Structural finite element software coupling using adapter elements

Abstract

This paper describes a versatile and computationally efficient method for coupling several finite element analysis (FEA) programs together so that the unique modeling and analysis capabilities of each code can be utilized simultaneously to simulate the static or dynamic response of a complete numerical system. An arbitrary number of finite element analysis software packages can be coupled by adding two special types of elements, namely generic and adapter elements, to each of the finite element applications using their programming interface. These elements are inserted at the interfaces between the different subdomains of the complete system modeled by each finite element analysis software package. Exchange of data between the coupled FEA codes is accomplished in a modular and synchronized manner using OpenFresco (Opensource Framework for Experimental Setup and Control). OpenFresco is an objectoriented, environment independent software framework initially developed for hybrid simulation in which certain aspects of a complete structure are simulated numerically and other aspects are simultaneously tested physically. An important practical advantage of this coupled analysis approach is that all of the connected FEA codes run concurrently and continuously, decreasing analysis time consumption by an order of magnitude or more compared to more traditional approaches that shut down and restart the coupled analysis codes at each integration time step. The implementation and accuracy of this approach to FE software coupling are demonstrated using dynamic analyses of three simple structural models from the field of earthquake engineering.