Introduction

This tutorial presents the implementation of spring elements in MoFEM. The spring elements are used to model the interaction between the structure being considered and other structures in surrounding environment. In contrast to other type of boundary conditions where the displacements/rotations at the surface of contact are fixed, the spring boundary condition allows the surface to move during the analysis which in turn creates reaction forces acting on the structure at the boundary surface. The magnitude of this force is changed propotionally to the spring stiffness and the extension or contraction in its length. Figure 1 illustrates a plate bearing load \( q \) sits on elastic foundation which is modelled by springs with stiffness \( k_s \).

Figure 1: Plate on elastic foundation modelled by springs

The remaining of this tutorial is organised as follows. The next section describes the finite element formulation of the spring element where its contributions to the right-hand side (RHS) and the left-hand side (LHS) are presented. It is followed by the description of the implementation of spring element in the platform of MoFEM. The following section closes this tutorial by showing sample implementations of spring elements to the elasticity and nonlinear elasticity modules.

Formulation

The finite element formulation of the spring element contributing to RHS and LHS can be respectively derived as follows

\[ \begin{align} f_s &= \int\limits_{\Gamma }^{} {{\psi ^T}{F^s}\left( u \right)d\Gamma } = \int\limits_{\Gamma }^{} {{\psi ^T}{k_s} u d \Gamma }, \\ {K^s} &= \int\limits_\Gamma ^{} {{\psi ^T}{k_s}\psi d\Gamma }. \end{align} \]

where \( \Gamma \) is the domain occupied by the surface with springs, \( \psi \) is approximation function, \( k_s \) denotes spring stiffness, and \( u \) is the extension/contraction of the spring which can be calculated by the displacement of the point on the surface where spring is applied. Physically, \( k_s \) can be considered as spring density on the surface.

Implementation

In the platform of MoFEM, the implementation of user data operators (UDO) for spring boundary conditions can be found in SpringElement.cpp and SpringElement.hpp. Particularly, the operators OpSpringFs and OpSpringKs are developed to calculate the contribution of springs to the RHS and LHS of the system of equations, respectively.

Operator OpSpringFs for the RHS

The operator OpSpringFs is a class that inherits from another class of MoFEM::FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore::UserDataOperator. It is worth noting that, in the current implementation, springs are applied on face elements only.
struct OpSpringFs : MoFEM::FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore::UserDataOperator {

};
Public members include (1) nF is a sub-vector that stores force at each degree of freedom, (2) commonDataPtr pointing to spring data associated with Gauss points, (3) dAta contains block data, and (4) is_spatial_position being a flag to check the field name, e.g. SPATIAL_POSITION or DISPLACEMENT, which later be used to determine the displacements at Gauss points.
// vector used to store force vector for each degree of freedom

VectorDouble nF;

boost::shared_ptr<DataAtIntegrationPtsSprings> commonDataPtr;

BlockOptionDataSprings &dAta;

bool is_spatial_position = true;
Then, the OpSpringFs constructor is implemented
OpSpringFs(boost::shared_ptr<DataAtIntegrationPtsSprings> &common_data_ptr,

BlockOptionDataSprings &data, const std::string field_name)

: MoFEM::FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore::UserDataOperator(

field_name.c_str(), OPROW),

commonDataPtr(common_data_ptr), dAta(data) {

if (field_name.compare(0, 16, "SPATIAL_POSITION") != 0)

is_spatial_position = false;

}
Finally, the OpSpringFs::doWork method of the OpSpringFs operator is implemented as follows

MoFEMErrorCode doWork(int side, EntityType type,

EntitiesFieldData::EntData &data) {

MoFEMFunctionBegin;

// check that the faces have associated degrees of freedom

const int nb_dofs = data.getIndices().size();

if (nb_dofs == 0)

MoFEMFunctionReturnHot(0);

if (dAta.tRis.find(getNumeredEntFiniteElementPtr()->getEnt()) ==

dAta.tRis.end()) {

MoFEMFunctionReturnHot(0);

}

CHKERR commonDataPtr->getBlockData(dAta);

// size of force vector associated to the entity

// set equal to the number of degrees of freedom of associated with the

// entity

nF.resize(nb_dofs, false);

nF.clear();

// get number of Gauss points

const int nb_gauss_pts = data.getN().size1();

// get intergration weights

auto t_w = getFTensor0IntegrationWeight();

// FTensor indices

FTensor::Index<'i', 3> i;

FTensor::Index<'j', 3> j;

FTensor::Index<'k', 3> k;

FTensor::Tensor2<double, 3, 3> t_spring_local(

commonDataPtr->springStiffnessNormal, 0., 0., 0.,

commonDataPtr->springStiffnessTangent, 0., 0., 0.,

commonDataPtr->springStiffnessTangent);

// create a 3d vector to be used as the normal to the face with length equal

// to the face area

auto t_normal_ptr = getFTensor1Normal();

FTensor::Tensor1<double, 3> t_normal;

t_normal(i) = t_normal_ptr(i);

// First tangent vector

auto t_tangent1_ptr = getFTensor1Tangent1AtGaussPts();

FTensor::Tensor1<double, 3> t_tangent1;

t_tangent1(i) = t_tangent1_ptr(i);

// Second tangent vector, such that t_n = t_t1 x t_t2 | t_t2 = t_n x t_t1

FTensor::Tensor1<double, 3> t_tangent2;

t_tangent2(i) = FTensor::levi_civita(i, j, k) * t_normal(j) * t_tangent1(k);

// Spring stiffness in global coordinate

FTensor::Tensor2<double, 3, 3> t_spring_global;

t_spring_global = MetaSpringBC::transformLocalToGlobal(

t_normal, t_tangent1, t_tangent2, t_spring_local);

// Extract solution at Gauss points

auto t_solution_at_gauss_point =

getFTensor1FromMat<3>(*commonDataPtr->xAtPts);

auto t_init_solution_at_gauss_point =

getFTensor1FromMat<3>(*commonDataPtr->xInitAtPts);

FTensor::Tensor1<double, 3> t_displacement_at_gauss_point;

// loop over all Gauss points of the face

for (int gg = 0; gg != nb_gauss_pts; ++gg) {

// Calculate the displacement at the Gauss point

if (is_spatial_position) { // "SPATIAL_POSITION"

t_displacement_at_gauss_point(i) =

t_solution_at_gauss_point(i) - t_init_solution_at_gauss_point(i);

} else { // e.g. "DISPLACEMENT" or "U"

t_displacement_at_gauss_point(i) = t_solution_at_gauss_point(i);

}

double w = t_w * getArea();

auto t_base_func = data.getFTensor0N(gg, 0);

// create a vector t_nf whose pointer points an array of 3 pointers

// pointing to nF memory location of components

FTensor::Tensor1<FTensor::PackPtr<double *, 3>, 3> t_nf(&nF[0], &nF[1],

&nF[2]);

for (int rr = 0; rr != nb_dofs / 3; ++rr) { // loop over the nodes

t_nf(i) += w * t_base_func * t_spring_global(i, j) *

t_displacement_at_gauss_point(j);

// move to next base function

++t_base_func;

// move the pointer to next element of t_nf

++t_nf;

}

// move to next integration weight

++t_w;

// move to the solutions at the next Gauss point

++t_solution_at_gauss_point;

++t_init_solution_at_gauss_point;

}

// add computed values of spring in the global right hand side vector

Vec f = getFEMethod()->ksp_f != PETSC_NULL ? getFEMethod()->ksp_f

: getFEMethod()->snes_f;

CHKERR VecSetValues(f, nb_dofs, &data.getIndices()[0], &nF[0], ADD_VALUES);

MoFEMFunctionReturn(0);

}

Operator OpSpringKs for the LHS

Similarly to the previous part, the operator OpSpringKs which calculates the contribution of the spring elements to the LHS is implemented as follows

struct OpSpringKs : MoFEM::FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore::UserDataOperator {
 
  boost::shared_ptr<DataAtIntegrationPtsSprings> commonDataPtr;
  BlockOptionDataSprings &dAta;
 
  MatrixDouble locKs;
  MatrixDouble transLocKs;
 
  OpSpringKs(boost::shared_ptr<DataAtIntegrationPtsSprings> &common_data_ptr,
             BlockOptionDataSprings &data, const std::string field_name)
      : MoFEM::FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore::UserDataOperator(
            field_name.c_str(), field_name.c_str(), OPROWCOL),
        commonDataPtr(common_data_ptr), dAta(data) {}
 
  MoFEMErrorCode doWork(int row_side, int col_side, EntityType row_type,
                        EntityType col_type,
                        EntitiesFieldData::EntData &row_data,
                        EntitiesFieldData::EntData &col_data) {
    MoFEMFunctionBegin;
 
    // check if the volumes have associated degrees of freedom
    const int row_nb_dofs = row_data.getIndices().size();
    if (!row_nb_dofs)
      MoFEMFunctionReturnHot(0);
 
    const int col_nb_dofs = col_data.getIndices().size();
    if (!col_nb_dofs)
      MoFEMFunctionReturnHot(0);
 
    if (dAta.tRis.find(getNumeredEntFiniteElementPtr()->getEnt()) ==
        dAta.tRis.end()) {
      MoFEMFunctionReturnHot(0);
    }
 
    CHKERR commonDataPtr->getBlockData(dAta);
    // size associated to the entity
    locKs.resize(row_nb_dofs, col_nb_dofs, false);
    locKs.clear();
 
    // get number of Gauss points
    const int row_nb_gauss_pts = row_data.getN().size1();
    if (!row_nb_gauss_pts) // check if number of Gauss point <> 0
      MoFEMFunctionReturnHot(0);
 
    const int row_nb_base_functions = row_data.getN().size2();
 
    // get intergration weights
    auto t_w = getFTensor0IntegrationWeight();
 
    FTensor::Index<'i', 3> i;
    FTensor::Index<'j', 3> j;
    FTensor::Index<'k', 3> k;
    auto get_tensor2 = [](MatrixDouble &m, const int r, const int c) {
      return FTensor::Tensor2<double *, 3, 3>(
          &m(3 * r + 0, 3 * c + 0), &m(3 * r + 0, 3 * c + 1),
          &m(3 * r + 0, 3 * c + 2), &m(3 * r + 1, 3 * c + 0),
          &m(3 * r + 1, 3 * c + 1), &m(3 * r + 1, 3 * c + 2),
          &m(3 * r + 2, 3 * c + 0), &m(3 * r + 2, 3 * c + 1),
          &m(3 * r + 2, 3 * c + 2));
    };
 
    FTensor::Tensor2<double, 3, 3> t_spring_local(
        commonDataPtr->springStiffnessNormal, 0., 0., 0.,
        commonDataPtr->springStiffnessTangent, 0., 0., 0.,
        commonDataPtr->springStiffnessTangent);
    // create a 3d vector to be used as the normal to the face with length equal
    // to the face area
    auto t_normal_ptr = getFTensor1Normal();
 
    FTensor::Tensor1<double, 3> t_normal;
    t_normal(i) = t_normal_ptr(i);
 
    // First tangent vector
    auto t_tangent1_ptr = getFTensor1Tangent1AtGaussPts();
    FTensor::Tensor1<double, 3> t_tangent1;
    t_tangent1(i) = t_tangent1_ptr(i);
 
    // Second tangent vector, such that t_n = t_t1 x t_t2 | t_t2 = t_n x t_t1
    FTensor::Tensor1<double, 3> t_tangent2;
    t_tangent2(i) = FTensor::levi_civita(i, j, k) * t_normal(j) * t_tangent1(k);
 
    // Spring stiffness in global coordinate
    FTensor::Tensor2<double, 3, 3> t_spring_global;
    t_spring_global = MetaSpringBC::transformLocalToGlobal(
        t_normal, t_tangent1, t_tangent2, t_spring_local);
 
    // loop over the Gauss points
    for (int gg = 0; gg != row_nb_gauss_pts; gg++) {
      // get area and integration weight
      double w = t_w * getArea();
 
      auto t_row_base_func = row_data.getFTensor0N(gg, 0);
 
      for (int rr = 0; rr != row_nb_dofs / 3; rr++) {
        auto t_col_base_func = col_data.getFTensor0N(gg, 0);
        for (int cc = 0; cc != col_nb_dofs / 3; cc++) {
          auto assemble_m = get_tensor2(locKs, rr, cc);
          assemble_m(i, j) +=
              w * t_row_base_func * t_col_base_func * t_spring_global(i, j);
          ++t_col_base_func;
        }
        ++t_row_base_func;
      }
      // move to next integration weight
      ++t_w;
    }
 
    // Add computed values of spring stiffness to the global LHS matrix
    Mat B = getFEMethod()->ksp_B != PETSC_NULL ? getFEMethod()->ksp_B
                                               : getFEMethod()->snes_B;
    CHKERR MatSetValues(B, row_nb_dofs, &*row_data.getIndices().begin(),
                        col_nb_dofs, &*col_data.getIndices().begin(),
                        &locKs(0, 0), ADD_VALUES);
 
    // is symmetric
    if (row_side != col_side || row_type != col_type) {
      transLocKs.resize(col_nb_dofs, row_nb_dofs, false);
      noalias(transLocKs) = trans(locKs);
 
      CHKERR MatSetValues(B, col_nb_dofs, &*col_data.getIndices().begin(),
                          row_nb_dofs, &*row_data.getIndices().begin(),
                          &transLocKs(0, 0), ADD_VALUES);
    }
 
    MoFEMFunctionReturn(0);
  }
};

Other functions

Declaration of spring elements

This function declares the spring element allowing the implementation of the spring element in the main program of a module become more straightforward.

MoFEMErrorCode
MetaSpringBC::addSpringElements(MoFEM::Interface &m_field,
                                const std::string field_name,
                                const std::string mesh_nodals_positions) {
  MoFEMFunctionBegin;
 
  // Define boundary element that operates on rows, columns and data of a
  // given field
  CHKERR m_field.add_finite_element("SPRING");
  CHKERR m_field.modify_finite_element_add_field_row("SPRING", field_name);
  CHKERR m_field.modify_finite_element_add_field_col("SPRING", field_name);
  CHKERR m_field.modify_finite_element_add_field_data("SPRING", field_name);
  if (m_field.check_field(mesh_nodals_positions)) {
    CHKERR m_field.modify_finite_element_add_field_data("SPRING",
                                                        mesh_nodals_positions);
  }
  // Add entities to that element, here we add all triangles with SPRING_BC
  // from cubit
  for (_IT_CUBITMESHSETS_BY_SET_TYPE_FOR_LOOP_(m_field, BLOCKSET, bit)) {
    if (bit->getName().compare(0, 9, "SPRING_BC") == 0) {
      CHKERR m_field.add_ents_to_finite_element_by_type(bit->getMeshset(),
                                                        MBTRI, "SPRING");
    }
  }
 
  MoFEMFunctionReturn(0);
}

Pushing operators to finite element instances

With same motivation as the previous function, this function which pushes implemented operators (OpSpringKs, OpSpringFs) to the finite element instances makes the implementation in different module easier.

MoFEMErrorCode MetaSpringBC::setSpringOperators(
    MoFEM::Interface &m_field,
    boost::shared_ptr<FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore> fe_spring_lhs_ptr,
    boost::shared_ptr<FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore> fe_spring_rhs_ptr,
    const std::string field_name, const std::string mesh_nodals_positions) {
  MoFEMFunctionBegin;
 
  // Push operators to instances for springs
  // loop over blocks
  boost::shared_ptr<DataAtIntegrationPtsSprings> commonDataPtr =
      boost::make_shared<DataAtIntegrationPtsSprings>(m_field);
  CHKERR commonDataPtr->getParameters();
 
  for (auto &sitSpring : commonDataPtr->mapSpring) {
    fe_spring_lhs_ptr->getOpPtrVector().push_back(
        new OpSpringKs(commonDataPtr, sitSpring.second, field_name));
 
    fe_spring_rhs_ptr->getOpPtrVector().push_back(
        new OpCalculateVectorFieldValues<3>(field_name, commonDataPtr->xAtPts));
    fe_spring_rhs_ptr->getOpPtrVector().push_back(
        new OpCalculateVectorFieldValues<3>(mesh_nodals_positions,
                                            commonDataPtr->xInitAtPts));
    fe_spring_rhs_ptr->getOpPtrVector().push_back(
        new OpSpringFs(commonDataPtr, sitSpring.second, field_name));
  }
  MoFEMFunctionReturn(0);
}

Transformation of the spring

stiffnesses between local and global coordinates

This functions allows the transformation of the spring stiffnesses from local coordinate associated with the element face, where normal ( \(k_n\)) and in-plane (tangent, \(k_t\)) stiffnesses are initially defined, to the global coordinate.

FTensor::Tensor2<double, 3, 3> MetaSpringBC::transformLocalToGlobal(
    FTensor::Tensor1<double, 3> t_normal_local,
    FTensor::Tensor1<double, 3> t_tangent1_local,
    FTensor::Tensor1<double, 3> t_tangent2_local,
    FTensor::Tensor2<double, 3, 3> t_spring_local) {
 
  // FTensor indices
  FTensor::Index<'i', 3> i;
  FTensor::Index<'j', 3> j;
  FTensor::Index<'k', 3> k;
  FTensor::Index<'l', 3> l;
 
  // Global base vectors
  FTensor::Tensor1<double, 3> t_e1(1., 0., 0.);
  FTensor::Tensor1<double, 3> t_e2(0., 1., 0.);
  FTensor::Tensor1<double, 3> t_e3(0., 0., 1.);
 
  // Direction cosines
  auto get_cosine = [&](auto x, auto xp) {
    return (x(i) * xp(i)) / (sqrt(x(i) * x(i)) * sqrt(xp(i) * xp(i)));
  };
 
  // Transformation matrix (tensor)
  FTensor::Tensor2<double, 3, 3> t_transformation_matrix(
      get_cosine(t_e1, t_normal_local), get_cosine(t_e1, t_tangent1_local),
      get_cosine(t_e1, t_tangent2_local), get_cosine(t_e2, t_normal_local),
      get_cosine(t_e2, t_tangent1_local), get_cosine(t_e2, t_tangent2_local),
      get_cosine(t_e3, t_normal_local), get_cosine(t_e3, t_tangent1_local),
      get_cosine(t_e3, t_tangent2_local));
 
  // Spring stiffness in global coordinate, Q*ls*Q^T
  FTensor::Tensor2<double, 3, 3> t_spring_global;
  t_spring_global(i, j) = t_transformation_matrix(i, k) * t_spring_local(k, l) *
                          t_transformation_matrix(j, l);
 
  return t_spring_global;
};

Sample applications

With the spring element developed, the boundary condition employing elastic spring to model the interaction between the structure of interest and surrounding environment can be applied to any existing solid problems. For demonstration purposes, the following part presents how spring elements are added to the linear and nonlinear elasticity problems, i.e. elasticity.cpp and arc_length_nonlinear_elasticity.cpp, and how the inclusion of spring boundary condition affects the responses of the structure bearing external loads.

For numerical examples, a rod with rectangular cross section will be used. The input for the geometry and mesh of a rod with spring boundary condition as follows

Simple journal script which can be used in Cubit to generate the rod geometry and mesh
reset

brick x 1.2 y 1.4 z 4

#rotate Volume 1 angle 70 about X include_merged

{young_modulus = 10}

{poisson_ratio = 0}

block 1 volume all

block 1 name 'MAT_ELASTIC'

block 1 attribute count 2

block 1 attribute index 1 {young_modulus}

block 1 attribute index 2 {poisson_ratio}

# Boundary conditions

#create displacement on vertex 6 dof 1 dof 2 fix 0

#create displacement on vertex 8 dof 1 fix 0

create pressure on surface 1 magnitude 12

# Spring

{spring_stiffness_normal = 5}

{spring_stiffness_tangent = 100}

block 4 surface 2

block 4 name 'SPRING_BC'

block 4 attribute count 2

block 4 attribute index 1 {spring_stiffness_normal}

block 4 attribute index 2 {spring_stiffness_tangent}

volume all scheme Tetmesh

volume all size auto factor 10

mesh volume all

save as "/Users/username/mofem_install/mofem-cephas/mofem/users_modules/basic_finite_elements/nonlinear_elasticity/spring_rod.cub" overwrite
The mesh of the rod can be found in Figure 2 where the translation in x and y directions of two vertices at the bottom surface are fixed to avoid rigid body rotation and the spring is applied at the bottom surface.

Figure 2: Mesh of a rod with pressure on the top surface and the boundary condition imposed on the bottom surface.

Elasticity problem

In order to include spring element in the linear elesticity problem elasticity.cpp, the following lines of code are needed in the main program.

The header files for spring element implementation are embedded in BasicFiniteElements.hpp (directly included) and All.cpp (via CMake)
#include <BasicFiniteElements.hpp>
Declaration of the spring element
// Add spring boundary condition applied on surfaces.

// This is only declaration not implementation.

CHKERR MetaSpringBC::addSpringElements(m_field, "DISPLACEMENT",

"MESH_NODE_POSITIONS");
Implementation of spring element by creating new instances and calling function MetaSpringBC::setSpringOperators to push operators to them
// Implementation of spring element

// Create new instances of face elements for springs

boost::shared_ptr<FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore> fe_spring_lhs_ptr(

new FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore(m_field));

boost::shared_ptr<FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore> fe_spring_rhs_ptr(

new FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore(m_field));

CHKERR MetaSpringBC::setSpringOperators(m_field, fe_spring_lhs_ptr,

fe_spring_rhs_ptr, "DISPLACEMENT",

"MESH_NODE_POSITIONS");
Assign global matrix and vector to which springs contribute
fe_spring_lhs_ptr->ksp_B = Aij;

fe_spring_rhs_ptr->ksp_f = F;
Loop over the elements to calculate the contribution of the spring boundary condition to the RHS and LHS and assemble them
// Assemble springs

CHKERR DMoFEMLoopFiniteElements(dm, "SPRING", fe_spring_lhs_ptr);

CHKERR DMoFEMLoopFiniteElements(dm, "SPRING", fe_spring_rhs_ptr);

Once the additional lines of code are added to include spring element to the linear elasticity module elasticity.cpp, the test using above rod model with springs is conducted. The displacement results using finite element analysis is presented in Figure 3. The command line that has been used to run this test is as follows

./elasticity -my_file spring_rod.cub -my_order 2 -ksp_type gmres -pc_type asm -sub_pc_type lu

Figure 3: Linear displacement result of the rod.

The hand calculation for the displacement of a point on the bottom surface where the spring is applied can be done as follows

\[ u = \frac{{F\left( {{A_F}} \right)}}{{k_s\left( {{A_k}} \right)}} = \frac{{p \times {A_F}}}{{{k_sz} \times {A_k}}} = \frac{{12 \times \left( {1.2 \times 1.4} \right)}}{{5 \times \left( {1.2 \times 1.4} \right)}} = 2.4 \]

where \( p \) and \( k_z \) are the pressure and spring stiffness in z direction, respectively. Meanwhile, \( A_F \) and \( A_k \) represent the areas where pressure and spring are applied, respectively. As expected, the hand calculated result is consistent with that shown in Figure 3.

Nonlinear elasticity problem

Similar to the previous application, in order to include spring element in the nonlinear elesticity problem arc_length_nonlinear_elasticity.cpp, the following lines of code are needed in the main program.

The header files for spring element implementation are embedded in BasicFiniteElements.hpp (directly included) and All.cpp (via CMake)
#include <BasicFiniteElements.hpp>
Declaration of the spring element
// Add spring boundary condition applied on surfaces.

// This is only declaration not implementation.

CHKERR MetaSpringBC::addSpringElements(m_field, "SPATIAL_POSITION",

"MESH_NODE_POSITIONS");
Set finite element for spring boundary condition
CHKERR m_field.modify_problem_add_finite_element("ELASTIC_MECHANICS",

"SPRING");
Implementation of spring element by creating new instances and calling function MetaSpringBC::setSpringOperators to push operators to them
// Implementation of spring element

// Create new instances of face elements for springs

boost::shared_ptr<FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore> fe_spring_lhs_ptr(

new FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore(m_field));

boost::shared_ptr<FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore> fe_spring_rhs_ptr(

new FaceElementForcesAndSourcesCore(m_field));

CHKERR MetaSpringBC::setSpringOperators(

m_field, fe_spring_lhs_ptr, fe_spring_rhs_ptr, "SPATIAL_POSITION",

"MESH_NODE_POSITIONS");
Loop over the elements to calculate the contribution of the spring boundary condition to the RHS and LHS
loops_to_do_Rhs.push_back(

SnesCtx::PairNameFEMethodPtr("SPRING", fe_spring_rhs_ptr.get()));

loops_to_do_Mat.push_back(

SnesCtx::PairNameFEMethodPtr("SPRING", fe_spring_lhs_ptr.get()));

The nonlinear analysis of the rod is run using the command line with the output of the first two load steps as follows

./arc_length_nonlinear_elasticity -my_file spring_rod.cub -my_sr 1e-6 -my_ms 5 -snes_converged_reason -my_order 2

    dlambda = 9.1847e-08 dx2 = 0.0000e+00
    res_lambda = 0.0000e+00
    lambda = 9.1847e-08
  0 SNES Function norm 1.000000000004e-06 
    diag = 2.1775e-05
    Flambda2 = 1.1854e+02
    lambda = 9.1847e-08
    fnorm = 2.3303e-13
    dlambda = 9.1847e-08 dx2 = 4.1486e-12
    res_lambda = 0.0000e+00
    lambda = 9.1847e-08
  1 SNES Function norm 2.330272528283e-13 
Nonlinear solve converged due to CONVERGED_FNORM_ABS iterations 1
number of Newton iterations = 1
    Set alpha = 1.0000e+00 beta = 0.0000e+00
    dlambda = 9.1847e-08 dx2 = 4.1486e-12
    Set s = 2.0368e-06
Load Step 2 step_size = 2.0368e-06 dlambda0 = 9.1847e-08 dx_nrm = 2.0368e-06 dx2 = 4.1486e-12
    lambda = 9.1847e-08, 1.8369e-07 (9.1847e-08)
    Flambda2 = 1.1854e+02
    lambda = 1.8369e-07
    fnorm = 9.3481e-13
    dlambda = 9.1847e-08 dx2 = 4.1486e-12
    res_lambda = 0.0000e+00
    lambda = 1.8369e-07
  0 SNES Function norm 9.348064473394e-13 
Nonlinear solve converged due to CONVERGED_FNORM_ABS iterations 0
number of Newton iterations = 0

Figure 4 presents the nonlinear displacement illustration of the rod after the first load step.

Figure 4: Nonlinear displacement result of the rod.

The hand calculation for the nonlinear displacement after the first load step of a point on the bottom surface where the spring is applied can be done as follows

\[ u = \frac{{F\left( {{A_F}} \right)}} {{k_s\left( {{A_k}} \right)}} = \frac{{\lambda \times p \times {A_F}}}{{{k_sz} \times {A_k}}} = \frac{{9.1847 \times 10^{-08} \times 12 \times \left({1.2 \times 1.4} \right)}}{{5 \times \left( {1.2 \times 1.4} \right)}} = 2.204\times 10^{-07} \]

where \( \lambda \) is the load factor being used in each load step which can be found in the output as \( lambda \). As expected, the numerical and hand-calculated results are consistent.

As an additional demonstration of the effect of spring boundary conditions on the structural response, the analysis result for a L-shaped structure is conducted. Figure 5 shows the geometry and the mesh while Figure 6 presents the comparison of the results for different boundary conditions applied at a face of the L-shaped structure. There are two analyses where springs with different stiffness magnitude in normal and in-plane local direction are applied. Additionally, another case in which clamp boundary condition is used is also presented. It is worth commenting that the deformed shapes of the structure get bigger are due to the small strain assumption and the solution scaling.