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Mesh Convergence

The document discusses mesh convergence in finite element analysis. It explains that accuracy of finite element solutions depends on the discretization of the domain or element order used. A mesh convergence study balances accuracy and computational efficiency by refining the mesh until subsequent refinements do not substantially change results. The document describes measuring convergence through displacement, strain, and stress errors. It also outlines various metrics for evaluating errors like percentage error in energy norm, element stress deviations, and maximum/minimum stress bounds.

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260 views11 pages

Mesh Convergence

The document discusses mesh convergence in finite element analysis. It explains that accuracy of finite element solutions depends on the discretization of the domain or element order used. A mesh convergence study balances accuracy and computational efficiency by refining the mesh until subsequent refinements do not substantially change results. The document describes measuring convergence through displacement, strain, and stress errors. It also outlines various metrics for evaluating errors like percentage error in energy norm, element stress deviations, and maximum/minimum stress bounds.

Uploaded by

Om Petel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mesh Convergence

Presented By :
HEMESH PATIL
Valeo Intern
Introduction
Accuracy of the solution of a FE problem depends on the discretization of
the domain or the order of the finite element being used.
Accuracy of the solution can be increased either by a fine FE mesh or by
higher order element.
To converge the solution to the correct value, Mesh should be properly
discretized or a proper order element should be selected.
But all these actions should be done considering the computational time.
This whole activity of selection of a proper mesh by balancing accuracy of
the solution as well as computational efficiency is called mesh convergence
study.
Continued..
The Fig 1 shows the graph of mesh convergence
study as the Degree of Freedom (Number of
Elements) increased at some point the solution
becomes converged.
At least three points need to be considered and as
the mesh density increases, the quantity of
interest starts to converge to a particular value.
If two subsequent mesh refinements do not
change the result substantially, then one can
assume that the result has converged.
Fig 1
How to Measure Convergence
Convergence is measured with the help of errors in the solution.
Any finite element analysis subjects to errors which are
User Error
Modeling Error
Mesh Discretization Error
Mesh Discretization Errors are the main key for the Mesh
Convergence Study.
3 Types of main Errors associate with the FE solution
Error of the Displacement
Error of the strain
Error of the Stress
Continued..
Error of Displacement

=
= Actual Displacement

= FE Displacement
Error of Strain

=
= Actual Strain

= FE Strain
Error of Stress

=
= Actual Stress

= FE Stress
Posteriori Estimation of Errors
Stress analysis:
Percentage error in energy norm (SEPC)
Element stress deviations (SDSG)
Element energy error (SERR)
Maximum and minimum stress bounds (SMXB, SMNB)
Thermal analysis:
Percentage error in energy norm (TEPC)
Element thermal gradient deviations (TDSG)
Element energy error (TERR)
SEPC
SEPC is rough estimate of the stress error over the entire set of
selected elements.
Generally value of SEPC should be 10% or less than 10%
12
= 100
+

= Percentage Error in energy norm


= Enery error over the entire model
= Strain Energy over the entire model
SDSG
SDSG is a measure which an elements stress disagrees with the stress
averages at its nodes.

= maximum absolute value of any componant of


for all nodes connecting to node

A value of necessarily high SDSG is not bad, especially if it is a small


percentage of the nominal stresses in the structure.
SERR
SERR is the energy associated with the stress mismatches at the nodes
of the element. This is the basic error measure from which the other
error quantities are derived.
SERR has units of energy.
SERR high means the mesh need to refined further.
SERR at stress singularities needs to unselected.
1
=
2

=
= avg stress vector at node n
= stress vector of node n element i
SMXB and SMNB
The stress bounds can help you determine the potential effect of mesh
discretization error on the maximum stress.
They are displayed on stress contour plots in the legend column as
SMXB (upper bound) and SMNB (lower bound).

= min(,

= max(, +


, = avg stress quantity j at node n
= root mean square of all from
elements connecting to node n
Reference

Mesh Discretization Error and Criteria for Accuracy of Finite Element


Solutions ,Chandresh Shah ,Cummins
Finite Element Analysis Theory and Applications with ANSYS by
Saeed Moaveni.
ANSYS help.

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