This paper introduces a new fixed mesh structural analysis technique based on isoparametric formulations from classic finite element analysis. Fixed mesh methods are popular in boundary based optimisation as they avoid mesh distortion problems and reanalysis is simple and efficient. The area ratio based fixed grid method is often employed due to its favourable simplicity in implementation. Howe...

This paper presents a novel method for converting any unstructured quadrilateral or hexahedral mesh to a generalized T-spline surface or solid T-spline, based on the rational T-spline basis functions. Our conversion algorithm consists of two stages: the topology stage and the geometry stage. In the topology stage, the input quadrilateral or hexahedral mesh is taken as the initial T-mesh. To con...

We study the approximation properties of some finite element subspaces of H(div; Ω) andH(curl ; Ω) defined on hexahedral meshes in three dimensions. This work extends results previously obtained for quadrilateral H(div; Ω) finite elements and for quadrilateral scalar finite element spaces. The finite element spaces we consider are constructed starting from a given finite dimensional space of ve...

A novel node-based smoothing element for triangular and quadrilateral meshes is presented for static analysis of planar piezoelectric structures. In contrast to the smoothed finite element formulation that was based on sub-cells within an original quadrilateral element, this new method transforms a general original finite element mesh into a mesh of new smoothing cells individually associated w...

0965-9978/$ see front matter 2009 Elsevier Ltd. A doi:10.1016/j.advengsoft.2009.12.011 * Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (K.J. Bathe). The analysis of plates can be achieved using the quadratic MITC plate or MITC shell elements. The plate elements have a strong mathematical basis and have been shown to be optimal in their convergence behavior, theoretically and numerically. Th...

A simple isoparametric geometry mapping is applied to incorporate irregular four-node quadrilateral elements into Modified Nodal Integral Method for the two-dimensional, time-dependent, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The modified scheme has been applied to solve the twodimensional lid driven cavity problem with exact solution, solved over a sub-domain that necessitate non-rectangular e...

A two-dimensional unstructured elliptic smoothing method is described where the Winslow equations are discretized using a finite volume approach. Virtual control volumes for each node are constructed with element shapes that are nearly ideal. Green-Gauss theorem is used to formulate gradients over an element or a collection of elements for a node, which ultimately leads to a coupled non-linear ...

The jaw plays a significant role in speech production. This work introduces a muscle activated dynamic jaw model that will be connected in the future to the 3D tongue model already developed by our group. The bone structure of the jaw, extracted from CT Images, is represented as a biomechanical model using quadrilateral shell elements. Opener and closer muscles are represented as line-segmented...

In this paper we study the convergence of adaptive finite element methods for the general non-affine equivalent quadrilateral and hexahedral elements on 1-irregular meshes with hanging nodes. Based on several basic ingredients, such as quasi-orthogonality, estimator reduction and Döfler marking strategy, convergence of the adaptive finite element methods for the general second-order elliptic pa...

Glorious Fonts, a new graphically-based font type, allow interesting effects to be applied to existing character sets. The difficulties of automating this process are examined in the context of applying Celtic knotwork designs to plain text characters. An analysis of knotwork construction techniques shows how complete designs may be described by an expanded tile set. This paper also presents an...