Model‐size reduction for the analysis of symmetric structures with asymmetric boundary conditions

Abstract

AbstractA simple computational procedure is presented for reducing the size of the analysis model for a symmetric structure with asymmetric boundary conditions to that of the corresponding structure with symmetric boundary conditions. The procedure is based on approximating the asymmetric response of the structure by a linear combination of symmetric and antisymmetric global approximation vectors (or modes). The key elements of the procedure are (a) restructuring the governing finite element equations to delineate the contributions to the symmetric and antisymmetric components of the asymmetric response, (b) successive application of the finite element method and the classical Rayleigh–Ritz technique. The finite element method is first used to generate a few global approximation vectors (or modes). Then the amplitudes of these modes are computed by using the Rayleigh–Ritz technique.A tracing parameter is introduced which identifies all the contributions to the antisymmetric response. The global approximation vectors are selected to be the solution corresponding to a zero value of the tracing parameter and the various‐order derivatives of the solution with respect to this parameter, evaluated at zero value of the parameter. The size of the analysis model used in generating the global approximation vectors is identical to that of the corresponding structure with symmetric boundary conditions.The effectiveness of the computational procedure is demonstrated by means of numerical examples of linear static problems of shells, and its potential for solving non‐linear problems is discussed.