Two efficiency-based grid refinement strategies are investigated for adaptive finite element solution of partial differential equations. In each refinement step, the elements are ordered in terms of decreasing local error, and the optimal fraction of elements to be refined is deter- mined based on e±ciency measures that take both error reduction and work into account. The goal is to reach a pre-specified bound on the global error with a minimal amount of work. Two efficiency measures are discussed, 'work times error' and 'accuracy per computational cost'. The resulting refinement strategies are first compared for a one-dimensional model problem that may have a singularity. Modified versions of the efficiency strategies are proposed for the singular case, and the resulting adaptive methods are compared with a threshold-based refinement strategy. Next, the efficiency strategies are applied to the case of hp-refinement for the one-dimensional model problem. The use of the efficiency-based refinement strategies is then explored for problems with spatial dimension greater than one. The work times error strategy is inefficient when the spatial dimension, d, is larger than the finite element order, p, but the accuracy per computational cost strategy provides an efficient refinement mechanism for any combination of d and p.

Two efficiency-based grid refinement strategies are investigated for adaptive finite element solution of partial differential equations. In each refinement step, the elements are ordered in terms of decreasing local error, and the optimal fraction of elements to be refined is deter- mined based on e±ciency measures that take both error reduction and work into account. The goal is to reach a pre-specified bound on the global error with a minimal amount of work. Two efficiency measures are discussed, 'work times error' and 'accuracy per computational cost'. The resulting refinement strategies are first compared for a one-dimensional model problem that may have a singularity. Modified versions of the efficiency strategies are proposed for the singular case, and the resulting adaptive methods are compared with a threshold-based refinement strategy. Next, the efficiency strategies are applied to the case of hp-refinement for the one-dimensional model problem. The use of the efficiency-based refinement strategies is then explored for problems with spatial dimension greater than one. The work times error strategy is inefficient when the spatial dimension, d, is larger than the finite element order, p, but the accuracy per computational cost strategy provides an efficient refinement mechanism for any combination of d and p.

The aim of this thesis is to develop a flow solver that has the ability to obtain an accurate numerical solution fast and efficiently with minimum user intervention. In this study, a two-dimensional viscous, laminar, incompressible flow solver based on Least-Squares Spectral Element Method (LSSEM) is developed. The LSSEM flow solver can work on hp-type nonconforming grids and can perform p-type adaptive refinement. Several benchmark problems are solved in order to validate the solver and successful results are obtained. In particular, it is demonstrated that p-type adaptive refinement on hp-type non-conforming grids can be used to improve the quality of the solution. Moreover, it is found that mass conservation performance of LSSEM can be enhanced by using p-type adaptive refinement strategies while keeping computational costs reasonable.

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In this thesis, a robust, reliable and efficient isogeometric analysis framework is presented that allows for an adaptive spatial discretization of non-linear and time-dependent multi-field problems. In detail, B\'ezier extraction of truncated hierarchical B-splines is proposed that allows for a strict element viewpoint, and in this way, for the application of standard finite element procedures. Furthermore, local mesh refinement and coarsening strategies are introduced to generate graded meshes that meet given minimum quality requirements. The different strategies are classified in two groups and compared in the adaptive isogeometric analysis of two- and three-dimensional, singular and non-singular problems of elasticity and the Poisson equation. Since a large class of boundary value problems is non-linear or time-dependent in nature and requires incremental solution schemes, projection and transfer operators are needed to transfer all state variables to the new locally refined or coarsened mesh. For field variables, two novel projection methods are proposed and compared to existing global and semi-local versions. For internal variables, two different transfer operators are discussed and compared in numerical examples. The developed analysis framework is than combined with the phase-field method. Numerous phase-field models are discussed including the simulation of structural evolution processes to verify the stability and efficiency of the whole adaptive framework and to compare the projection and transfer operators for the state variables. Furthermore, the phase-field method is used to develop an unified modelling approach for weak and strong discontinuities in solid mechanics as they arise in the numerical analysis of heterogeneous materials due to rapidly changing mechanical properties at material interfaces or due to propagation of cracks if a specific failure load is exceeded. To avoid the time consuming mesh generation, a diffuse representation of the material interface is proposed by introducing a static phase-field. The material in the resulting transition region is recomputed by a homogenization of the adjacent material parameters. The extension of this approach by a phase-field model for crack propagation that also accounts for interface failure allows for the computation of brittle fracture in heterogeneous materials using non-conforming meshes.

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Le but de cette étude est l'analyse de la stabilité et des propriétés de réceptivité de l'écoulement tridimensionnel au bord d'attaque d'une aile en flèche. Le projet est divisé en deux parties: (i) le calcul de l'écoulement de base stationnaire comme une solution de l'état d'équilibre de Navier-Stokes et (ii) l'étude du problème aux valeurs propres direct et adjoint obtenu en linéarisant les équations de Navier-Stokes autour de l'écoulement de base. Un code DNS a été développé sur la base d'un cadre multigrid. La solution des équations de Navier-Stokes non linéaires et stationnaires à différents nombres de Reynolds est obtenue à un coût de calcul de près de O(n), où n est le nombre de degrés de liberté du problème. L'étude de la stabilité et des propriétés de réceptivité est effectuée en résolvant numériquement le problème aux valeurs propres / vecteurs propres. Un algorithme de Krylov-Schur, couplé avec une transformation shift-invert, est utilisé pour extraire la partie la plus intéressante du spectre. Deux branches peuvent être identifiées et l'une d'elles est associée à des vecteurs propres montrant une connexion entre les modes caractéristique du bord d'attaque et les modes de type crossflow. Le wavemaker est localisé dans une région près du bord d'attaque. Les résultats numériques sont comparés qualitativement avec des observations expérimentales et des analyses de stabilité locale.

Various error estimation and adaptive refinement techniques for the solution of electromagnetic integral equations were developed. Residual based error estimators and h-refinement implementations were done for the Method of Moments (MoM) solution of electromagnetic integral equations for a number of different problems. Due to high computational cost associated with the MoM, a cheaper solution technique known as the Locally-Corrected Nyström (LCN) method was explored. Several explicit and implicit techniques for error estimation in the LCN solution of electromagnetic integral equations were proposed and implemented for different geometries to successfully identify high-error regions. A simple p-refinement algorithm was developed and implemented for a number of prototype problems using the proposed estimators. Numerical error was found to significantly reduce in the high-error regions after the refinement. A simple computational cost analysis was also presented for the proposed error estimation schemes. Various cost-accuracy trade-offs and problem-specific limitations of different techniques for error estimation were discussed. Finally, a very important problem of slope-mismatch in the global error rates of the solution and the residual was identified. A few methods to compensate for that mismatch using scale factors based on matrix norms were developed.

Afin d'anticiper les effets du vieillissement des enceintes de confinement des centrales électronucléaires, l'IRSN effectue des recherches avancées sur le vieillissement du béton. Les problématiques de fissuration liées au vieillissement sont abordées à l'aide d'une méthode micromécanique basée sur des Modèles de Zones Cohésives Frottantes et à l'aide de la méthode d'<<Eigen-Erosion >> basée sur des considérations énergétiques. L'objectif de la thèse est de réduire les temps de calcul liés à ces deux approches, tout en conservant une bonne précision dans les zones d'intérêt, en adaptant la discrétisation en espace à l'aide de techniques de raffinement local adaptatif. La méthode de raffinement retenue est la méthode CHARMS (Conforming Hierarchical Adaptive Refinement Methods). Cette méthode, basée sur le raffinement des fonctions de base, permet un raffinement sans dégradation de la qualité des mailles initiales. En particulier, les non conformités géométriques sont naturellement prises en compte. Initialement appliquée à la Mécanique des Fluides, cette méthode est d'abord étendue à la Mécanique des Milieux Dé-formables en proposant un critère de raffinement général, puis elle est appliquée à la méthode d'<< Eigen-Erosion >> et aux Modèles de Zones Cohésives. Enfin, l'influence de la morphologie des inclusions d'un Volume Elémentaire Représentatif de béton numérique sur le comportement apparent et sur la fissuration est étudiée. / In order to anticipate effects of ageing in confinement structures of nuclear power plant, the IRSN develops research programs to study the ageing of concrete. A micromechanical approach, based on Cohesive Zone Models, and the "Eigen-Erosion" method, based on energetics consideration, are used. The aim of this study is to reduce the computational cost while keeping simulations with good accuracy in the areas of interest. The strategy is to adapt the spatialdiscretization in the areas of interest using local adaptive refinement technics. The selected refinement method is called CHARMS (Conforming Hierarchical Adaptive Refinement Methods). CHARMS is based on the refinement of basis functions and enables refinement without any loss of the inital mesh quality. The geometrical non conformities are implicitly handled. Initialyapplied to Fluid Mechanics, the method is first extended to Solid Mechanics with a specific refinement criterion. It is then applied to "Eigen-Erosion" and to Cohesive Zone Models. The inclusion's shape of a Representative Elementary Volume of numerical concrete is studied in order to determine the influence over the apparent behaviour and the crack propagation.

Numerical methods for solving partial differential equations are commonplace in the engineering community and their popularity can be attributed to the rapid performance improvement of modern workstations and desktop computers. The ubiquity of computer technology has allowed all areas of engineering to have access to detailed thermal, stress, and fluid flow analysis packages capable of performing complex studies of current and future designs. The rapid pace of computer development, however, has begun to outstrip efforts to reduce analysis overhead. As such, most commercially available software packages are now limited by the human effort required to prepare, develop, and initialize the necessary computational models. Primarily due to the mesh-based analysis methods utilized in these software packages, the dependence on model preparation greatly limits the accessibility of these analysis tools. In response, the so-called meshless or mesh-free methods have seen considerable interest as they promise to greatly reduce the necessary human interaction during model setup. However, despite the success of these methods in areas demanding high degrees of model adaptability (such as crack growth, multi-phase flow, and solid friction), meshless methods have yet to gain notoriety as a viable alternative to more traditional solution approaches in general solution domains. Although this may be due (at least in part) to the relative youth of the techniques, another potential cause is the lack of focus on developing robust methodologies. The failure to approach development from a practical perspective has prevented researchers from obtaining commercially relevant meshless methodologies which reach the full potential of the approach. The primary goal of this research is to present a novel meshless approach called MIMS (Model Integrated Meshless Solver) which establishes the method as a generalized solution technique capable of competing with more traditional PDE methodologies (such as the finite element and finite volume methods). This was accomplished by developing a robust meshless technique as well as a comprehensive model generation procedure. By closely integrating the model generation process into the overall solution methodology, the presented techniques are able to fully exploit the strengths of the meshless approach to achieve levels of automation, stability, and accuracy currently unseen in the area of engineering analysis. Specifically, MIMS implements a blended meshless solution approach which utilizes a variety of shape functions to obtain a stable and accurate iteration process. This solution approach is then integrated with a newly developed, highly adaptive model generation process which employs a quaternary triangular surface discretization for the boundary, a binary-subdivision discretization for the interior, and a unique shadow layer discretization for near-boundary regions. Together, these discretization techniques are able to achieve directionally independent, automatic refinement of the underlying model, allowing the method to generate accurate solutions without need for intermediate human involvement. In addition, by coupling the model generation with the solution process, the presented method is able to address the issue of ill-constructed geometric input (small features, poorly formed faces, etc.) to provide an intuitive, yet powerful approach to solving modern engineering analysis problems.