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A VIRTUAL FINITE ELEMENT METHOD FOR CONTACT PROBLEMS

An algorithm is presented for the solution of mechanical contact
problems using the displacement based Finite Element Method. The corrections are applied as forces at the global level, together with any corrections for other nonlinearities, without having to nominate either body as target or contactor. The technique requires statically reducing the global stiffness matrices to each degree of freedom involved in contact. Nodal concentrated force are redistributed as continuous tractions. These tractions are re-integrated over the element domains of the opposing body. This creates a set of virtual elements which are assembled to provide a convenient mesh of the properties of the opposing body no matter what its actual discretizaton into elements. Virtual nodal quantities are used to calculate corrective forces that are optimal to first order.
The work also presents a derivation of refereritial strain
tensors. This sheds new light on the updated Lagrangian formulation, gives a complete and correct incremental form for the Lagrangian strain tensor and illustrates the role of the reference configuration and what occurs when it is changed. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/29085
Date09 1900
CreatorsUNDERHILL, WILLIAM ROY CLARE
ContributorsDokainish, M. A., Mechanical Engineering
Source SetsMcMaster University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis

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