Hourglass control in linear and nonlinear problems

Ted Belytschko*, Jame Shau Jen Ong, Kam Liu Wing Kam Liu, James M. Kennedy

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

467 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mesh stabilization techniques for controlling the hourglass modes in under-integrated hexahedral and quadrilateral elements are described. It is shown that the orthogonal hourglass techniques previously developed can be obtained from simple requirements that insure the consistency of the finite element equations in the sense that the gradients of linear fields are evaluated correctly. It is also shown that this leads to an hourglass control that satisfies the patch test. The nature of the parameters which relate the generalized stresses and strains for controlling hourglass modes is examined by means of a mixed variational principle and some guidelines for their selection are discussed. Finally, effective means of implementing these hourglass procedure in computer codes are described. Applications to both the Laplace equation and the equations of solid mechanics in 2 and 3 dimensions are considered.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)251-276
Number of pages26
JournalComputer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering
Volume43
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1984

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computational Mechanics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Computer Science Applications

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