A variational formulation of dissipative quasicontinuum methods

in International Journal of Solids and Structures (2016), 102-103

Lattice systems and discrete networks with dissipative interactions are successfully employed as meso-scale models of heterogeneous solids. As the application scale generally is much larger than that of ... [more ▼]

Lattice systems and discrete networks with dissipative interactions are successfully employed as meso-scale models of heterogeneous solids. As the application scale generally is much larger than that of the discrete links, physically relevant simulations are computationally expensive. The QuasiContinuum (QC) method is a multiscale approach that reduces the computational cost of direct numerical simulations by fully resolving complex phenomena only in regions of interest while coarsening elsewhere. In previous work (Beex et al., J. Mech. Phys. Solids 64, 154-169, 2014), the originally conservative QC methodology was generalized to a virtual-power-based QC approach that includes local dissipative mechanisms. In this contribution, the virtual-power-based QC method is reformulated from a variational point of view, by employing the energy-based variational framework for rate-independent processes (Mielke and Roub cek, Rate-Independent Systems: Theory and Application, Springer-Verlag, 2015). By construction it is shown that the QC method with dissipative interactions can be expressed as a minimization problem of a properly built energy potential, providing solutions equivalent to those of the virtual-power-based QC formulation. The theoretical considerations are demonstrated on three simple examples. For them we verify energy consistency, quantify relative errors in energies, and discuss errors in internal variables obtained for different meshes and two summation rules. [less ▲]

Vibration of functionally graded material plates with cutouts & cracks in thermal environment

in Key Engineering Materials (2013), 560

In this paper, the effect of a centrally located cutout (circular and elliptical) and cracks emanating from the cutout on the free flexural vibration behaviour of functionally graded material plates in ... [more ▼]

In this paper, the effect of a centrally located cutout (circular and elliptical) and cracks emanating from the cutout on the free flexural vibration behaviour of functionally graded material plates in thermal environment is studied. The discontinuity surface is represented independent of the mesh by exploiting the partition of unity method framework. A Heaviside function is used to capture the jump in the displacement across the discontinuity surface and asymptotic branch functions are used to capture the singularity around the crack tip. An enriched shear flexible 4-noded quadrilateral element is used for the spatial discretization. The properties are assumed to vary only in the thickness direction. The effective properties of the functionally graded material are estimated using the Mori-Tanaka homogenization scheme and the plate kinematics is based on the first order shear deformation theory. The influence of the plate geometry, the geometry of the cutout, the crack length, the thermal gradient and the boundary conditions on the free flexural vibration is numerically studied. © (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland. [less ▲]

Virtual and smoothed finite elements: A connection and its application to polygonal/polyhedral finite element methods

in International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering (2015), 104(13), 1173-1199

We show both theoretically and numerically a connection between the smoothed finite element method (SFEM) and the virtual element method and use this approach to derive stable, cheap and optimally ... [more ▼]

We show both theoretically and numerically a connection between the smoothed finite element method (SFEM) and the virtual element method and use this approach to derive stable, cheap and optimally convergent polyhedral FEM.We show that the stiffness matrix computed with one subcell SFEM is identical to the consistency term of the virtual element method, irrespective of the topology of the element, as long as the shape functions vary linearly on the boundary. Using this connection, we propose a new stable approach to strain smoothing for polygonal/polyhedral elements where, instead of using sub-triangulations, we are able to use one single polygonal/polyhedral subcell for each element while maintaining stability. For a similar number of degrees of freedom, the proposed approach is more accurate than the conventional SFEM with triangular subcells. The time to compute the stiffness matrix scales with the O.dof s/1:1 in case of the conventional polygonal FEM, while it scales as O.dof s/0:7 in the proposed approach. The accuracy and the convergence properties of the SFEM are studied with a few benchmark problems in 2D and 3D linear elasticity. [less ▲]

Virtual Coach Reaches Out To Me

Conference given outside the academic context (2013)

Virtual-power-based quasicontinuum methods for discrete dissipative materials

Scientific Conference (2016, June)

In this presentation, the formulation of the virtual-power-based QC framework will be outlined for an elastoplastic truss lattice. Subsequently, the framework is applied to an actual discrete material.

Visualizing Computer-Based Activity on Ambient Displays to Reduce Sedentary Behavior at Work

in 32ND AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE ON HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION (2020)

Workplace health interventions have predominantly been designed around visualizations of physical activity data in the work routine. Yet, contextual factors, such as computer-based activity, appears to be ... [more ▼]

Workplace health interventions have predominantly been designed around visualizations of physical activity data in the work routine. Yet, contextual factors, such as computer-based activity, appears to be crucial to support healthier behaviors at work. In this research, we explore the effect of visualizing computer-based activity to prompt physical activity at work, through desktop-based ambient displays. Based on our prototypes Yamin and Apphia, we conducted an exploratory qualitative user study in a lab setting with office workers (N=16). Results showed that visualizing one’s computer-based activity could potentially increase the awareness, self-reflection, and social interactions for individuals to become physically active. With our findings, we discuss design implications for using computer activity data in a physical form as a motivational factor to encourage physically active workstyles. We present directions for future field studies to gain further insights on this topic. [less ▲]

A volume-averaged nodal projection method for the Reissner-Mindlin plate model

in Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2018), 341

We introduce a novel meshfree Galerkin method for the solution of Reissner-Mindlin plate problems that is written in terms of the primitive variables only (i.e., rotations and transverse displacement) and ... [more ▼]

We introduce a novel meshfree Galerkin method for the solution of Reissner-Mindlin plate problems that is written in terms of the primitive variables only (i.e., rotations and transverse displacement) and is devoid of shear-locking. The proposed approach uses linear maximum-entropy approximations and is built variationally on a two-field potential energy functional wherein the shear strain, written in terms of the primitive variables, is computed via a volume-averaged nodal projection operator that is constructed from the Kirchhoff constraint of the three-field mixed weak form. The stability of the method is rendered by adding bubble-like enrichment to the rotation degrees of freedom. Some benchmark problems are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and performance of the proposed method for a wide range of plate thicknesses. [less ▲]

Vulnerability analysis of network observability in link flow inference problems

Scientific Conference (2018, January)

The Wasserstein Impact Measure (WIM): A practical tool for quantifying prior impact in Bayesian statistics

in Computational Statistics and Data Analysis (2022), 174

The prior distribution is a crucial building block in Bayesian analysis, and its choice will impact the subsequent inference. It is therefore important to have a convenient way to quantify this impact, as ... [more ▼]

The prior distribution is a crucial building block in Bayesian analysis, and its choice will impact the subsequent inference. It is therefore important to have a convenient way to quantify this impact, as such a measure of prior impact will help to choose between two or more priors in a given situation. To this end a new approach, the Wasserstein Impact Measure (WIM), is introduced. In three simulated scenarios, the WIM is compared to two competitor prior impact measures from the literature, and its versatility is illustrated via two real datasets. [less ▲]

Weakening the tight coupling between geometry and simulation in isogeometric analysis

Scientific Conference (2016, June 05)

In the standard paradigm of isogeometric analysis, the geometry and the simulation spaces are tightly integrated, i.e. the same non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS) space, which is used for the geometry ... [more ▼]

In the standard paradigm of isogeometric analysis, the geometry and the simulation spaces are tightly integrated, i.e. the same non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS) space, which is used for the geometry representation of the domain, is employed for the numerical solution of the problem over the domain. However, there are situations where this tight integration is a bane rather than a boon. Such situations arise where, e.g., (1) the geometry of the domain is simple enough to be represented by low order NURBS, whereas the unknown (exact) solution of the problem is sufficiently regular, and thus, the numerical solution can be obtained with improved accuracy by using NURBS of order higher than that required for the geometry, (2) the constraint of using the same space for the geometry and the numerical solution is particularly undesirable, such as in the shape and topology optimization, and (3) the solution of the problem has low regularity but for the curved boundary of the domain one can employ higher order NURBS. Therefore, we propose to weaken this constraint. An extensive study of patch tests on various combinations of polynomial degree, geometry type, and various cases of varying degrees and control variables between the geometry and the numerical solution will be discussed. It will be shown, with concrete reasoning, that why patch test fails in certain cases, and that those cases should be avoided in practice. Thereafter, selective numerical examples will be presented to address some of the above-mentioned situations, and it will be shown that weakening the tight coupling between geometry and simulation offers more flexibility in choosing the numerical solution spaces, and thus, improved accuracy of the numerical solution. Powered by [less ▲]