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11 – 20 of 345Suvranu De and Klaus‐Jürgen Bathe
Computational efficiency and reliability are clearly the most important requirements for the success of a meshless numerical technique. While the basic ideas of meshless…
Abstract
Computational efficiency and reliability are clearly the most important requirements for the success of a meshless numerical technique. While the basic ideas of meshless techniques are simple and well understood, an effective meshless method is very difficult to develop. The efficiency depends on the proper choice of the interpolation scheme, numerical integration procedures and techniques of imposing the boundary conditions. These issues in the context of the method of finite spheres are discussed.
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Kevin Erhart, Eduardo Divo and Alain Kassab
This paper aims to develop and describe an improved process for determining the rate of heat generation in living tissue.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop and describe an improved process for determining the rate of heat generation in living tissue.
Design/methodology/approach
Previous work by the authors on solving the bioheat equation has been updated to include a new localized meshless method which will create a more robust and computationally efficient technique. Inclusion of this technique will allow for the solution of more complex and realistic geometries, which are typical of living tissue. Additionally, the unknown heat generation rates are found through genetic algorithm optimization.
Findings
The localized technique showed superior accuracy and significant savings in memory and processor time. The computational efficiency of the newly proposed meshless solver allows the optimization process to be carried to a higher level, leading to more accurate solutions for the inverse technique. Several example cases are presented to demonstrate these conclusions.
Research limitations/implications
This work includes only 2D development of the approach, while any realistic modeling for patient‐specific cases would be inherently 3D. The extension to 3D, as well as studies to improve the technique by decreasing the sensitivity to measurement noise and to incorporate non‐invasive measurement positioning, are under way.
Practical implications
As medical imaging continuously improves, such techniques may prove useful in patient diagonosis, as heat generation can be correlated to the presence of tumors, infections, or other conditions.
Originality/value
This paper describes a new application of meshless methods. Such methods are becoming attractive due to their decreased pre‐processing requirements, especially for problems involving complex geometries (such as patient specific tissues), as well as optimization problems, where geometries may be constantly changing.
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Mas Irfan Purbawanto Hidayat, Bambang Ariwahjoedi and Setyamartana Parman
The purpose of this paper is to present a new approach of meshless local B-spline based finite difference (FD) method for solving two dimensional transient heat conduction…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a new approach of meshless local B-spline based finite difference (FD) method for solving two dimensional transient heat conduction problems.
Design/methodology/approach
In the present method, any governing equations are discretized by B-spline approximation which is implemented in the spirit of FD technique using a local B-spline collocation scheme. The key aspect of the method is that any derivative is stated as neighbouring nodal values based on B-spline interpolants. The set of neighbouring nodes are allowed to be randomly distributed thus enhanced flexibility in the numerical simulation can be obtained. The method requires no mesh connectivity at all for either field variable approximation or integration. Time integration is performed by using the Crank-Nicolson implicit time stepping technique.
Findings
Several heat conduction problems in complex domains which represent for extended surfaces in industrial applications are examined to demonstrate the effectiveness of the present approach. Comparison of the obtained results with solutions from other numerical method available in literature is given. Excellent agreement with reference numerical method has been found.
Research limitations/implications
The method is presented for 2D problems. Nevertheless, it would be also applicable for 3D problems.
Practical implications
A transient two dimensional heat conduction in complex domains which represent for extended surfaces in industrial applications is presented.
Originality/value
The presented new meshless local method is simple and accurate, while it is also suitable for analysis in domains of arbitrary geometries.
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The purpose of this paper is to develop pseudospectral meshless radial point Hermit interpolation (PSMRPHI) for applying to the Motz problem.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop pseudospectral meshless radial point Hermit interpolation (PSMRPHI) for applying to the Motz problem.
Design/methodology/approach
The author aims to propose a kind of PSMRPHI method.
Findings
Based on the Motz problem, the author aims also to compare PSMRPHI and PSMRPI which belong to more influence type of meshless methods.
Originality/value
Although the PSMRPHI method has been infrequently used in applications, the author proves it is more accurate and trustworthy than the PSMRPI method.
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Diogo Gonçalves, Joel Lopes, Raul Campilho and Jorge Belinha
The purpose of the present work is to develop the combination of the radial point interpolation method (RPIM) with a bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization (BESO…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the present work is to develop the combination of the radial point interpolation method (RPIM) with a bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization (BESO) algorithm and extend it to the analysis of benchmark examples and automotive industry applications.
Design/methodology/approach
A BESO algorithm capable of detecting variations in the stress level of the structure, and thus respond to those changes by reinforcing the solid material, is developed. A meshless method, the RPIM, is used to iteratively obtain the stress field. The obtained optimal topologies are then recreated and numerically analyzed to validate its proficiency.
Findings
The proposed algorithm is capable to achieve accurate benchmark material distributions. Implementation of the BESO algorithm combined with the RPIM allows developing innovative lightweight automotive structures with increased performance.
Research limitations/implications
Computational cost of the topology optimization analysis is constrained by the nodal density discretizing the problem domain. Topology optimization solutions are usually complex, whereby they must be fabricated by additive manufacturing techniques and experimentally validated.
Practical implications
In automotive industry, fuel consumption, carbon emissions and vehicle performance is influenced by structure weight. Therefore, implementation of accurate topology optimization algorithms to design lightweight (cost-efficient) components will be an asset in industry.
Originality/value
Meshless methods applications in topology optimization are not as widespread as the finite element method (FEM). Therefore, this work enhances the state-of-the-art of meshless methods and demonstrates the suitability of the RPIM to solve topology optimization problems. Innovative lightweight automotive structures are developed using the proposed methodology.
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Williams L. Nicomedes, Renato C. Mesquita and Fernando J.S. Moreira
The purpose of this paper is to solve both eigenvalue and boundary value problems coming from the field of quantum mechanics through the application of meshless methods…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to solve both eigenvalue and boundary value problems coming from the field of quantum mechanics through the application of meshless methods, particularly the one known as meshless local Petrov‐Galerkin (MLPG).
Design/methodology/approach
Regarding eigenvalue problems, the authors show how to apply MLPG to the time‐independent Schrödinger equation stated in three dimensions. Through a special procedure, the numerical integration of weak forms is carried out only for internal nodes. The boundary conditions are enforced through a collocation method. The final result is a generalized eigenvalue problem, which is readily solved for the energy levels. An example of boundary value problem is described by the time‐dependent nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The weak forms are again stated only for internal nodes, whereas the same collocation scheme is employed to enforce the boundary conditions. The nonlinearity is dealt with by a predictor‐corrector scheme.
Findings
Results show that the combination of MLPG and a collocation scheme works very well. The numerical results are compared to those provided by analytical solutions, exhibiting good agreement.
Originality/value
The flexibility of MLPG is made explicit. There are different ways to obtain the weak forms, and the boundary conditions can be enforced through a number of ways, the collocation scheme being just one of them. The shape functions used to approximate the solution can incorporate modifications that reflect some feature of the problem, like periodic boundary conditions. The value of this work resides in the fact that problems from other areas of electromagnetism can be attacked by the very same ideas herein described.
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E.J. Sellountos, Jorge Tiago and Adelia Sequeira
This paper aims to describe the 2D meshless local boundary integral equation (LBIE) method for solving the Navier–Stokes equations.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe the 2D meshless local boundary integral equation (LBIE) method for solving the Navier–Stokes equations.
Design/methodology/approach
The velocity–vorticity formulation is selected to eliminate the pressure gradient of the equations. The local integral representations of flow kinematics and transport kinetics are derived. The integral equations are discretized using the local RBF interpolation of velocities and vorticities, while the unknown fluxes are kept as independent variables. The resulting volume integrals are computed using the general radial transformation algorithm.
Findings
The efficiency and accuracy of the method are illustrated with several examples chosen from reference problems in computational fluid dynamics.
Originality/value
The meshless LBIE method is applied to the 2D Navier–Stokes equations. No derivatives of interpolation functions are used in the formulation, rendering the present method a robust numerical scheme for the solution of fluid flow problems.
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Williams L. Nicomedes, Renato C. Mesquita and Fernando J.S. Moreira
The purpose of this paper is to solve the electromagnetic scattering problem through a new integral‐based approach that uses the moving least squares (MLS) meshless method to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to solve the electromagnetic scattering problem through a new integral‐based approach that uses the moving least squares (MLS) meshless method to generate its shape functions.
Design/methodology/approach
The electric field integral equation and its magnetic counterpart (MFIE) are discretized via special shape functions built numerically through the MLS procedure. This approach is applied to the particular problem concerning the scattering of a TM plane wave by an infinite conductor cylinder. An error norm is established in order to verify the quality of the obtained results.
Findings
Results show that the discretization process which employs MLS shape functions presents very good precision and fast convergence to the solution, when compared to results provided by another numerical method, the method of moments.
Originality/value
MLS shape functions occur in meshless methods intended to solve problems based on differential formulation. This paper shows that these shape functions can also be applied successfully to problems coming from an integral formulation.
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Zilong Cao, Yupu Guan and Wei Chen
To increase the use of the meshless method, a hybrid stress method is introduced into the meshless method.
Abstract
Purpose
To increase the use of the meshless method, a hybrid stress method is introduced into the meshless method.
Design/methodology/approach
The method is based on the radial point interpolation method (RPIM). According to the Hellinger Reissner principle, stress functions are introduced into the solution procedure. Finite elements are used as background cells for integration. All cells are divided into two types – the H cells, which are around the traction-free circular boundary, and the G cells. For the H cells, stress functions in polar coordinates are created. For the G cells, 12-parameter stress functions in Cartesian coordinates are used. Stress functions are based on equilibrium equations and stress compatible equation.
Findings
Numerical results show that this method is reliable.
Originality/value
Hybrid stress methods have been applied to finite element methods, but the finite element methods have not been applied into meshless methods.
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Arman Shojaei, Bijan Boroomand and Farshid Mossaiby
The purpose of this paper is to present a simple meshless solution method for challenging engineering problems such as those with high wave numbers or convection-diffusion ones…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a simple meshless solution method for challenging engineering problems such as those with high wave numbers or convection-diffusion ones with high Peclet number. The method uses a set of residual-free bases in a local form.
Design/methodology/approach
The residual-free bases, called here as exponential basis functions, are found so that they satisfy the governing equations within each subdomain. The compatibility between the subdomains is weakly satisfied by enforcing the local approximation of the main state variables pass through the data at nodes surrounding the central node of the subdomain. The central state variable is first recovered from the approximation and then re-assigned to the central node to construct the associated equation. This leads to the least compatibility required in the solution, e.g. C0 continuity in Laplace problems.
Findings
The authors shall show that one can solve a variety of problems with regular and irregular point distribution with high convergence rate. The authors demonstrate that this is impossible to achieve using finite element method. Problems with Laplace and Helmholtz operators as well as elasto-static problems are solved to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. A convection-diffusion problem with high Peclet number and problems with high wave numbers are among the examples. In all cases, results with high rate of convergence are obtained with moderate number of nodes per cloud.
Originality/value
The paper presents a simple meshless method which not only is capable of solving a variety of challenging engineering problems but also yields results with high convergence rate.
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