Abstract
The concurrent coupling of finite elements and discrete elements is an effective DOF reduction methodology for reproducing the granular flow phenomenon as discrete element method does. In this paper, we present a novel coupling strategy named the generalized bridging domain method. This method introduces independent functions to weight the material properties of the continuum and those of the discrete element model, and then the equilibrium of each new model is guaranteed by imposing compensation forces. The compensation force of continuum is determined by force and displacement compatibility requirements of continuum with respect to discrete elements, and vice versa. Utilizing different weighting functions, four typical coupling methods, the bridging domain method, edge-to-edge coupling, separate domain coupling, and separate edge coupling, are obtained. Additionally, a new integration algorithm with multiple time steps is developed for the separate edge coupling. The numerical performance of the separate domain coupling, where displacement compatibility condition of continuum and that of discrete elements are individually enforced by the Lagrange multiplier method, has been investigated in detail. Results of several numerical examples show that the separate domain coupling outperforms other methods in avoiding spurious reflection and the separate edge coupling is effective enough for coupling finite elements with discrete elements. Due to the truncation of high frequency waves, there exists energy loss but at an acceptable level if the waves can be resolved by the macroscopic finite element model.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 509-533 |
| Number of pages | 25 |
| Journal | Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering |
| Volume | 276 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1 2014 |
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Keywords
- Discrete element method
- Finite element method
- Granular flow phenomenon
- Multiscale method
- Spurious wave reflection
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Computer Science Applications
- Computational Mechanics
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
Cite this
Generalized bridging domain method for coupling finite elements with discrete elements. / Tu, Fubin; Ling, Daosheng; Bu, Lingfang; Yang, Qingda.
In: Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, Vol. 276, 01.07.2014, p. 509-533.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Generalized bridging domain method for coupling finite elements with discrete elements
AU - Tu, Fubin
AU - Ling, Daosheng
AU - Bu, Lingfang
AU - Yang, Qingda
PY - 2014/7/1
Y1 - 2014/7/1
N2 - The concurrent coupling of finite elements and discrete elements is an effective DOF reduction methodology for reproducing the granular flow phenomenon as discrete element method does. In this paper, we present a novel coupling strategy named the generalized bridging domain method. This method introduces independent functions to weight the material properties of the continuum and those of the discrete element model, and then the equilibrium of each new model is guaranteed by imposing compensation forces. The compensation force of continuum is determined by force and displacement compatibility requirements of continuum with respect to discrete elements, and vice versa. Utilizing different weighting functions, four typical coupling methods, the bridging domain method, edge-to-edge coupling, separate domain coupling, and separate edge coupling, are obtained. Additionally, a new integration algorithm with multiple time steps is developed for the separate edge coupling. The numerical performance of the separate domain coupling, where displacement compatibility condition of continuum and that of discrete elements are individually enforced by the Lagrange multiplier method, has been investigated in detail. Results of several numerical examples show that the separate domain coupling outperforms other methods in avoiding spurious reflection and the separate edge coupling is effective enough for coupling finite elements with discrete elements. Due to the truncation of high frequency waves, there exists energy loss but at an acceptable level if the waves can be resolved by the macroscopic finite element model.
AB - The concurrent coupling of finite elements and discrete elements is an effective DOF reduction methodology for reproducing the granular flow phenomenon as discrete element method does. In this paper, we present a novel coupling strategy named the generalized bridging domain method. This method introduces independent functions to weight the material properties of the continuum and those of the discrete element model, and then the equilibrium of each new model is guaranteed by imposing compensation forces. The compensation force of continuum is determined by force and displacement compatibility requirements of continuum with respect to discrete elements, and vice versa. Utilizing different weighting functions, four typical coupling methods, the bridging domain method, edge-to-edge coupling, separate domain coupling, and separate edge coupling, are obtained. Additionally, a new integration algorithm with multiple time steps is developed for the separate edge coupling. The numerical performance of the separate domain coupling, where displacement compatibility condition of continuum and that of discrete elements are individually enforced by the Lagrange multiplier method, has been investigated in detail. Results of several numerical examples show that the separate domain coupling outperforms other methods in avoiding spurious reflection and the separate edge coupling is effective enough for coupling finite elements with discrete elements. Due to the truncation of high frequency waves, there exists energy loss but at an acceptable level if the waves can be resolved by the macroscopic finite element model.
KW - Discrete element method
KW - Finite element method
KW - Granular flow phenomenon
KW - Multiscale method
KW - Spurious wave reflection
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84899880837&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84899880837&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cma.2014.03.023
DO - 10.1016/j.cma.2014.03.023
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84899880837
VL - 276
SP - 509
EP - 533
JO - Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering
JF - Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering
SN - 0374-2830
ER -