Adaptive Mesh Refinement Techniques for Structural Problems

Published in The Finite Element Method in the 1990's, E. Oñate et al (Eds.), CIMNE/Springer Verlag, 1990
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-10326-5_14

Abstract

In this paper some adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) strategies for finite element analysis of structural problems are discussed. Two mesh optimality criteria based on the equal distribution of: (a) the global error, and (b) the specific error over the elements are studied. It is shown that the correct evaluation of the rate of convergence of the different error norms involved in the AMR procedures is essential to avoid oscillations in the refinement process. The behaviour of the different AMR strategies proposed is compared in the analysis of some structural problems.