Adaptive s-method for linear elastostatics

Abstract

A methodology has been developed to simultaneously treat phenomena at several scales. The key features of the method are (i) a detailed error diagnosis which identifies critical regions, and (ii) a feedback procedure which overlays portions of the finite element mesh, where unacceptable errors have been identified, by local finite element mesh(es), and then subsequently improves the quality of the solution in the global and local response until the desired level of accuracy is achieved. The method can be routinely used as a global-local method and/or as an adaptive technique which provides a measure of reliability of global and local computations. Numerical experiments for problems in homogeneous and heterogeneous (laminated composites) media are presented to validate the present formulation. © 1993.