Non-Intrusive Extension of a Generalized Finite Element Method for Multiscale Problems to the Abaqus Analysis Platform

Several classes of important engineering problems – in this case, problems exhibiting sharp thermal gradients – have solution features spanning multiple spatial scales of interest and, therefore, necessitate advanced hp finite element discretizations. Although hp-FEM is unavailable off-the-shelf in many predominant commercial analysis software packages, a novel method is proposed herein which is used to introduce these capabilities via the generalized FEM with global-local enrichments (GFEMgl) non-intrusively in Abaqus, a popular, general-purpose FEA platform. Numerical results show that the techniques utilized allow for accurate resolution of localized thermal features on structural-scale meshes without hp-adaptivity or the ability to account for very localized loads in the FEM framework itself. This methodology enables the user to take advantage of all the benefits of both hp-FEM discretizations and the appealing features of many available CAE/FEA software packages in order to obtain optimal convergence for challenging multiscale problems.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Plews, Julia A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Duarte, C. Armando

• finite element methods
• multiscale
• heat transfer
• Galerkin methods
• Generalized Finite Element Method (GFEM)

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2011 Julia A. Plews

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/24461

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/24461