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Gives a bibliographical review of the finite element methods (FEMs) applied for the linear and nonlinear, static and dynamic analyses of basic structural elements from the theoretical as well as practical points of view. The range of applications of FEMs in this area is wide and cannot be presented in a single paper; therefore aims to give the reader an encyclopaedic view on the subject. The bibliography at the end of the paper contains 2,025 references to papers, conference proceedings and theses/dissertations dealing with the analysis of beams, columns, rods, bars, cables, discs, blades, shafts, membranes, plates and shells that were published in 1992‐1995.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a computational model for thin layers, for problems of linear time-dependent heat conduction. The thin layer is replaced by a zero-thickness interface. The advantage of the new model is that it saves the need to construct and use a fine mesh inside the layer and in regions adjacent to it, and thus leads to a reduction in the computational effort associated with implicit or explicit finite element schemes.

Special asymptotic models have been proposed for linear heat transfer and linear elasticity, to handle thin layers. In these models the thin layer is replaced by an interface with zero thickness, and specific jump conditions are imposed on this interface in order to represent the special effect of the layer. One such asymptotic interface model is the first-order Bövik-Benveniste model. In a paper by Sussmann et al., this model was incorporated in a FE formulation for linear steady-state heat conduction problems, and was shown to yield an accurate and efficient computational scheme. Here, this work is extended to the time-dependent case.

As shown here, and demonstrated by numerical examples, the new model offers a cost-effective way of handling thin layers in linear time-dependent heat conduction problems. The hybrid asymptotic-FE scheme can be used with either implicit or explicit time stepping. Since the formulation can easily be symmetrized by one of several techniques, the lack of self-adjointness of the original formulation does not hinder an accurate and efficient solution.

Most of the literature on asymptotic models for thin layers, replacing the layer by an interface, is analytic in nature. The proposed model is presented in a computational context, fitting naturally into a finite element framework, with both implicit and explicit time stepping, while saving the need for expensive mesh construction inside the layer and in its vicinity.

The purpose of this study is to examine theoretically the axisymmetric flow of a steady free-surface jet emerging from a tube for high inertia flow and moderate surface tension effect.

The method of matched asymptotic expansion is used to explore the rich dynamics near the exit where a stress singularity occurs. A boundary layer approach is also proposed to capture the flow further downstream where the free surface layer has grown significantly.

The jet is found to always contract near the tube exit. In contrast to existing numerical studies, the author explores the strength of upstream influence and the flow in the wall layer, resulting from jet contraction. This influence becomes particularly evident from the nonlinear pressure dependence on the upstream distance, as well as the pressure undershoot and overshoot at the exit for weak and strong gravity levels, respectively. The approach is validated against existing experimental and numerical data for the jet profile and centerline velocity where good agreement is obtained. Far from the exit, the author shows how the solution in the diffusive region can be matched to the inviscid far solution, providing the desired appropriate initial condition for the inviscid far flow solution. The location, at which the velocity becomes uniform across the jet, depends strongly on the gravity level and exhibits a non-monotonic behavior with respect to gravity and applied pressure gradient. The author finds that under weak gravity, surface tension has little influence on the final jet radius. The work is a crucial supplement to the existing numerical literature.

Given the presence of the stress singularity at the exit, the work constitutes a superior alternative to a computational approach where the singularity is typically and inaccurately smoothed over. In contrast, in the present study, the singularity is entirely circumvented. Moreover, the flow details are better elucidated, and the various scales involved in different regions are better identified.

The purpose of this paper is to solve non‐linear parametric thermal models defined in degenerated geometries, such as plate and shell geometries.

The work presented in this paper is based in a combination of the proper generalized decomposition (PGD) that proceeds to a separated representation of the involved fields and advanced non‐linear solvers. A particular emphasis is put on the asymptotic numerical method.

The authors demonstrate that this approach is valid for computing the solution of challenging thermal models and parametric models.

This is the first time that PGD is combined with advanced non‐linear solvers in the context of non‐linear transient parametric thermal models.

The study of heat transfer mechanisms is an area of great interest because of various applications that can be developed. Mathematically, these phenomena are usually represented by partial differential equations associated with initial and boundary conditions. In general, the resolution of these problems requires using numerical techniques through discretization of boundary and internal points of the domain considered, implying a high computational cost. As an alternative to reducing computational costs, various approaches based on meshless (or meshfree) methods have been evaluated in the literature. In this contribution, the purpose of this paper is to formulate and solve direct and inverse problems applied to Laplace’s equation (steady state and bi-dimensional) considering different geometries and regularization techniques. For this purpose, the method of fundamental solutions is associated to Tikhonov regularization or the singular value decomposition method for solving the direct problem and the differential Evolution algorithm is considered as an optimization tool for solving the inverse problem. From the obtained results, it was observed that using a regularization technique is very important for obtaining a reliable solution. Concerning the inverse problem, it was concluded that the results obtained by the proposed methodology were considered satisfactory, as even with different levels of noise, good estimates for design variables in proposed inverse problems were obtained.

In this contribution, the method of fundamental solution is used to solve inverse problems considering the Laplace equation.

In general, the proposed methodology was able to solve inverse problems considering different geometries.

The association between the differential evolution algorithm and the method of fundamental solutions is the major contribution.

The purpose of this paper is to apply a novel technique for the simulation of nonlinear systems subject to modulated chirp signals.

The simulation technique is first described and its salient features are presented. Two examples are given to confirm the merits of the method.

The results indicate that the method is appropriate for simulating nonlinear systems subject to modulated chirp signals. In particular, the efficiency and accuracy of the method is seen to improve as the chirp frequency increases. In addition, error bounds are given for the method.

Chirp signals are employed in several important applications such as representing biological signals and in spread spectrum communications. Analysis of systems involving such signals requires accurate, appropriate and effective simulation techniques.

The purpose of this paper is to present a new way to solve numerically a mechanical frictionless contact problem within a context of multiple sampling, frequently used to design robust structures.

This paper proposes to integrate a control-based approach, currently used in automation domain, for the solving of non-linear mechanical problem. More precisely, a fuzzy logic controller is designed to create a link between the normal gaps identified between the bodies and the normal contact pressures applied at the interface.

With this new strategy, the initial non-linear problem can be decomposed into a set of reduced linear problems solved using the finite element method. A projection built from the modal bases of each component in contact is considered to reduce computational time. Moreover, the proposed numerical applications highlight an interesting compromise between computation time and precision of contact data.

Currently, the proposed Fuzzy Logic Controller for Contact method has been developed for a frictionless contact problem in the case of 2D numerical applications. Therefore, as obtained results are very interesting, it will be possible to expand on these works in a future works for more complex problems including friction, 3D model and transient dynamic responses by adding other controllers.

In conclusion, this paper highlights the interest of studying a contact problem by considering automation approaches and defines the basis of future multidisciplinary works.

The paper aims to obtain an effective solution to the problem on a flow of viscous fluid around a thin plate using a new approximation method based on the exact Navier–Stokes equations. Also, correction factors are proposed to improve the obtained solution at high Reynolds numbers.

The paper has opted for a method that is based on an approximation scheme for certain perturbations concerning the velocity of the oncoming unperturbed flow behind a leading edge of the plate as a zero approximation step. The perturbations are assumed to be small, far from the plate when compared to the basic flow to justify the linearization. Numerical methods are used for the integral equations at each approximation step.

This paper provides the friction force coefficient compared with the classical Blasius solution and the ANSYS results. Also, some diagrams of the velocity distribution in the flow are presented. The first and second approximation steps provide a sufficiently high degree of accuracy.

Because of the chosen research approach, the results may lack accuracy for low and average Reynolds numbers. Thus, researchers are encouraged to improve the proposed method further.

The paper includes implications for the development of an aircraft design or a wind turbine design considering a wing as a thin plate at the first approximation.

This paper provides a new approximation method based on the exact Navier–Stokes equations, in contrast to the known solutions.

A bibliographical review of the finite element methods (FEMs) applied for the linear and nonlinear, static and dynamic analyses of basic structural elements from the theoretical as well as practical points of view is given. The bibliography at the end of the paper contains 1,726 references to papers, conference proceedings and theses/dissertations dealing with the analysis of beams, columns, rods, bars, cables, discs, blades, shafts, membranes, plates and shells that were published in 1996‐1999.

The purpose of this paper is to present a numerical solution for the problem of steady laminar flow and heat transfer characteristics of viscous incompressible fluid.

For this purpose a two dimensional code has been developed to simulate the natural convection heat transfer along a vertical cylinder, for four different geometries: from vertical cylinder in infinite medium; from a vertical flat plate in an infinite medium; from an open assembly of a finite vertical cylinder; and from an open rectangular pitch assembly of cylinders.

The effects of various parameters of interest have been discussed through simulations. The Nusselt numbers of constant wall temperature and constant heat flux cylinders calculated numerically and compared with Lee et al. and Heckel et al., respectively, and are found within reasonable agreement. For large radius, a vertical cylinder has been treated as a vertical flat plate, so that the curvature effects become negligible. For the case of vertical flat plate, Nusselt number has been compared with analytical relation for the local Nusselt number given by Jaluria.

The natural convection has been studied for four different geometries: the flow regime in all the case studies has been assumed to be Laminar.

Computer code developed for current study can be applied to many other geometries to simulate natural convection heat transfer.