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A virtual element method for transversely isotropic elasticity

This work studies the approximation of plane problems concerning transversely isotropic elasticity, using a low-order virtual element method (VEM). The VEM is an alternative finite element method characterised by complete freedom in determining element geometries that are otherwise polygonal in two...

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Main Author: Van Huyssteen, Daniel
Other Authors: Reddy, Batmanathan Daya
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Mechanical Engineering 2019
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access_status_str Open Access
author Van Huyssteen, Daniel
author2 Reddy, Batmanathan Daya
author_browse Reddy, Batmanathan Daya
Van Huyssteen, Daniel
author_facet Reddy, Batmanathan Daya
Van Huyssteen, Daniel
author_sort Van Huyssteen, Daniel
collection Thesis
description This work studies the approximation of plane problems concerning transversely isotropic elasticity, using a low-order virtual element method (VEM). The VEM is an alternative finite element method characterised by complete freedom in determining element geometries that are otherwise polygonal in two dimensions, or polyhedral in three. Transversely isotropic materials are characterised by an axis of symmetry perpendicular to a plane of isotropy, and have applications ranging from fibre reinforcement to biological materials. The governing equations of the transversely isotropic elasticity problem are derived and a virtual element formulation of the problem is presented along with a sample implementation of the method. This work focuses on the treatment of near-incompressibility and near-inextensibility. These are explored both for homogeneous problems, in which the plane of isotropy is fixed; and non-homogeneous problems, in which the fibre directions defining the plane of isotropy vary with position. In the latter case various options are explored for approximating the non-homogeneous terms at an element level. The VEM approximations are shown through a range of numerical examples to be robust and locking-free, for a selection of element geometries, and fibre directions corresponding to mild and strong inhomogeneity.
format Thesis
id oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/30043
institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:33:54.099Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2019
publishDateRange 2019
publishDateSort 2019
publisher Department of Mechanical Engineering
publisherStr Department of Mechanical Engineering
record_format dspace
source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/30043 A virtual element method for transversely isotropic elasticity Van Huyssteen, Daniel Reddy, Batmanathan Daya Engineering This work studies the approximation of plane problems concerning transversely isotropic elasticity, using a low-order virtual element method (VEM). The VEM is an alternative finite element method characterised by complete freedom in determining element geometries that are otherwise polygonal in two dimensions, or polyhedral in three. Transversely isotropic materials are characterised by an axis of symmetry perpendicular to a plane of isotropy, and have applications ranging from fibre reinforcement to biological materials. The governing equations of the transversely isotropic elasticity problem are derived and a virtual element formulation of the problem is presented along with a sample implementation of the method. This work focuses on the treatment of near-incompressibility and near-inextensibility. These are explored both for homogeneous problems, in which the plane of isotropy is fixed; and non-homogeneous problems, in which the fibre directions defining the plane of isotropy vary with position. In the latter case various options are explored for approximating the non-homogeneous terms at an element level. The VEM approximations are shown through a range of numerical examples to be robust and locking-free, for a selection of element geometries, and fibre directions corresponding to mild and strong inhomogeneity. 2019-05-10T11:58:39Z 2019-05-10T11:58:39Z 2018 2019-05-07T10:31:54Z Master Thesis Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30043 eng application/pdf Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
spellingShingle Engineering
Van Huyssteen, Daniel
A virtual element method for transversely isotropic elasticity
thesis_degree_str Master's
title A virtual element method for transversely isotropic elasticity
title_full A virtual element method for transversely isotropic elasticity
title_fullStr A virtual element method for transversely isotropic elasticity
title_full_unstemmed A virtual element method for transversely isotropic elasticity
title_short A virtual element method for transversely isotropic elasticity
title_sort virtual element method for transversely isotropic elasticity
topic Engineering
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30043
work_keys_str_mv AT vanhuyssteendaniel avirtualelementmethodfortransverselyisotropicelasticity
AT vanhuyssteendaniel virtualelementmethodfortransverselyisotropicelasticity