Chein-Shan Liu¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.30, No.2, pp. 65-76, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.030.065

Abstract Trefftz method (TM) is one of widely used meshless numerical methods in elliptic type boundary value problems, of which the approximate solution is expressed as a linear combination of T-complete bases, and the unknown coefficients are determined from boundary conditions by solving a linear equations system. However, the accuracy of TM is severely limited by its ill-conditioning. This paper is a continuation of the work of Liu (2007a). The collocation TM is modified and applied to the direct and inverse problems of biharmonic equation in a simply connected plane domain. Due to its well-conditioning of More >

Shuling Hu¹, Shengping Shen^1,2

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.30, No.2, pp. 57-64, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.030.057

Abstract The effects of surface energy on the interaction between two voids of equal size are investigated. The problem is solved by series expansion in bipolar coordinates. The results show that the surface energy significantly affects the stress concentration around the holes as the size of the holes shrinks to nanometers, meanwhile the interaction between the holes also influences the stress distribution around the holes, which become evident as the holes close to each other. This problem is of great importance in engineering applications. More >

Shu Li¹, S. N. Atluri²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.30, No.1, pp. 37-56, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.030.037

Abstract In this paper, a method based on a combination of an optimization of directions of orthotropy, along with topology optimization, is applied to continuum orthotropic solids with the objective of minimizing their compliance. The spatial discretization algorithm is the so called Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) "mixed collocation'' method for the design domain, and the material-orthotropy orientation angles and the nodal volume fractions are used as the design variables in material optimization and topology optimization, respectively. Filtering after each iteration diminishes the checkerboard effect in the topology optimization problem. The example results are provided to illustrate More >

Sen Yung Lee¹, Sheei Muh Lin², Chien Shien Lee³, Shin Yi Lu³, Yen Tse Liu³

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.30, No.1, pp. 27-36, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.030.027

Abstract An analytic solution method, namely the shifting function method, is developed to find the exact large static deflection of a beam with nonlinear elastic springs supports at ends for the first time. The associated mathematic system is a fourth order ordinary differential equation with nonlinear boundary conditions. It is shifted and decomposed into five linear differential equations and at most four algebra equations. After finding the roots of the algebra equations, the exact solution of the nonlinear beam system can be reconstructed. It is shown that the proposed method is valid for the problem with More >

S.S. Xu, Y. Dong, Y. Zhang

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.30, No.1, pp. 17-26, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.030.017

Abstract A meshless method for arbitrary crack growths is presented. The new method is based on a local partition of unity by introducing additional degrees of freedom that determine the opening of the crack. The crack is modeled with overlapping crack segments located at the nodes. The crack segments are rotated at directional changes of the principal tensile stress such that smearing of the crack is avoided. Such smearing occurs in fixed crack method probably because of inaccurate stress state around the crack tip when the crack propagates. The key feature of our method is that More >

Chein-Shan Liu¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.30, No.1, pp. 1-16, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.030.001

Abstract In this paper we propose a new numerical integration method of second-order boundary value problems (BVPs) resulting from the elastica of slender rods under different loading conditions and boundary conditions. We construct a compact space shooting method for finding unknown initial conditions. The key point is based on the construction of a one-step Lie group element G(T) and the establishment of a generalized mid-point Lie group element G(r) by using the mean value theorem. Then, by imposing G(T) = G(r) we can search the missing initial condition through a closed-form solution in terms of the weighting factor r More >

Shih-Kai Chien¹, Tzu-Hsiang Yen¹, Yue-Tzu Yang¹, Chao-Kuang Chen^1,2

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.29, No.3, pp. 163-174, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.029.163

Abstract Conventional proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have a straight gas flow serpentine channel, and hence the reactant gases are transferred to the catalyst layers as a result of diffusion alone. Since the diffusion process is inherently slow, the electrical performance of such PEMFCs is inevitably limited. In an attempt to improve the PEMFC performance, this study replaces the straight channel with containing different type of obstacles and conducts a series of lattice Boltzmann method simulations to investigate the flow field phenomena induced in a viscous liquid as it flows along the serpentine channel at… More >

C. K. Au¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.29, No.3, pp. 151-162, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.029.151

Abstract Ribbons may be used for the modeling of DNAs and proteins. The topology of a ribbon can be described by the linking number, while its geometry is represented by the writhe and the twist. These quantities are integrals and are related by the Cǎlugǎreanu's theorem from knot theory. This theorem also describes the relationship between the various conformations. The heart of the Cǎlugǎreanu's theorem rests in the Gauss Integral. Due to the large number of molecules, the topology and the geometry of a ribbon model can be very complicated. As a result, these integrals are More >

H.K. Mebatsion^1,2, P. Verboven¹, P. T. Jancsók¹, Q.T. Ho¹, B.E. Verlinden³, B.M. Nicolaï^1,3

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.29, No.3, pp. 137-150, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.029.137

Abstract Transport processes of gas and moisture are among the most important physiological processes in plant tissue. Microscale transport models based on Navier-Stokes equations provide insight into such processes at the microscopic scale. Due to microscopic complexity, numerical solutions based on the finite element or finite volume methods are mandatory. Therefore, a 3D geometric model of the tissue is essential. In this article, a novel algorithm for geometric reconstruction of 2D slices of synchrotron tomographic images is presented. The boundaries of 2D cells on individual slices were digitized to establish a set of boundary coordinates and… More >

Jeng-Tzong Chen¹, Jia-Nan Ke

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.29, No.3, pp. 111-136, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.029.111

Abstract A null-field integral equation is employed to derive the two-dimensional antiplane dynamic Green's functions for a circular inclusion with an imperfect interface. We employ the linear spring model with vanishing thickness to characterize the imperfect interface. Analytical expressions of displacement and stress fields due to time-harmonic antiplane line forces located either in the unbounded matrix or in the circular inclusion are presented. To fully capture the circular geometries, degenerate- kernel expressions of fundamental solutions in the polar coordinate and Fourier series for boundary densities are adopted. Good agreement is made after comparing with the analytical More >