FEA Periodic Boundaries

Introduction

Periodic boundary conditions means to run calculations that are periodic in strain in just the x direction, just the y direction, or in both the x and y directions. For axisymmetric problems the calculations can only be periodic in the z direction. Many researchers use symmetry-based displacement conditions for periodic calculations (thinking they are periodic), but that approach cannot handle problems where plane sections do not remain plane even though the structure and strains are periodic. The periodic conditions in NairnFEA are more advanced than simple symmetry conditions and they essential for some problems such as shear strain applied to a periodic composite material.

Theory

The figure shows a mesh of width Δx and height Δx in which the left and right edges are parallel to the y axis and each node on the left edge corresponds to a node on the right edge at the same <yy>y coordinate. If this structure is an element on a large object and periodic in the x direction, it means the the strains are periodic or that:

      [math]\displaystyle{ \varepsilon_{xx}(x+\Delta x,y) = \varepsilon_{xx}(x,y), \qquad \varepsilon_{yy}(x+\Delta x,y) = \varepsilon_{yy}(x,y), \qquad {\rm and} \qquad \gamma_{yx}(x+\Delta x,y) = \gamma_{xy}(x,y) }[/math]

These conditions are satisfied, in the most general sense, if the x and y displacements (u(x,y) and v(x,y)) have the form:

      [math]\displaystyle{ u(x+\Delta x,y) = u(x,y) + k_1 + k_2 y \qquad {\rm and} \qquad v(x+\Delta x,y) = v(x,y) + k_3 - k_2 x }[/math]

If there are n nodes on each edge, these conditions are satisfied if the problem is solved subjected to the following constraints:

      [math]\displaystyle{ u_i(\Delta x,y_i) = u_i(0,y+i) + k_1 + k_2 y_i \qquad {\rm for}\ i=1,\ {\rm to}\ n }[/math]

      [math]\displaystyle{ v_i(\Delta x,y_i) = v_i(0,y+i) + v_1(\Delta x,y_1) - v_1(0,y_1) \qquad {\rm for}\ i=2,\ {\rm to}\ n }[/math]

These conditions are solved by using FEA method of Lagrangian multipliers. All x displacements on the right are replaced by constraints as are all y (except v_1(Δx,y_1), which remains a degree of freedom. In addition, k₁ and k₂ are introduced as two new degrees of freedom. It is better to rewrite these degrees of freedom using

      [math]\displaystyle{ k_1 + k_2 y_i = \Delta u + {du\over dy}(y_i - \left\langle y\right\rangle) }[/math]

where <y> is the mean y on the edges. Physically, Δu the mean displacement jump across the modeled object, which results in an average x direction strain:

      [math]\displaystyle{ \left\langle \varepsilon_{xx}\right\rangle = {\Delta u\over \Delta x} }[/math]

Physically du/dy is the slope (or rotation) of the right edge relative to the left edge. Like nodal displacements, these new constants resulting from periodic boundary conditions can be degrees of freedom (i.e., output of the analysis) or can be inputs (e.g., boundary conditions that impose an average strain or relative rotation to the edges)

Using the same analysis on problems that are periodic only in the y (or the Z of axisymmetric analysis) give a series of constraints to displacements on the nodes at the top of the object relative to the displacements on the bottom of the object. The new constraints lead to two new degrees of freedom - Δv and dvdx. Physically, Δv is the mean displacement jump across the modeled object, which results in an average y direction strain:

      [math]\displaystyle{ \left\langle \varepsilon_{yy}\right\rangle = {\Delta v\over \Delta y} }[/math]

Physically dv/dx is the slope (or rotation) of the top edge relative to the bottom edge.

Finally, if the problem is periodic in both direction, the four new degrees of freedom relate to average axial strains (as defined above for each direction) and to average shear strain by:

      [math]\displaystyle{ \left\langle \gamma_{xy}\right\rangle = {1\over \Delta y}{du\over dy} + {1\over \Delta x}{dv\over dx} }[/math]

For axisymmetric problems, the model cannot be periodic in the R direction. It can be periodic in the Z direction, but to maintain periodicity in the hoop stress (ε_θθ) to top and bottom edges must remain aligned. In other words, the rotational degree of freedom (dw/dr) must be zero (i.e., it is not a degree of freedom). The average axial strain is:

      [math]\displaystyle{ \left\langle \varepsilon_{ZZ}\right\rangle = {\Delta w\over \Delta Z} }[/math]

Input Commands

The dof attribute defines the periodic direction. It must be x (or 1) or y (or 2) or z (or 3). The delta, slope, and shear attributes let you specify an average displacement jump, rotation, and/or shear between the two ends in the periodic direction(s). If any are left unspecified, they will be degrees of freedom. When specified, they correspond to globally applied strains or rotation. The meanings of the parameters are slightly different depending on whether just one direction or both directions are periodic: