Olivier Allix

Guillaume Guguin, Olivier Allix, Pierre Gosselet et al.

In order to simulate the mechanical behavior of large structures assembled from thin composite panels, we propose a coupling technique which substitutes local 3D models for the global plate model in the critical zones where plate modeling is inadequate. The transition from 3D to 2D is based on stress and displacement distributions associated with Saint-Venant problems which are precalculated automatically for a simple 3D cell. The hybrid plate/3D model is obtained after convergence of a series of iterations between a global plate model of the structure and localized 3D models of the critical zones. This technique is nonintrusive because the global calculations can be carried out using commercial software. Evaluation tests show that convergence is fast and that the resulting hybrid model is very close to a full 3D model.

Olivier Allix, Pierre Kerfriden, Pierre Gosselet

In quasi-static nonlinear time-dependent analysis, the choice of the time discretization is a complex issue. The most basic strategy consists in determining a value of the load increment that ensures the convergence of the solution with respect to time on the base of preliminary simulations. In more advanced applications, the load increments can be controlled for instance by prescribing the number of iterations of the nonlinear resolution procedure, or by using an arc-length algorithm. These techniques usually introduce a parameter whose correct value is not easy to obtain. In this paper, an alternative procedure is proposed. It is based on the continuous control of the residual of the reference problem over time, whose measure is easy to interpret. This idea is applied in the framework of a multiscale domain decomposition strategy in order to perform 3D delamination analysis.

Karin Saavedra, Olivier Allix, Pierre Gosselet

This paper investigates a computational strategy for studying the interactions between multiple through-the-width delaminations and global or local buckling in composite laminates taking into account possible contact between the delaminated surfaces. In order to achieve an accurate prediction of the quasi-static response, a very refined discretization of the structure is required, leading to the resolution of very large and highly nonlinear numerical problems. In this paper, a nonlinear finite element formulation along with a parallel iterative scheme based on a multiscale domain decomposition are used for the computation of 3D mesoscale models. Previous works by the authors already dealt with the simulation of multiscale delamination assuming small perturbations. This paper presents the formulation used to include geometric nonlinearities into this existing multiscale framework and discusses the adaptations that need to be made to the iterative process in order to ensure the rapid convergence and the scalability of the method in the presence of buckling and delamination. These various adaptations are illustrated by simulations involving large numbers of DOFs.

Guillaume Guguin, Olivier Allix, Pierre Gosselet et al.

Most large engineering structures are described as assemblies of plates and shells and they are computed as such using adhoc Finite Element packages. In fact their computation in 3D would be much too costly. In this framework, the connections between the parts are often modeled by means of simplified tying models. In order to improve the reliability of such simulations, we propose to apply a non-intrusive technique so as to virtually substitute the simplified connectors by a precise 3D nonlinear model, without modifying the global plate model. Moreover each computation can be conducted on independent optimized software. After a description of the method, examples are used to analyze its performance, and to draw some conclusions on the validity and limitation of both the modeling of junction by rigid connectors and the use of submodeling techniques for the estimation of the carrying capacity of bolted plates.