deterministic value.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.311-318
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• 2020

The goal of this study is to analytically and non-stochastically generate structural uncertainty behaviors of isotropic beams and laminated composite plates under plane stress conditions by using an interval finite element method. Uncertainty parameters of structural properties considering resistance and load effect are formulated by interval arithmetic and then linked to the finite element method. Under plane stress state, the isotropic cantilever beam is modeled and the laminated composite plate is cross-ply lay-up [0/90]. Triangular shape with a clamped-free boundary condition is given as geometry. Through uncertainties of both Young's modulus for resistance and applied forces for load effect, the change of structural maximum deflection and maximum von-Mises stress are analyzed. Numerical applications verify the effective generation of structural behavior uncertainties through the non-stochastic approach using interval arithmetic and immediately the feasibility of the present method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.613-629
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• 2007

A finite element method (FEM) of B-spline wavelet on the interval (BSWI) is used in this paper to solve the static and vibration problems of thin plate. Instead of traditional polynomial interpolation, the scaling functions of two-dimensional tensor product BSWI are employed to construct the transverse displacements field. The method combines the accuracy of B-spline functions approximation and various basis functions for structural analysis. Some numerical examples are studied to demonstrate the proposed method and the numerical results presented are in good agreement with the solutions of other methods.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.263-276
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• 2007

This paper presents a fuzzy finite element model for the analysis of structures in the presence of multiple uncertainties. A new methodology to evaluate the cumulative effect of multiple uncertainties on structural response is developed in the present work. This is done by modifying Muhanna's approach for handling single uncertainty. Uncertainty in load and material properties is defined by triangular membership functions with equal spread about the crisp value. Structural response is obtained in terms of fuzzy interval displacements and rotations. The results are further post-processed to obtain interval values of bending moment, shear force and axial forces. Membership functions are constructed to depict the uncertainty in structural response. Sensitivity analysis is performed to evaluate the relative sensitivity of displacements and forces to uncertainty in structural parameters. The present work demonstrates the effectiveness of fuzzy finite element model in establishing sharp bounds to the uncertain structural response in the presence of multiple uncertainties.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.733-751
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• 2011

In the present study, a new kind of multivariable Reissner-Mindlin plate elements with two kinds of variables based on B-spline wavelet on the interval (BSWI) is constructed to solve the static and vibration problems of a square Reissner-Mindlin plate, a skew Reissner-Mindlin plate, and a Reissner-Mindlin plate on an elastic foundation. Based on generalized variational principle, finite element formulations are derived from generalized potential energy functional. The two-dimensional tensor product BSWI is employed to form the shape functions and construct multivariable BSWI elements. The multivariable wavelet finite element method proposed here can improve the solving accuracy apparently because generalized stress and strain are interpolated separately. In addition, compared with commonly used Daubechies wavelet finite element method, BSWI has explicit expression and a very good approximation property which guarantee the satisfying results. The efficiency of the proposed multivariable Reissner-Mindlin plate elements are verified through some numerical examples in the end.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1687-1692
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• 2002

The problem analyzed here is a sheet metal forming process which requires a drawbead. The drawbead provides the sheet metal enough tension to be deformed plastically along the punch face and consequently, ensures a proper shape of final products by fixing the sheet to the die. Therefore, the optimum design of drawbead is indispensable in obtaining the desired formability. A static-explicit finite element analysis is carried out to provide a perspective tool for designing the drawbead. The finite element formulation is constructed from static equilibrium equation and takes into account the boundary condition that involves a proper contact condition. The deformation behavior of sheet material is formulated by the elastic-plastic constitutive equation. The finite element formulation has been solved based on an existing method that is called the static-explicit method. The main features of the static-explicit method are first that there is no convergence problem. Second, the problem of contact and friction is easily solved by application of very small time interval. During the analysis of drawbead processes, the strain distribution and the drawing force on drawbead can be analyzed. And the effects of bead shape and number of beads on sheet forming processes were investigated. The results of the static explicit analysis of drawbead processes show no convergence problem and comparatively accurate results even though severe high geometric and contact-friction nonlinearity. Moreover, the computational results of a static-explicit finite element analysis can supply very valuable information for designing the drawbead process in which the defects of final sheet product can be removed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2004

The fatigue life in wheels was predicted by simulating the experimental method using Finite-Element analysis. Based on a high frequency fatigue property, calculations of the stresses in wheels were performed by simulating the rotating bending fatigue test. Wheels made of an aluminum alloy(A356.2) were tested using a bending fatigue tester. Results from bending fatigue test showed a linear correlation between bending moment and stress amplitude. Consequently, Finite-Element calculations were performed by a linear analysis. In order to find stress-cycles curves, spoke parts of wheel were tested using a rotary bending fatigue tester. Also, highly accurate Finite-Element analysis requires regression lines and confidence intervals from these results. In conclusion, if the fatigue data related to the material and manufacturing procedure are reliable, the prediction on fatigue lift in wheels can be carried out with high accuracy.