An Efficient Finite Element Dynamic Sub-Modeling Approach Using the Local Mesh Refinement Technique

In general, it is difficult to obtain all the information in each part of a complex structure during the dynamic analysis due to the CPU time and memory costs. In fact, only parts of the structure are most really concerned in many cases. The present work is concerned with a time-saving finite element dynamic sub-modeling approach based on the local mesh refinement technique, and it can be carried out in a quite easy way in the dynamic structure analysis through three steps. First, the analysis for the whole original model should be accomplished on a fairly coarse mesh. Second, the key part of the structure which is most concerned with is taken out as the sub-model. The local mesh refinement technique is then employed to the sub-model to get the acceptable fine mesh. At the same time, the interface displacement distribution on the fine mesh is obtained from the original coarse mesh model analysis. Finally, the dynamic analysis for the selected structure is performed with the interface displacement boundary conditions obtained in the previous step. The accuracy and efficiency of the presented procedure is examined by a numerical example. It is concluded that the interface displacement boundary condition is enough for the sub-model dynamic analysis.