Efficient Roll-Forming Simulation Using Non-Conformal Meshes with Hanging Nodes Handled by Lagrange Multipliers

Simulations of industrial roll-forming processes using the finite element method typically require an extremely fine discretization to obtain accurate results. Running those models using a classical finite element method usually leads to suboptimal meshes where some regions are unnecessarily over-re...

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Main Authors: Cédric Laruelle, Romain Boman, Luc Papeleux, Jean-Philippe Ponthot
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-05-01
Series:Metals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/5/895
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author Cédric Laruelle
Romain Boman
Luc Papeleux
Jean-Philippe Ponthot
author_facet Cédric Laruelle
Romain Boman
Luc Papeleux
Jean-Philippe Ponthot
author_sort Cédric Laruelle
collection DOAJ
description Simulations of industrial roll-forming processes using the finite element method typically require an extremely fine discretization to obtain accurate results. Running those models using a classical finite element method usually leads to suboptimal meshes where some regions are unnecessarily over-refined. An alternative approach consists in creating non-conformal meshes where a number of nodes, called hanging nodes, do not match the nodes of adjacent elements. Such flexibility allows for more freedom in mesh refinement, which results in the creation of more efficient simulations. Consequently, the computational cost of the models is decreased with little to no impact on the accuracy of the results. Handling the generated hanging nodes can, however, be challenging. In this work, details are first given about the implementation of these particular meshes in an implicit finite element code with a special focus on the treatment of hanging nodes using Lagrange Multipliers. Standard and non-conformal meshes are then compared to experimental measurements on the forming of a U-channel. A more complex roll-forming simulation—a tubular rocker panel—is then showcased as proof of the potential of the method for industrial uses. Our main results show that the proposed method effectively reduces the computational cost of the roll-forming simulations with a negligible impact on their accuracy.
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spelling doaj.art-051e362d9ca440ae9e302a1a6ce789ad2023-11-18T02:27:20ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012023-05-0113589510.3390/met13050895Efficient Roll-Forming Simulation Using Non-Conformal Meshes with Hanging Nodes Handled by Lagrange MultipliersCédric Laruelle0Romain Boman1Luc Papeleux2Jean-Philippe Ponthot3Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumAerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumAerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumAerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumSimulations of industrial roll-forming processes using the finite element method typically require an extremely fine discretization to obtain accurate results. Running those models using a classical finite element method usually leads to suboptimal meshes where some regions are unnecessarily over-refined. An alternative approach consists in creating non-conformal meshes where a number of nodes, called hanging nodes, do not match the nodes of adjacent elements. Such flexibility allows for more freedom in mesh refinement, which results in the creation of more efficient simulations. Consequently, the computational cost of the models is decreased with little to no impact on the accuracy of the results. Handling the generated hanging nodes can, however, be challenging. In this work, details are first given about the implementation of these particular meshes in an implicit finite element code with a special focus on the treatment of hanging nodes using Lagrange Multipliers. Standard and non-conformal meshes are then compared to experimental measurements on the forming of a U-channel. A more complex roll-forming simulation—a tubular rocker panel—is then showcased as proof of the potential of the method for industrial uses. Our main results show that the proposed method effectively reduces the computational cost of the roll-forming simulations with a negligible impact on their accuracy.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/5/895roll-formingfinite element methodnon-conformal mesheshanging nodesLagrange Multipliers
spellingShingle Cédric Laruelle
Romain Boman
Luc Papeleux
Jean-Philippe Ponthot
Efficient Roll-Forming Simulation Using Non-Conformal Meshes with Hanging Nodes Handled by Lagrange Multipliers
Metals
roll-forming
finite element method
non-conformal meshes
hanging nodes
Lagrange Multipliers
title Efficient Roll-Forming Simulation Using Non-Conformal Meshes with Hanging Nodes Handled by Lagrange Multipliers
title_full Efficient Roll-Forming Simulation Using Non-Conformal Meshes with Hanging Nodes Handled by Lagrange Multipliers
title_fullStr Efficient Roll-Forming Simulation Using Non-Conformal Meshes with Hanging Nodes Handled by Lagrange Multipliers
title_full_unstemmed Efficient Roll-Forming Simulation Using Non-Conformal Meshes with Hanging Nodes Handled by Lagrange Multipliers
title_short Efficient Roll-Forming Simulation Using Non-Conformal Meshes with Hanging Nodes Handled by Lagrange Multipliers
title_sort efficient roll forming simulation using non conformal meshes with hanging nodes handled by lagrange multipliers
topic roll-forming
finite element method
non-conformal meshes
hanging nodes
Lagrange Multipliers
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/5/895
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AT lucpapeleux efficientrollformingsimulationusingnonconformalmesheswithhangingnodeshandledbylagrangemultipliers
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