ODE conversion techniques and their applications in computational mechanics

Abstract

In this paper, a number of ordinary differential equation (ODE) conversion techniques for transformation of nonstandard ODE boundary value problems into standard forms are summarised, together with their applications to a variety of boundary value problems in computational solid mechanics, such as eigenvalue problem, geometrical and material nonlinear problem, elastic contact problem and optimal design problems through some simple and representative examples. The advantage of such approach is that various ODE boundary value problems in computational mechanics can be solved effectively in a unified manner by invoking a standard ODE solver.