COMPUTATIONAL MECHANICS TOOLS

Introduction

Laboratori de Càlcul Numèric (LaCàN)

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Spain)
http://www-lacan.upc.es
 Computational Modelling - What is it?

  Computational Modelling is :
•  “The application of numerical approximation methods and
computers to the solution of problems in Engineering and
Applied Sciences” - O. Zienkiewicz

  Computational modelling can be used to predict a

number of physical phenomena including:
•  Fluid Flow
•  Heat Transfer
•  Solid mechanics
•  Electromagnetics
•  etc.

PAM-CRASH 2D, Volkswagen AG

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 Objectives

  Be able to,
•  Confront common and realistic engineering problems
•  Extract relevant governing physics
•  Create and solve models
•  Analyse results
•  Extract conclusions
•  Propose improvements to the initial design, point out the
cause of failure, …

  Therefore, apart from analysing the general concepts of

the methods there will be practical sessions with the aim
to perform calculations with engineering application.

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 Contents
  Introduction to Computer Modelling
•  Motivation, problem definitions, procedures,…
  Mesh generation:
•  Structured and unstructured meshes, mesh optimization
  Governing Physics:
•  Thermal, mechanical, fluids, diffusion,…
  Overview numerical approaches
•  Finite difference, finite elements, finite volumes
•  Dynamics: time marching schemes,…
  Codes: commercial and non-commercial
•  Solvers
•  Pre- and Post-process
  Solution of practical problems

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 Motivation: Why?

  Cost effective

PRINCIPIA, SA

  Complements experiments
  Crucial technology at the design stage
  Identifies:
•  Suitable materials
•  Product performance
•  Process conditions

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 Motivation: Why?

  Cost of Quality
$1,000,000
•  Warranty liabilities due
to field failures, redesign,
rework and scrap costs.
$100,000

$10,000
$1,000
Design Prototype Production Field

  Lateness of product to market

•  First two manufactures to market lock up 80% of business
  Modelling upfront saves $$$$
  Modelling also helps generate new knowledge

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 Computational Mechanics

  Mechanics:
•  Theoretical: fundamental laws and principles

•  Applied: transfers that knowledge to engineering/scientific

applications

•  Computational: solves specific problems through numerical

methods implemented on digital computers.

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 Computational Mechanics

  Branches:
•  Nanomechanics: atoms, molecules, cells,…

•  Micromechanics: MEMS, tissues modelling,…

•  Solids and Structures: civil engineering structures,…

•  Fluids: liquids, gases

•  Coupled systems: thermo-mechanical,…

•  Multi-scale: solid with microcracks or cellular structure,…

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 Key Ingredients and Steps

REAL WORLD
PROBLEMS
Engineering Mathematics
Physics

Computing
(Hardware)
(Software)

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Key Ingredients and Steps

POST-PROCESS

Interpretation/
Prediction/
Decision

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 Idealization
  The aim is to code a real engineering problem by means of a
physical model. Note that, with this step, we are idealizing the
real problem, but computational engineering allows us to do it
in a more realistic way than classical engineering.
  Then, the physical model needs to be formulated in a
mathematical way (i.e. govern equations), prior to solve it
numerically
  This is a fundamental step and requires a deep knowledge of
the real problem to be solved. Decisions need to be taken:
•  Which physical phenomena are relevant? (heat conduction, flux
in porous media, solid or fluid mechanics, electromagnetism,
acustics, coupling)
•  Solid or structural model
•  Governing material parameters-> behavior laws
•  Static or dynamic model
•  Boundary conditions
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 Idealization

A coupled fluid-structure problem (Cirak, Caltech)

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 Idealization

SOLID or STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS?

(ARA Inc.)

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 Idealization
Material modeling is crucial in many cases
Unfortunately, the homogeneous linearly elastic solid
is NOT ENOUGH in some cases.

Hao & Liu

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 Idealization
  The idealization process is obviously bound to
errors. The control of those errors is called
VALIDATION of the model.

Are we solving the right equations?

(garbage in-garbage out)

  Often it requires direct comparison with experiment

or observation, or sometimes other models.
Arias & Arroyo

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Key Ingredients and Steps

POST-PROCESS

Interpretation/
Prediction/
Decision

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 Discretization and solution

Warning: Not to use as a “black box”

  Type of method
•  Finite differences
•  Finite elements
•  Boundary elements
•  Finite volumes
•  Meshless methods

  Type of element (instabilities/locking)

  Type of solver
•  Linear systems of equations
•  Non-linear systems of equations
•  Time integration scheme

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 Discretization and solution

Discretization leads to numerical errors.

The control of those errors is called VERIFICATION of the
numerical method.
Are we solving the equations right?
Error estimation and adaptivity

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 Key Ingredients and Steps

POST-PROCESS

Reliability of the solution: Interpretation/

Prediction/
Validation and Verification (V&V) Decision

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 Computational Engineering

The cost of the numerical solution depends on:

  In the whole computational engineering approach:

•  Hardware (serial/parallel computing)
•  Software
•  Know-how
  In the solution step:
•  Pre-process (preparing data)
•  Process (computation)
•  Post-process

Depending on the type of problem, one or other element

becomes critical.

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 Problem classification: time-dependence
  Statics: no time dependence (steady solution), and inertial
terms are negligible.

- ∇ ⋅ σ (u) = f in Ω
  Quasi-static: external forces or material properties may be
time-dependent, but no inertial forces (no time-derivatives).

  Dynamics: time dependence is explicit, and inertial forces

cannot be neglected.

∂ 2u ∂u
β 2 +α + Lu = f u ∈ Ω x [0, ∞[
∂t ∂t

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 Problem classification: linearity

  Linear
•  Cause-effect proportionality
•  If the applied forced are doubled, then, displacements and
internal stresses are doubled.
•  The solution of the discretised problem is found by solving a
system of linear equations:
Ku=f
  Non-linear
•  All remaining cases…
•  The solution of the discretized problem is found by solving a
non-linear equation:
g(u,u,…)=f or K(u)u=f
.

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 Physical classification
1. Equilibrium problems
Steady. Defined in closed domains.
Example: heat equation

  Equilibrium:

  Fourier’s law:

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  Non isotropic, non homogeneous and nonlinear

  Non isotropic and non homogeneous:

  Non isotropic, homogeneous:

  Isotropic and homogeneous:

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2. Evolution problems
Defined in infinite domains (time)

  Diffusion problems (transient heat equation)

  Wave problems: displacement of a vibrating membrane

  Convection problems: pollutant transport

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3. Eigenvalue problems
Steady problems whose solution exists only under certain
conditions (for particular values of a given parameter).
Defined on closed domains.
Example: vibration of a circular drum

Figures from wikipedia: Vibrations of a circular drum

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Problem classification: example non-linear
dynamics

…after impact

Idealization

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Problem classification: example non-linear
dynamics

Curiel Sosa et al. (2010)

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 History
  Modeling started with the Greeks (1000BC)

  Major Breakthrough – Calculus

•  Newton, Leibnitz (17th Century)

  Governing equations of Physics

•  Heat Transfer – Fourier (18th Century)
•  Fluid Flow – Bernoulli, Navier-Stokes (19th Century)
•  Stress Analysis – Hooke, Navier (18th Century)
•  Electromagnetics – Maxwell (19th Century)

  Only analytical solutions feasible.

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 History

  Finite difference used to analyze the Aswan dam, Egypt.

•  L.F Richardson; Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. A, 210, 307-357 (1911).
•  Used students to solve a system of equations !!
  Numerical methods for solution of equations 19th-20th c.
  Computers arrived in 1950s…
  Birth of computational Modelling – 1950s – 1960s
  Finite Element first used for the analysis of aircraft
structures
•  M J Turner et al; J. Aeronautical Sciences, 23, 805-823 (1956)”
•  Method based on a variational approach - linear stress (bars,
beams)

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 History

  Finite element applied to field problems – Heat Transfer

•  “O. Zienkiewicz; The Engineer, 24, 507-510, (1965)”
  Finite volume methods first used (computational fluid
dynamics)
•  “A Wilmslow; J Comp Physics, 1, 149-172, 1966”
•  Navier-Stokes flow: “Patankar, Spalding; Int J Heat Mass Trans, 15,
1787-1806 (1972).
  2013 - Computational Modelling now used in all areas of
science and engineering.

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 Examples: buckling in steel profiles

Comparison between experimental tests and numerical model

Mechanical problem: linear buckling analysis (eigenvalues)

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 Examples: damage models

Mechanical problem: damage constiutive model (nonlinear)

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MEFTools
 Examples: Damage models

Mechanical problem: damage constiutive model (nonlinear)

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MEFTools
Examples: wave height in Barcelona port

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 Examples: wave propagation
Calculation mesh
(1 476 014 node, 2 unknowns per node)

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 Examples: wave propagation
Mesh calculation detail

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Example: active carbon filters

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 Example: active carbon filters
  Car stopped, engine:
•  The volatile hydrocarbons from the gas tank evaporate
•  Inside the canister, the active carbon adsorbes the
hydrocarbons to avoid that they reach the atmosphere
  Car running:
•  The carbon gets cleaned (desorption) and the HC go to the
engine to be burned

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 Example: active carbon filters

  Complicated 3D geometries

  Different materials:
-plastics, active carbons,,
-air cavities
-foams ...

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 Example: active carbon filters
  Simulation:

  convection-difussion-reaction equation
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 Convection-diffusion-reaction equation

models adsorption/desorption
couples local and global levels
•  Reaction term
is nonlinear:

tiny (important in localized areas)

•  Diffusion term
renders the problem parabolic

models fuel vapor motion

•  Convection term
v previously computed

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 Example: pollution transport
  Chimney emission in la Palma island (evolution in an hour
of primary and secondary pollution agents)

  Complex geometry (topography). Mesh of 300.000

elements covering 100s of Km2
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  Computational mesh
[distributed by ULPGC]

  28030m x 15600m x 9000m domain

  28387 nodes
  153085 tetrahedra

  Zoom close to a stack of 200m

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 Transport – reaction mathematical model
Convection – diffusion – reaction equation:

Convection term Diffusion term Reaction term

Emission term

c = concentration (unknowns) K = diffusion matrix (constant)

cemi = stack concentrations e = emission inside domain (null)
cini = initial concentrations (null) s(c) = reaction term (linear or nonlinear)
u = wind velocity (given) Vd = deposition velocity (constant)

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Example: Aerodynamics of Fórmula 1

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 Navier-Stokes Equations
  Isotropic incompressible viscous flow

b: volume forces p: thermodynamic pressure

v: velocity ν: viscosity
  Non-dimensional Navier-Stokes equation

Reynold’s Number: Re = VL/ν

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 Wind tunnel
  Very high cost, e.g. Sauber’s team wind tunnel experiment
costs 55 million dollars.

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 Wind tunnel

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 Computational Engineering
  Front wing

Finite element mesh

(symmetry)

Pressure distribution

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 Computational Engineering
  Rear Wing

Finite element mesh

(symmetry)

Pressure distribution
(use of alerón)
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  Whole vehicle. Computational Mesh

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  Quantities of interest: pressure and stream lines

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  Vortices formation in the back

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  Vortices formation in the back (“clean air”)

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 Summary
  Simulating real-world phenomena on a computer involves:
•  understanding the governing physics.
•  formulating the problem in terms of mathematics.
•  writing computer software that solves the mathematical equations.
•  running the software
•  viewing (analyzing) the results.
  Generally most real-world problems require the solution to
thousands of equations.
  Many commercial softwares are now available.

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