Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Nurbs Isogeometric analysis'

Non-uniform rational basis spline (NURBS) is a geometric language which has been commonly used in computer graphics and Computer Aided Design over years, due to its great flexibility and precision for handling modeled shapes. In computer-aided design, NURBS has become part of industry standards. In most CAD programs every solid model is described by NURBS and stored in NURBS data structure. Recently, the geometric basis function of NURBS is directly used in analysis, leading to the birth of a new area of computational mechanics called isogeometric analysis (IGA). Compared with the traditional finite element analysis, IGA eliminates the disconnection between analysis and design at the geometric level, showing superiority on efficiency and accuracy over the traditional finite element method. This thesis focuses on the development of an IGA preprocessor for converting an original CAD model (2D-NURBS model) to an ASG (analysis suited geometry) model. ASG means models with mesh quality suitable for analysis. Core technologies utilized during the development include the well-developed NURBS algorithm of knot insertion and knot removal, and a self-developed technology of constructing and utilizing “multi-patch tree”. The developed IGA preprocessor is utilized to process a body armour model consisting of multiple NURBS patches with overly dense meshes. After the processing, the output model has a relatively reasonable elements distribution; the uniformity of the mesh across presumably contact patch boundaries is rebuilt.

New methods are employed to develop an anatomically accurate, analysis-ready isogeometric model of skeletal muscles. Current modeling techniques for the analysis of skeletal muscles include the utilization of finite element meshing, which inherently poses a few well-known problems that provide motivation for isogeometric analysis. In addition to those issues, standard FEA meshing cannot preserve smooth geometries, therefore the accuracy of the foregoing model and analysis is reduced. Moreover, there is no easy means to characterize fiber direction in the FEA framework due to discontinuities at element boundaries. Additionally, material property distributions such as the transition of the muscle-tendon complex along the longitudinal axis through FEA are prescribed on an element by element basis, leading to abrupt, unrealistic property changes at element boundaries. The current research builds on the idea of an isogeometric tensor-product rod using harmonic coordinates and NURBS [1]. Through a direct comparison between a meshed, FEA model and the tensor-product rod model, it can be shown that the tensor-product rod model preserves smoothness, enhancing the geometric representation passed through to analysis while reducing the total DOF of the model. Muscle fibers can be easily implemented as parametric lines with muscle-specific orientations along the muscles' longitudinal axis that match distinct fiber orientations existent within common skeletal muscles. This technique not only allows for the representation of perfectly parallel-fibered structures, but also those that do not directly follow the longitudinal axis such as a helical twist. Utilizing this geometric method also provides the framework for implementing material properties using an interpolative-style scheme. Varying properties at specific longitudinal control point cross-sections near muscle termination areas can be designated to more accurately represent the muscle-tendon complex. These new techniques allow for the creation of an analysis-ready, realistic skeletal muscle model of the male human arm. The model contains 28 muscles complete with muscle-specific geometric, fiber, and heterogeneous property characterizations all compiled into a complete "digital muscle library."

This thesis will give a theoretical overview of B-splines, as well as NURBS and T-splines which are based on B-splines, and also the concept of Bézier decomposition of these spline functions. Bézier decomposition will decompose the splines into Bernstein polynomials which are defined over the domain of one quadrature element. This theoretical background will then be used to implement a Matlab isogeometric finite element analysis program. Two different choices for implementation are explored, a isogeometric finite element solver built from scratch for use of NURBS, and the use of Bézier extraction to implement isogeometric analysis with NURBS and T-splines in an already existing finite element solver. The main focus will be on use of Bézier extraction, which will signicantly ease the implementation. Numerical studies are performed with problems of linear elasticity and heat conduction, to study the convergence of an isogeometric  analysis.The accuracy of isogeometric analysis will prove to be better than for a traditional FEA for the analyzed problems

Data transmission between finite element analysis (FEA) and computer-aided design (CAD) is ahuge bottle-neck today. Therefore, isogeometric analysis has been introduced with aim to merge these fields. While FEA utilizes Lagrange polynomials to approximate both the geometry and the solution field, isogeometric analysis employs non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS) from CAD technology to this objective. Isogeometric analysis will therefore have the advantage in nogeometric error in the sense that the model is exact. T-splines are a recently introduced generalization of NURBS which allow local refinement, handling complex geometry in a subtle way with fewer degrees of freedom. Increasing the order of the elements in isogeometric analysis is easy and gives higher continuous basis functions than FEA, while also maintaining few degrees of freedom. In conventional isogeometric analysis the basis functions are not confined to one single element, but span a global domain, complicating implementation. The Bézier extraction operator decomposes a set of NURBS or T-spline basis functions to linear combinations of Bernstein polynomials. These polynomials bear a close resemblance to the Lagrange polynomials as they allow for generation of C0 continuous Bézier elements. A local data structure for isogeometric analysis close to traditional FEA is provided. Codes are developed to illustrate conventional isogeometric data structures as well as structures based on Bézier extraction of NURBS. Modifications are made to the latter to be able to run analysis of T-splines modelled in the CAD system Rhino, and numerical studies are performed.Generally, NURBS elements display the same convergence rate as Lagrange elements of equal order, but higher accuracy. The reasons are a smooth solution field and exact geometrical representation.

This report features the isogeometric finite element method applied to the elastodynamic problem in a brittle medium with a potential for cracking. Griffith's theory for fracturing is used. The development of the model is outlined, complete with the Euler-Lagrange equations. The cracking is described with a phase field supplemented with a history field, contrary to the usual way of building the crack directly into the geometry by modification of the basis, facilitating the use of isogeometric analysis even with simplistic basis functions such as Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS). The introduction of the crack-phase field results in non-linearity in the coupled problem. The problem is semi-discretized, upon which the spatial sub-problem is treated with isogeometric analysis. The numerical time-stepping solution routine is built around the Newton-Raphson method, but includes both pre-conditioning and correctors and is known as the predictor/multi-corrector time integration scheme. The Jacobian of the semi-discretized system (needed for the Newton-Raphson iteration) is developed analytically. In addition to the numerical tests with NURBS as our basis, we will also test the method with Locally Refined B-splines (LR B-Splines), ensuring better resolution along the crack path. The LR B-spline represents an alternative to the more commonly used T-Spline.

This research endeavor develops Isogeometric approach for analysis of composite structures and take advantage of higher order continuity, smoothness and variation diminishing property of Nurbs basis for stress analysis of composite and sandwich beams and plates. This research also computes stress concentration factor in a composite plate with a hole.

Isogeometric nonlinear/linear finite element code is developed for static and dynamic analysis of laminated composite plates. Nurbs linear, quadratic, higher-order and k-refined elements are constructed using various refinement procedures and validated with numerical testing. Nurbs post-processor for in-plane and interlaminar stress calculation in laminated composite and sandwich plates is developed. Nurbs post-processor is found to be superior than regular finite element and in good agreement with the literature. Nurbs Isgoemetric analysis is used for stress analysis of laminated composite plate with open-hole. Stress concentration factor is computed along the hole edge and good agreement is obtained with the literature. Nurbs Isogeometric finite element code for free-vibration and linear dynamics analysis of laminated composite plates also obtain good agreement with the literature.

Main highlights of the research are newly developed 9 control point linear Nurbs element, k-refined and higher-order Nurbs elements in isogeometric framework. Nurbs elements remove shear-locking and hourglass problems in thin plates in context of first-order shear deformation theory without the additional step and compute better stresses than Lagrange finite element and higher order shear deformation theory for comparatively thick plates i.e. a/h = 4. Also, Nurbs Isogeometric analysis perform well for vibration and dynamic problems and for straight and curved edge problems.
Ph. D.

Mestrado em Engenharia Mecânica
A few years ago drawings were made in the drawing boards and using pencils on vellum. There were no computers helping the designers in the parts modeling. After designing the object, the design was passed to the analysts. The designers and analysts were in constant communication. Nowadays, the designers used Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools in the parts modeling. For application the analysis at the geometries, initially a mesh to approximate the geometries is generated. After this, on the mesh the Finite Element Method (FEM) was applied. In complex engineering design, the generation and manipulation of meshes in FEA was estimated to take over 80% of the overall analysis time. The form to break down the barriers between engineering design and the analysis is with reconstruction the entire process, but at the same time maintaining compatibility with existing practices. Create only one geometric model is the focus of reconstruction process. This geometric model is used in the representation of the geometry, as well as in the analysis, and this concept is designated by Isogeometric Analysis (IGA). In this present work the development of the tools for generate the CAD and calculate the basis function for representation the object are proposed. Initially, the mathematical formulations for Bézier, B-Spline and NURBS, for curves and surfaces are presented. The algorithms developed to generate the curves and surfaces are demonstrated. The IGA and FEM formulation for tridimensional and bidimensional spaces are introduced. In this work, a development of a tools for application this method are proposed. The convergence of the results for FEM and IGA programs are studied and compared to the theoretical values and Abaqus comercial program. The results obtained with IGA formulation converge to the reference values.
Há alguns anos atrás, os objectos eram feitos pelos designers e a criação do desenho era feita com lápis e papel vegetal. Não existiam computadores nos gabinetes de desenho para ajudar na modelação dos objectos. Após o desenho estar concluído este era entregue aos analistas para calcularem a resistência do mesmos quando solicitados por cargas externas. Assim, o gabinete de design e o gabinete de análise estavam em constante comunicação. Nos tempos de hoje os designers utilizam as ferramentas de Computer-Aided Design (CAD) para gerar os objectos, representando assim a geometria original. Por outro lado, os analistas fazem a análise baseada no Método dos Elementos Finitos (MEF). Neste método, inicialmente, gera-se uma malha para fazer a aproximação do objecto e utiliza-se esta malha gerada na análise. A forma de combater esta barreira é a construção de um novo processo de análise, mas ao mesmo tempo manter a compatibilidade com a análise do Método de Elementos Finitos. Este novo método foca-se na geração de um modelo geométrico, sendo este modelo utilizado tanto para a representação da geometria como para a análise. A principal sustentação deste novo método é a utilização das funções de base da criação e representação dos objectos, posteriormente, utilizadas na análise dos mesmos. Este novo conceito é designado por Análise Isogeométrica. Neste trabalho é exposto o desenvolvimento de ferramentas para gerar curvas e superfícies utilizando as formulações de Bézier, B-spline e NURBS. Assim, desenvolveram-se sub-rotinas para calcular as funções de base. Inicialmente apresentaram-se as formulações matemáticas e posteriormente os algoritmos desenvolvidos para a representação das curvas e superfícies. O desenvolvimento de ferramentas de análise para problemas no espaço bidimensional e tridimensional utilizando o Método de Elementos Finitos e a Análise Isogeométrica também é abordado neste trabalho. Para ser mais fácil a sua aplicação, foi desenvolvida um interface. Por fim utilizaram-se problemas e estudaram-se as curvas de convergência dos resultados e compararando-os com as referência analíticas e com o programa Abaqus. Em termos de conclusão, os resultados obtidos com a Análise Isogeométrica convergem mais rapidamente para os valores de referência do que o Abaqus e o programa desenvolvido com base no método de elementos finitos.

This dissertation discusses the thermomechanical analyses performed on threaded fasteners and curvilinearly stiffened composite panels with internal cutouts. The former problem was analyzed using a global/local approach using the commercial finite element software ANSYS while a fully functional code using isogeometric analysis was developed from scratch for the latter. For the threaded fasteners, a global simplified 3D model is built to evaluate the deformation of the structure. A second local model reproducing accurately the threads of the fasteners is used for the accurate assessment of the stresses in the vicinity of the fasteners. The isogeometric analysis code, capable of performing static, buckling and vibration analysis on stiffened composite plates with cutouts using single patch, multiple patches and level set methods is then discussed. A novel way to achieve displacement compatibility between the panel and stiffeners interfaces is introduced. An easy way of modeling plates with complicated cutouts by using edge curves and generating a ruled NURBS surface between them is described. Influence on the critical thermal buckling load and the fundamental mode of vibration due to the presence of circular, elliptical and complicated cutouts is also investigated. Results of parametric studies are presented which show the influence of ply orientation, size and orientation of the cutout, and the position and profile of the curvilinear stiffener. The numerical examples show high reliability and efficiency when compared with other published solutions and those obtained using ABAQUS, a commercial software.
PHD

The objective of this work is to develop a novel 3-D biological particulate dynamics framework to simulate blood flow in the micro circulation. This entails the amalgamation of concepts from various fields namely blood flow dynamics, solid mechanics, fluid-structure interaction and computational data structures. It is envisioned that this project will serve as a harbinger for implementing a multi-scale simulation model with applications in a vast array of situations from blood flows in heart valves to studying cancer metastasis. The primary motivation for this work stems from the need for establishing a simple, effective and holistic framework for performing blood flow simulations, taking into account the extremely 3-D nature of flow, the particle interactions and fluid structure interaction between blood and its constituent elements. Many current models to simulate blood cells rely on finite element methods which render large scale simulations extremely computationally intensive. The development of a framework for simulating blood flow is tied together with achieving a framework for performing an investigation of cancer metastasis. Cancer initially develops at a primary site and spreads through the body to secondary sites using the circulatory systems of the body - the blood circulatory system and the lymphatic system. It is known that all the cancer cells that enter into the circulation do not survive the harsh environment, though the exact cause of this is still undetermined. Moreover, the mechanical properties of cancer cells are not well documented and appropriate computational models require that experiments be conducted to determine the same. Thus the end goal of this work is to establish a system to analyze and simulate 3-D blood particulate dynamics, including cancer cells, from a holistic standpoint in order to understand more about the phenomenon of blood flow as a whole, and cancer metastasis in particular.

Thesis deals with solving the problems of continuum mechanics by method of Isogeometric analysis. This relatively young method combines the advantages of precise NURBS geometry and robustness of the classical finite element method. The method is described on procedure of solving a plane Poissons boundary value problem. Solver is implemented in MatLab and algorithms are attached to the text.

A new spline space, the hierarchical structure-preserving B-spline space, is introduced and implemented in the analysis of Stokes flow. The space, when properly constrained, is shown to be stable and to have at least optimal convergence rates in the velocity field and suboptimal convergence rates in the pressure field. However, results show that superoptimal convergence can often be expected in the pressure field, likely due to error reduction in the velocity field. Like other hierarchical spline spaces, these splines are shown to greatly increase accuracy and to drastically lower computation times for analyses on domains whose solution fields have singularities or could otherwise benefit from local refinement. With the advent of this adaptive, locally-refineable, high-fidelity technology, isogeometric methods can become more feasible for use in fluid analyses.

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo desenvolver uma formulação numérica baseada em Análise Isogeométrica para o estudo de escoamentos incompressíveis isotérmicos de fluidos newtonianos. Com o emprego desta metodologia, os procedimentos de pré-processamento e análise são unificados, melhorando as condições de continuidade das funções de base empregadas tanto na discretização espacial do problema como na aproximação das variáveis do sistema de equações. O sistema de equações fundamentais do escoamento é formado pelas equações de Navier-Stokes e pela equação de conservação de massa, descrita segundo a hipótese de pseudo-compressibilidade, além de uma equação constitutiva para fluidos viscosos de acordo com a hipótese de Stokes. Para problemas com escoamentos turbulentos emprega-se a Simulação de Grandes Escalas - LES (Large Eddy Simulation), na qual o modelo clássico de Smagorinsky é utilizado para a representação das escalas inferiores à resolução da malha. O esquema explícito de dois passos de Taylor-Galerkin é aplicado no contexto da Análise Isogeométrica para a discretização das equações governantes, sendo que a discretização espacial é realizada empregando-se funções NURBS (Non Uniform Rational Basis B-Splines). Essas funções base apresentam vantagens em relação às tradicionais funções utilizadas no MEF (Método dos Elementos Finitos), principalmente no que diz respeito à facilidade de obtenção de continuidade superior a C0 entre os elementos e representação precisa das geometrias. Propõe-se também o desenvolvimento de ferramentas de pré e pós-processamento baseadas na estrutura de dados da Análise Isogeométrica para a geração de malhas e visualização de resultados. Alguns problemas clássicos da Dinâmica dos Fluidos Computacional são analisados para a validação da metodologia apresentada. Os resultados apresentados demonstram boa aproximação da formulação em relação a dados de referência, além de maior versatilidade quanto à discretização espacial dos problemas em comparação com as tradicionais formulações baseadas em elementos finitos.
This work aims to develop a numerical formulation based on Isogeometric Analysis for the study of incompressible flows of Newtonian fluids under isothermal conditions. By using this methodology, pre-processing and analysis procedures are unified, improving the conditions of continuity of the basis functions utilized in the approximations of the equation variables and spatial discretization of the problem. The system of fundamental equations of the fluid flow is constituted by the Navier-Stokes equations and the mass conservation equation, which is described according to the pseudo-compressibility hypothesis. In addition, a constitutive equation for viscous fluids according to Stokes' hypothesis is also provided. Turbulent flows are analyzed using LES (Large Eddy Simulation), where the Smagorinsky’s model is adopted for sub-grid scales. The explicit two-step Taylor-Galerkin method is applied into the context of Isogeometric Analysis for the discretization of the flow equations, where spatial discretization is carried out taking into account Non Uniform Rational Basis B-Splines (NURBS) basis functions. These basis functions have advantages over traditional functions employed in the FEM (Finite Element Method). Particularly, it is easier to obtain continuity order higher than C0 between adjacent elements and geometry representation is more accurate. Pre and post-processing tools for mesh generation and results visualization are also proposed considering the data structure inherent to Isogeometric Analysis. Some classic problems of Computational Fluid Dynamics are analyzed in order to validate the proposed methodology. Results obtained here show that the present formulation has good approximation when compared with predictions obtained by reference authors. Moreover, Isogeometric Analysis is more versatile than traditional finite element formulations when spatial discretization procedures are considered.

Neste trabalho buscou-se consolidar aspectos referentes à otimização de problemas envolvidos na mecânica dos meios contínuos, envolvendo diferentes áreas do conhecimento, tais como: otimização matemática, diferenciação automática, análise estrutural, análise aerodinâmica, parametrização de curvas, superfícies e sólidos do tipo B-spline racionais não-uniformes (NURBS, acrônimo do inglês), análise IsoGeométrica (IGA, acrônimo do inglês) e análise por Elementos Finitos (FEA, acrônimo do inglês). Como objetivo final busca-se otimizar formas de cascas estruturais e formas de corpos aerodinâmicos imersos em escoamentos compressíveis. No que concerne à análise estrutural, esta é realizada via análise IsoGeométrica utilizando elementos sólidos para modelar cascas. Uma cinemática co-rotacional abrangente e precisa baseada na exata decomposição polar é desenvolvida, para lidar com problemas estáticos e dinâmicos altamente não lineares. Na análise estática foram implementados o método de Newton-Raphson e controle de deslocamentos generalizado, para problemas dinâmicos foram implementados o método -generalizado (G) e o método energia momento generalizado (GEMM+). A análise aerodinâmica é realizada via análise por Elementos Finitos para modelar escoamentos compressíveis viscosos e não viscosos em regimes transônicos e supersônicos. Um esquema característico baseado na separação da equação de momento (CBS, acrônimo do inglês) é utilizado para obter uma adequada integração temporal. No que concerne à otimização matemática, é utilizado um método baseado em gradientes, conhecido por programação quadrática sequencial (SQP, acrônimo do inglês), onde a avaliação as derivadas de Fréchet são levadas a cabo via diferenciação automática (AD, acrônimo do inglês). No que concerne aos resultados finais é realizada a otimização estrutural de forma de cascas modeladas como sólidos são apresentados, evidenciando um desempenho ótimo com respeito à energia de deformação interna. Os resultados de otimização aerodinâmica bidimensionais apresentam perfis aerodinâmicos ótimos com respeito à relação arrasto/sustentação para uma ampla gama de número de Mach, enquanto um resultado tridimensional é apresentado evidenciando a robustez e eficiência da implementação proposta. Pretendese estabelecer com este trabalho as bases para pesquisas em problemas de otimização aeroelástica.
Consolidation of the link among optimization problems in continuum mechanics, involving different fields, such as mathematical optimization, automatic differentiation, structural analysis, aerodynamic analysis, curves, surfaces and solids parameterization using Non Uniform Rational B-spline (NURBS), IsoGeometric Analysis (IGA), Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is looked for. Structural shape optimization of shell structures and aerodynamic shape optimization of immersed bodies in compressible flows are the main goals of this work. Concerning structural analysis, the so-called IsoGeometric analysis is employed. An accurate and comprehensive corotational kinematic based on the exact polar decomposition is developed in order to study highly nonlinear static and dynamic problems. Static analysis is carried out with Newton-Raphson and Generalized Displacement Control Method, while dynamic analysis is carried out with Generalized- (G) and Generalized Energy-Momentum Method (GEMM+). Aerodynamic analysis is carried out via Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in order to solve compressible flows in transonic and supersonic regimes. A Characteristic Based Split (CBS) method is employed to obtain an accurate time integration, which is based on the splitting of the momentum equation. Concerning mathematical optimization, the so-called Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) is employed, which is a gradient-based method, where the Fréchet derivatives are evaluated using Automatic Differentiation (AD). Final results consisting in structural optimization shown an optimal behaviour with respect to internal strain energy. While, results concerning aerodynamic bi-dimensional shape optimization exhibit a optimal behaviour with respect drag/lift ratio, for a large range of Mach number, and a simple result for tri-dimensional case is presented in order to show the efficiency and robustness of the implementation. Bases for future research in aeroelastic optimization problems are established in this work.

O presente trabalho consiste no desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta computacional para análises de fratura e fadiga de componentes tridimensionais a partir de modelos geométricos de Desenho Assistido por Computador (CAD, acrônimo do inglês). Modelos de propagação de fissuras associados a leis empíricas de fadiga permitem a determinação da vida útil de peças mecânico-estruturais. Tais análises são de vital importância para garantir a segurança estrutural em diversos projetos de engenharia tais como os de pontes, plataformas off-shore e aeronaves. No entanto, a criação de modelos de análise a partir de modelos geométricos de CAD envolve diversas etapas intermediárias que visam a obtenção de malhas volumétricas adequadas. A grande maioria dos modelos de CAD trabalha com a representação de sólidos a partir de seu contorno utilizando superfícies paramétricas, dentre as quais se destacam as superfícies B-Splines Racionais Não Uniformes (NURBS, acrônimo do inglês). Para gerar malhas volumétricas é necessário que o conjunto de superfícies NURBS que descrevem o objeto seja \"estanque\", ou seja, sem lacunas e/ou superposições nas conexões das superfícies, o que não é possível garantir na grande maioria dos modelos constituídos por NURBS. As contribuições propostas no presente trabalho são aplicáveis a modelos baseados no Método dos Elementos de Contorno dual (MEC dual), os quais exigem apenas a discretização das superfícies do problema, ou seja, contorno mais fissuras. No intuito de criar os modelos de análise de maneira eficiente a partir dos modelos geométricos de CAD, desenvolveu-se uma estratégia de colocação que permite discretizar de maneira independente cada uma das superfícies NURBS que compõem os modelos geométricos sólidos. Com a estratégia proposta evitam-se as dificuldades no tratamento das conexões entre as superfícies sendo possível analisar modelos geométricos \"não estanques\". A implementação abrange superfícies NURBS, aparadas ou não, de ordens polinomiais quaisquer e elementos de contorno triangulares e quadrilaterais de aproximação linear. As equações integrais de deslocamentos e de forças de superfície são regularizadas e as integrais singulares e hipersingulares são tratadas pelo Método de Guiggiani. Fissuras de borda são inseridas nos modelos de análise a partir de um algoritmo de remalhamento simples baseado em tolerâncias dimensionais. O mesmo algoritmo é utilizado para as análises incrementais de propagação. Três técnicas de extração dos Fatores de Intensidade de Tensão (FIT) foram implementadas para os modelos baseados na Mecânica da Fratura Elástica Linear (MFEL), a saber, as técnicas de correlação, de extrapolação e de ajuste de deslocamentos. A extensão dessa última técnica para problemas tridimensionais é outra contribuição do presente trabalho. Os critérios da máxima taxa de liberação de energia e de Schöllmann foram utilizados para determinar o FIT equivalente e o caminho de propagação das fissuras. O ângulo de deflexão é determinado por um algoritmo de otimização e o ângulo de torção, definido para o critério de Schöllmann, é imposto no vetor de propagação a partir de uma formulação variacional unidimensional, definida sobre a linha de frente da fissura. Nos modelos de fadiga adota-se a MFEL e a equação de Paris-Erdogan para determinar a vida útil à propagação de defeitos preexistentes. Um procedimento iterativo foi desenvolvido para evitar a interpenetração da matéria após o contato das faces da fissura, permitindo análises de fadiga com carregamentos alternados. Como proposta para a continuidade da pesquisa propõe-se desenvolver formulações isogeométricas de elementos de contorno para analisar problemas de fratura e fadiga diretamente dos modelos geométricos de CAD, sem a necessidade de gerar as malhas de superfície. Um estudo numérico preliminar envolvendo uma versão isogeométrica do MEC dual baseada em NURBS e a versão convencional utilizando polinômios de Lagrange lineares e quadráticos foi realizado. A partir do estudo foi possível apontar as vantagens e desvantagens de cada formulação e sugerir melhorias para ambas.
The present work consists in the development of a computational tool for fracture and fatigue analysis of three-dimensional components obtained from geometrical models of Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Crack propagation models associated with empirical fatigue laws allow the determination of residual life for structural-mechanical pieces. These analyses are vital to ensure the structural safety in several engineering projects such as in bridges, offshore platforms and aircraft. However, the creation of the analysis models from geometrical CAD models requires several intermediary steps in order to obtain suitable volumetric meshes of the problems. The majority of CAD models represent solids with parametric surfaces to describe its boundaries, which is known as the Boundary representation (B-representation). The most common parametric surfaces are Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS). To generate a volumetric mesh it is required that the set of surfaces that describe the object must be watertight, i.e., without gaps or superposition at the surfaces connections, which is not possible to unsure using NURBS. The contributions proposed at the present thesis are applicable to models based on the Dual Boundary Element Method (DBEM), which require only the discretization of the surfaces of the problems, i.e., boundary and cracks. A special collocation strategy was developed in order to create the analysis models efficiently from the geometrical CAD models. The collocation strategy allows discretizing independently each one of the NURBS surfaces that compose the geometrical solid models. Therefore, the difficulties in the treatment of the surface connections are avoided and it becomes possible to create analysis models from non-watertight geometrical models. The implementation covers trimmed and non-trimmed NURBS surfaces of any polynomial orders and also triangular and quadrilateral boundary elements of linear order. The displacement and traction boundary integral equations are regularized and the strong and hypersingular integrals are treated with the Guiggiani\'s method. Edge cracks are inserted in the models by a simple remeshing procedure based on dimensional tolerances. The same remeshing approach is adopted for the incremental crack propagation analysis. Three techniques were adopted to extract the Stress Intensity Factors (SIF) in the context of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM), i.e., the displacement correlation, extrapolation and fitting techniques. The extension of this last technique to three-dimensional problems is another contribution of the present work. Both the general maximum energy realise rate and the Schöllmann\'s criteria were adopted to determine the equivalent SIF and the crack propagation path. The deflection angle is obtained by an optimization algorithm and the torsion angle, defined for the Schöllmann\'s criterion, is imposed in the propagation vector through a one-dimensional variational formulation defined over the crack front line. The concepts of LEFM are adopted together with the Paris-Erdogan equation in order to determine the fatigue life of pre-existing defects. An iterative procedure was developed to avoid the self-intersection of the crack surfaces allowing fatigue analysis with alternate loadings. Finally, as suggestion for future researches, it was started the study of isogeometric boundary element formulations in order to perform fracture and fatigue analysis directly from CAD geometries, without surface mesh generation. A preliminary numerical study involving an isogeometric version of the DBEM using NURBS and the conventional DBEM using linear and quadratic Lagrange elements was presented. From the study it was possible to point out the advantages and disadvantages of each approach and suggest improvements for both.

Lors de simulations numériques d’ordre élevé, la discrétisation sous-paramétrique du domaine de calcul peut générer des erreurs dominant l’erreur liée à la discrétisation des variables. De nombreux travaux proposent d’utiliser l’analyse isogéométrique afin de mieux représenter les géométries et de résoudre ce problème.Nous présenterons dans ce travail le couplage du schéma aux résidus distribués limité et stabilisé de Lax-Frieirichs avec l’analyse isogéométrique. En particulier, nous construirons une famille de fonctions de base permettant de représenter exactement les coniques et définies tant sur les éléments triangulaires que quadrangulaires : les fonctions de base de Bernstein rationnelles. Nous nous intéresserons ensuite à la génération de maillages précis pour l’analyse isogéométrique. Notre méthode consiste à créer un maillage courbe à partir d’un maillage linéaire par morceaux de la géométrie. Le maillage obtenu en sortie de notre procédure est non-structuré, conforme et assure la continuité de nos fonctions de base sur tout le domaine. Pour finir, nous décrirons les différentes méthodes d’adaptation de maillages développées : l’élévation d’ordre et le raffinement isotrope. Bien évidemment, la géométrie exacte du maillage courbe d’entrée est préservée au cours des processus d’adaptation
During high order simulations, the approximation error may be dominated by the errors linked to the sub-parametric discretization used for the geometry representation. Many works propose to use an isogeometric analysis approach to better represent the geometry and hence solve this problem. In this work, we will present the coupling between the limited stabilized Lax-Friedrichs residual distributed scheme and the isogeometric analysis. Especially, we will build a family of basis functions defined on both triangular and quadrangular elements and allowing the exact representation of conics : the rational Bernstein basis functions. We will then focus in how to generate accurate meshes for isogeometric analysis. Our idea is to create a curved mesh from a classical piecewise-linear mesh of the geometry. We obtain a conforming unstructured mesh which ensures the continuity of the basis functions over the entire mesh. Last, we will detail the curved mesh adaptation methods developed : the order elevation and the isotropic mesh refinement. Of course, the adaptation processes preserve the exact geometry of the initial curved mesh

Isogeometric analysis (IGA) is a numerical method for solving partial differential equations (PDE). In this master thesis we explain a concept of IGA with special emphasis on problems on closed domains created by a single NURBS patch. For them we show a process how to modify the NURBS basis to ensure the highest possible continuity of the function space. Then we solve the minimal surface problem using two different Newton type methods. The first one is based on the classical approach using PDE, in the second one we use unique advantages of IGA to directly minimize the area functional.