A powerful hybrid method in finite element analysis

Abstract

An important limitation of finite element analysis, namely, the need for a large number of small elements in regions of finite or infinite stress concentrations and the difficulties of convergence in such cases, is well known. Rao suggested a possibility of overcoming this by developing hybrid techniques combining continuum and finite element concepts. In such techniques, each region of stress concentration is covered by one large 'primary element' whose description includes term(s) identifying the type and order of concentration, while the remaining structure is split into a few 'secondary elements' which are conventional finite elements. In this paper a procedure incorporating this concept is developed and its effectiveness is clearly demonstrated by successful application to two important examples, one of them with stress singularities. The concept, in fact, can be applied equally well to other two- and three-dimensional problems of continua with discontinuities and concentrations.