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Center for Nonlinear Studies |
Many of the formulations of current research interest, including iosogeometric methods and the extended finite element method use nontraditional basis functions. Some, such as subdivision surfaces, may not have convenient analytical representations. The concept of an element, if appropriate at all, no longer coincides with the traditional definition. Developing new software for each new class of basis functions is a large research burden, especially if the problems involve large deformations, nonlinear materials, and contact. The objective of this paper is to present a method that separates as much as possible the generation and evaluation of the basis functions from the analysis, resulting in a formulation that can be implemented within the traditional structure of a finite element program but that permits the use of arbitrary sets of basis functions that are defined only through the input file. Elements ranging from a traditional linear four-node tetrahedron through a higher-order element combining X-FEM and isogeometric analysis may be specified entirely through an input file without any additional programming. Examples of this framework to applications with Lagrange elements, isogeometric elements and XFEM basis functions for fracture are presented.
Host: Mikhail Shashkov