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In this work, an SFEM is proposed for solving acoustic problems by redistributing the entries in the mass matrix to “tune” the balance between “stiffness” and “mass” of discrete equation systems, aiming to minimize the dispersion error. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

This is done by simply shifting the four integration points’ locations when computing the entries of the mass matrix in the scheme of SFEM, while ensuring the mass conservation. The proposed method is devised for bilinear quadratic elements.

The balance between “stiffness” and “mass” of discrete equation systems is critically important in simulating wave propagation problems such as acoustics. A formula is also derived for possibly the best mass redistribution in terms of minimizing dispersion error reduction. Both theoretical and numerical examples demonstrate that the present method possesses distinct advantages compared with the conventional SFEM using the same quadrilateral mesh.

After introducing the mass-redistribution technique, the magnitude of the leading relative dispersion error (the quadratic term) of MR-SFEM is bounded by (5/8), which is much smaller than that of original SFEM models with traditional mass matrix (13/4) and consistence mass matrix (2). Owing to properly turning the balancing between stiffness and mass, the MR-SFEM achieves higher accuracy and much better natural eigenfrequencies prediction than the original SFEM does.

The purpose of this paper is to present an immersed volume method that accounts for solid conductive bodies (hat‐shaped disk) in calculation of time‐dependent, three‐dimensional, conjugate heat transfer and fluid flow.

The incompressible Navier‐Stokes equations and the heat transfer equations are discretized using a stabilized finite element method. The interface of the immersed disk is defined and rendered by the zero isovalues of a level set function. This signed distance function allows turning different thermal properties of each component into homogeneous parameters and it is coupled to a direct anisotropic mesh adaptation process enhancing the interface representation. A monolithic approach is used to solve a single set of equations for both fluid and solid with different thermal properties.

In the proposed immersion technique, only a single grid for both air and solid is considered, thus, only one equation with different thermal properties is solved. The sharp discontinuity of the material properties was captured by an anisotropic refined solid‐fluid interface. The robustness of the method to compute the flow and heat transfer with large materials properties differences is demonstrated using stabilized finite element formulations. Results are assessed by comparing the predictions with the experimental data.

The proposed method demonstrates the capability of the model to simulate an unsteady three‐dimensional heat transfer flow of natural convection, conduction and radiation in a cubic enclosure with the presence of a conduction body. A previous knowledge of the heat transfer coefficients between the disk and the fluid is no longer required. The heat exchange at the interface is solved and dealt with naturally.

Structural engineering as a part of civil engineering has over 5,000 years of distinguished history, as documented in this paper. An attempt is made in this paper to define structural engineering as it exists at present, then some historical structures are identified.

The advances of structural engineering are discussed in chronological order, encompassing the development of the concept, analysis, the use of innovative construction materials, and construction. The developments which necessitated the change of design philosophies are presented, and the current status of structural engineering is discussed in terms of several specific topics. Opportunities and challenges in the new millennium in structural engineering are then presented in terms of education, service to society, and research.

In the past, structural engineering always met the challenges it faced. It helped to improve our quality of life, and its role in society is not expected to change in the near future.

The paper has provided an over‐view of this important profession – from ancient history to the present day. Based on research over several decades it offers a prediction of the direction in which this profession and the academic research that underpins it is likely to take in the future.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of solving turbulent flows based on smoothed finite element method (S-FEM). Then, the differences between S-FEM and finite element method (FEM) in dealing with turbulent flows are compared.

The stabilization scheme, the streamline-upwind/Petrov-Galerkin stabilization is coupled with stabilized pressure gradient projection in the fractional step framework. The Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations with standard k-epsilon model are selected to solve turbulent flows based on S-FEM and FEM. Standard wall functions are applied to predict boundary layer profiles.

This paper explores a completely new application of S-FEM on turbulent flows. The adopted stabilization scheme presents a good performance on stabilizing the flows, especially for very high Reynolds numbers flows. An advantage of S-FEM is found in applying wall functions comparing with FEM. The differences between S-FEM and FEM have been investigated.

The research in this work is limited to the two-dimensional incompressible turbulent flow.

The verification and validation of a new combination are conducted by several numerical examples. The new combination could be used to deal with more complicated turbulent flows.

The applications of the new combination to study basic and complex turbulent flow are also presented, which demonstrates its potential to solve more turbulent flows in nature and engineering.

This work carries out a great extension of S-FEM in simulations of fluid dynamics. The new combination is verified to be very effective in handling turbulent flows. The performances of S-FEM and FEM on turbulent flows were analyzed by several numerical examples. Superior results were found compared with existing results and experiments. Meanwhile, S-FEM has an advantage of accuracy in predicting boundary layer profile.

This paper aims to investigate the performance of two novel numerical methods, the face-based smoothed finite element method (FS-FEM) and the edge-based smoothed finite element method (ES-FEM), which employ linear tetrahedral elements, for the purpose of strength assessment of a high-speed train hollow axle.

The calculation of stress for the wheelset, comprising an axle and two wheels, is facilitated through the application of the European axle strength design standard. This standard assists in the implementation of loading and boundary conditions and is exemplified by the typical CRH2 high-speed train wheelset. To evaluate the performance of these two methods, a hollow cylinder cantilever beam is first used as a benchmark to compare the present methods with other existing methods. Then, the strength analysis of a real wheelset model with a hollow axle is performed using different numerical methods.

The results of deflection and stress show that FS-FEM and ES-FEM offer higher accuracy and better convergence than FEM using linear tetrahedral elements. ES-FEM exhibits a superior performance to that of FS-FEM using linear tetrahedral elements, showing accuracy and convergence close to FEM using hexahedral elements.

This study channels the novel methods (FS-FEM and ES-FEM) in the static stress analysis of a railway wheelset. Based on the careful testing of FS-FEM and ES-FEM, both methods hold promise as more efficient tools for the strength analysis of complex railway structures.

A simple shape-free high-order hybrid displacement function element method is presented for precise bending analyses of Mindlin–Reissner plates. Three distortion-resistant and locking-free eight-node plate elements are proposed by utilizing this method.

This method is based on the principle of minimum complementary energy, in which the trial functions for resultant fields are derived from two displacement functions, F and f, and satisfy all governing equations. Meanwhile, the element boundary displacements are determined by the locking-free arbitrary order Timoshenko’s beam functions. Then, three locking-free eight-node, 24-DOF quadrilateral plate-bending elements are formulated: HDF-P8-23β for general cases, HDF-P8-SS1 for edge effects along soft simply supported (SS1) boundary and HDF-P8-FREE for edge effects along free boundary.

The proposed elements can pass all patch tests, exhibit excellent convergence and possess superior precision when compared to all other existing eight-node models, and can still provide good and stable results even when extremely coarse and distorted meshes are used. They can also effectively solve the edge effect by accurately capturing the peak value and the dramatical variations of resultants near the SS1 and free boundaries. The proposed eight-node models possess potential in engineering applications and can be easily integrated into commercial software.

This work presents a new scheme, which can take the advantages of both analytical and discrete methods, to develop high-order mesh distortion-resistant Mindlin–Reissner plate-bending elements.