Convergence and Accuracy

GE393 Computer-Aided Design, Analysis and Prototyping

Rationale & Definition

Discrete FEA model more rigid than actual

geometric continuum. With successive mesh refinement, FEA model stiffness begins to approach actual stiffness. Convergence refers to the process of successively refining a mesh in order to produce optimal FEA results. Least ambiguous indicator of accuracy is a comparison between results after one or more convergence runs.

Understanding Convergence
Area under curve analogy

As number of nodes increases, so does

flexibility of structure Increased flexibility means larger deformations, strains, and even stresses Stress rises as mesh density increases, up to a practical limit

Convergence Assessment
Convergence best

described as percent change in result of interest (e.g., Von Mises Stress) between convergence runs

Error Estimation
FEA error estimation refers to the relative

differences between results across an element edge or at a node

Node

Element

Convergence Dependencies
Convergence results, as well as the success

of a convergence run, depend upon:

Result converged on

Fundamental quantities (e.g., displacement, temperature) are well-behaved, easy to converge on Derived quantities (e.g., stress, heat flux) are nonlinear responders, may not converge smoothly

Element quality Loading

Extreme case: no load any mesh will do

Scoping

Singularities
Singularities arise from: Unrealistic boundary conditions (e.g., point/edge loads and constraints) Geometric discontinuities Singularities cause

convergence problems

Stress = Force/Area

As element area get smaller, fictitious (divide by zero) stresses arise

Divergence

Overcoming Singularities
Only use results some distance from singularity St. Venants Principle stress and deflection far from the applied load can be represented by a statically equivalent loading scenario Leave fillets and other model discontinuity smoothers

unsuppressed Converge on geometry result some distance away from singularity - Scoping

St. Venants Principle

Suppress Features

Scoping
In general, scope in Design Simulation refers to

geometry to which an environment object (e.g., load or support) is applied Design Simulation also allows a result object (e.g., Von Mises stress) to be scoped to a specific region (part, surface, edge, vertex) Result scoping impacts convergence. Mesh refinement does not occur outside the scope for a given convergence control

Scoping Example

Convergence and Accuracy

GE393 Computer-Aided Design, Analysis and Prototyping