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Article
Publication date: 1 February 1996

Jaroslav Mackerle

Presents a review on implementing finite element methods on supercomputers, workstations and PCs and gives main trends in hardware and software developments. An appendix included…

677

Abstract

Presents a review on implementing finite element methods on supercomputers, workstations and PCs and gives main trends in hardware and software developments. An appendix included at the end of the paper presents a bibliography on the subjects retrospectively to 1985 and approximately 1,100 references are listed.

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Engineering Computations, vol. 13 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

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Article
Publication date: 1 June 1995

Bernard A. Schrefler, Xiaoyong Zhan and Luciano Simoni

A fully coupled numerical model to simulate the complexbehaviour of soil deformation, water flow, airflow, and heatflow in porous media is developed. The following thermal…

565

Abstract

A fully coupled numerical model to simulate the complex behaviour of soil deformation, water flow, airflow, and heat flow in porous media is developed. The following thermal effects are taken into account: heat transfer through conduction and convection, flow, as well as viscosity and density variation of the fluids due to temperature gradients. The governing equations in terms of soil displacements, water and air pressures, and temperature are coupled non‐linear partial differential equations and are solved by the finite element method. Two examples are presented to demonstrate the model performances.

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International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 5 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

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Article
Publication date: 1 November 1996

Dariusz Gawin, Bernhard A. Schrefler and M. Galindo

Presents a fully coupled numerical model to simulate the slow transient phenomena involving heat and mass transfer in deforming partially saturated porous materials. Makes use of…

1528

Abstract

Presents a fully coupled numerical model to simulate the slow transient phenomena involving heat and mass transfer in deforming partially saturated porous materials. Makes use of the modified effective stress concept together with the capillary pressure relationship. Examines phase changes (evaporation‐condensation(, heat transfer through conduction and convection, as well as latent heat transfer. The governing equations in terms of gas pressure, capillary pressure, temperature and displacements are coupled non‐linear differential equations and are discretized by the finite element method in space and by finite differences in the time domain. The model is further validated with respect to a documented experiment on partially saturated soil behaviour, and the effects of two‐phase flow, as compared to the one‐phase flow solution, are analysed. Two other examples involving drying of a concrete wall and thermoelastic consolidation of partially saturated clay demonstrate the importance of proper physical modelling and of appropriate choice of the boundary conditions.

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Engineering Computations, vol. 13 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

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Article
Publication date: 5 May 2015

Raffaella Santagiuliana, Massimo Fabris and Bernhard Aribo Schrefler

The purpose of this paper is to give an explanation of the new data available about surface subsidence above the depleted gas reservoir Ravenna Terra. These data confirm the…

218

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to give an explanation of the new data available about surface subsidence above the depleted gas reservoir Ravenna Terra. These data confirm the existence after end of exploitation of a reversed subsidence bowl with minimum subsidence above the reservoir, as opposed to conventional subsidence bowls during exploitation which show maximum subsidence in the same location.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses these new data about the existence after end of exploitation of a reversed subsidence bowl. The observed behaviour is reproduced successfully with a fully coupled two phase flow code in deforming reservoir rocks which incorporates a constitutive model for partially saturated porous media.

Findings

The paper provides successful simulations. These allow affirming with confidence that the explanation for the peculiar behaviour is reservoir flooding and partially saturated rock behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

Further research: other case studies where similar behaviour is expected, e.g. Ekofisk.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for better management of reservoir exploitation schedules to minimize the observed phenomenon.

Originality/value

This paper explains the peculiar behaviour of subsidence above the depleted gas reservoir Ravenna Terra and confirms the conjecture that constitutive behaviour of partially saturated rocks is the origin of the observed phenomenon.

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Engineering Computations, vol. 32 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

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Article
Publication date: 1 November 2002

Bernhard A. Schrefler, Carmelo E. Majorana, Gabriel A. Khoury and Dariusz Gawin

This paper presents the physical, mathematical and numerical models forming the main structure of the numerical analysis of the thermal, hydral and mechanical behaviour of normal…

2557

Abstract

This paper presents the physical, mathematical and numerical models forming the main structure of the numerical analysis of the thermal, hydral and mechanical behaviour of normal, high‐performance concrete (HPC) and ultra‐high performance concrete (UHPC) structures subjected to heating. A fully coupled non‐linear formulation is designed to predict the behaviour, and potential for spalling, of heated concrete structures for fire and nuclear reactor applications. The physical model is described in more detail, with emphasis being placed upon the real processes occurring in concrete during heating based on tests carried out in several major laboratories around Europe as part of the wider high temperature concrete (HITECO) research programme. A number of experimental and modelling advances are presented in this paper. The stress‐strain behaviour of concrete in direct tension, determined experimentally, is input into the model. The hitherto unknown micro‐structural, hydral and mechanical behaviour of HPC/UHPC were determined experimentally and the information is also built into the model. Two examples of computer simulations concerning experimental validation of the model, i.e. temperature and gas pressure development in a radiatively heated HPC wall and hydro‐thermal and mechanical (damage) performance of a square HPC column during fire, are presented and discussed in the context of full scale fire tests done within the HITECO research programme.

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Engineering Computations, vol. 19 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

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Article
Publication date: 1 February 2001

H.W. Zhang, O.M. Heeres, R. de Borst and B.A. Schrefler

Extends the stress update algorithm and the tangent operator recently proposed for generalized plasticity by De Borst and Heeres to the case of partially saturated soils, where on…

1104

Abstract

Extends the stress update algorithm and the tangent operator recently proposed for generalized plasticity by De Borst and Heeres to the case of partially saturated soils, where on top of the hydrostatic and deviatoric components of the (effective) stress tensor suction has to be considered as a third independent variable. The soil model used for the applications is the Bolzon‐Schrefler‐Zienkiewicz model, which is an extension of the Pastor‐Zienkiewicz model to partial saturation. The algorithm is incorporated in a code for partially saturated soil dynamics. Back calculation of a saturation test and simulation of surface subsidence above an exploited gas reservoir demonstrate the advantage of the proposed algorithm in terms of iteration convergence of the solution.

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Engineering Computations, vol. 18 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

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Article
Publication date: 10 April 2009

Lorenzo Sanavia

The purpose of this paper is to present a finite‐element analysis of the initiation of a slope failure in a small‐scale laboratory test due to pore pressure variation. To this…

767

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a finite‐element analysis of the initiation of a slope failure in a small‐scale laboratory test due to pore pressure variation. To this aim, a fully coupled multiphase model for saturated/partially saturated solid porous materials based on porous media mechanics is used.

Design/methodology/approach

The slope is described as a three‐phase deforming porous continuum where heat, water and gas flow are taken into account. The gas phase is modelled as an ideal gas composed of dry air and water vapour. Phase changes of water, heat transfer through conduction and convection and latent heat transfer are considered. The independent variables are: solid displacements, capillary pressure, gas pressure and temperature. The effective stress state is limited by Drucker‐Prager yield surface for the sake of simplicity. Small strains and quasi‐static loading conditions are assumed.

Findings

The paper shows that the multiphase modelling is able to capture the main experimental observations such as the local failure zone at the onset of slope failure and the outflow appeared in that zone. It also allows understanding of the triggering mechanisms of the failure zone.

Research limitations/implications

This work can be considered as a step towards a further development of a suitable numerical model for the simulation of non‐isothermal geo‐environmental engineering problems.

Practical implications

The multiphysics approach looks promising for the analysis of the onset of landslides, provided that the constitutive models for the multiphase porous media in saturated/unsaturated conditions and the related mechanical and hydraulic properties are described with sufficient accuracy.

Originality/value

Elasto‐plastic thermo‐hydro‐mechanical modelling of the initiation of slope failure subjected to variation in pore pressure boundary condition.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 26 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

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Article
Publication date: 1 September 1996

M. Lefik and B. Schrefler

Using finite element (FE) method corrects the microstress field resulting from the theory of homogenization in the region of composite in vicinity of the boundary. Obtains the…

242

Abstract

Using finite element (FE) method corrects the microstress field resulting from the theory of homogenization in the region of composite in vicinity of the boundary. Obtains the corrected microstress field via an unsmearing procedure based on the known global solution and local peturbation. Analyses two examples: near a free boundary and next to a constrained border. FE models are constructed using both commercial FE code and the authors’ program for homogenization with some interfacing procedures. Shows qualitative results of computations and estimates influence on the microstress description of the local perturbation near the boundary.

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Engineering Computations, vol. 13 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

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Article
Publication date: 1 June 1993

K. WISNIEWSKI and B.A. SCHREFLER

The stress recovery procedures discussed in the present paper refer to a multi‐layered element of assembled Timoshenko beam elements. Directly calculated stresses for a

51

Abstract

The stress recovery procedures discussed in the present paper refer to a multi‐layered element of assembled Timoshenko beam elements. Directly calculated stresses for a multi‐layered beam model strongly depend on properties of the approximation functions, and are unrealistic. Thus, an enhanced procedure which circumvents the limitations of the interface variables model, and hierarchical model is proposed. Each material layer of the beam element is covered by one quadrilateral 9‐node element, providing a parabolic approximation of displacements. The stresses are evaluated using 2 × 2 Gauss points, projected to corner nodes, and smoothed within material layers. Numerical calculations show very good accordance of stresses yielded by this procedure with 2D results.

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Engineering Computations, vol. 10 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

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Article
Publication date: 19 September 2008

Valentina A. Salomoni, Carmelo E. Majorana, Giuseppe M. Giannuzzi and Adio Miliozzi

The purpose of this paper is to describe an experience of R&D in the field of new technologies for solar energy exploitation within the Italian context. Concentrated solar power…

1248

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe an experience of R&D in the field of new technologies for solar energy exploitation within the Italian context. Concentrated solar power systems operating in the field of medium temperatures are the main research objectives, directed towards the development of a new and low‐cost technology to concentrate the direct radiation and efficiently convert solar energy into high‐temperature heat.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi‐tank sensible‐heat storage system is proposed for storing thermal energy, with a two‐tanks molten salt system. In the present paper, the typology of a below‐grade cone shape storage is taken up, in combination with nitrate molten salts at 565°C maximum temperature, using an innovative high‐performance concrete for structures absolving functions of containment and foundation.

Findings

Concrete durability in terms of prolonged thermal loads is assessed. The interaction between the hot tank and the surrounding environment (ground) is considered. The developed FE model simulates the whole domain, and a fixed heat source of 100°C is assigned to the internal concrete surface. The development of the thermal and hygral fronts within the tank thickness are analysed and results discussed for long‐term scenarios.

Originality/value

Within the medium temperature field, an innovative approach is here presented for the conceptual design of liquid salts concrete storage systems. The adopted numerical model accounts for the strong coupling among moisture and heat transfer and the mechanical field. The basic mathematical model is a single fluid phase non‐linear diffusion one based on the theory by Bažant; appropriate thermodynamic and constitutive relationships are supplemented to enhance the approach and catch the effects of different fluid phases (liquid plus gas).

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 18 no. 7/8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

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