Finite elements for the dynamic analysis of fluid‐solid systems

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Several new finite elements are presented for the idealization of two‐ and three‐dimensional coupled fluid‐solid systems subjected to static and dynamic loading. The elements are based on a displacement formulation in terms of the displacement degrees‐of‐freedom at the nodes of the element. The formulation includes the effects of compressible wave propagation and surface sloshing motion.The use of reduced integration techniques and the introduction of rotational constraints in the formulation of the element stiffness eliminates all unnecessary zero‐energy modes. A simple method is given which allows the stability of a finite element mesh of fluid elements to be investigated prior to analysis. Hence, the previously encountered problems of ‘element locking’ and ‘hour glass’ modes have been eliminated and a condition of optimum constraint is obtained.Numerical examples are presented which illustrate the accuracy of the element. It is shown that the element behaves very well for non‐rectangular geometry. The optimum constraint condition is clearly illustrated by the static solution of a rigid block floating on a mesh of fluid elements.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: