Fractal Multi-Grid Method for Ultra Large Scale Mechanical and Thermal Simulations

The finite element method is a powerful tool to predict not only the mechanical behavior of structures but also the residual stresses and distortions caused by welding. In most problems with engineering interest, the phenomena are three-dimensional in their nature. Generally, the three-dimensional elastic-plastic FE analysis requires very long computational time and large memory size. To overcome this problem, an idea of Fractal Multi-Grid method is proposed. Its potential capability is demonstrated through application to very simple mechanical problems.