The specified boundary stiffness/force SBSF method for finite element subregion analysis

It is difficult to analyse a large, complex structure in sufficient detail to obtain accurate results everywhere. One approach is simply to refine the whole structure model in the regions of interest. Another approach is to identify a subregion of the structure and develop a separate refined model of the subregion. It is difficult to assure accuracy in this subregion model because of uncertainties in specifying boundary conditions and loading from the whole structure model solution. In the current literature, three methods other than whole model refinement have been described to deal with this problem. These are called the specified boundary displacement method, the linear constraint method and the zooming method. This paper describes a new approach to this problem of modelling subregions. This approach uses the stiffnesses and forces from the whole model solution at the nodes on the boundary of the sub-region model. Accurate displacement and stress solutions are obtained with this method as it takes into account the interaction between the new stiffness of the subregion and the rest of the structure. This approach is similar to substructuring; however, the equations outside the subregion are discarded rather than condensed out, which results in much less computation effort. Examples of the application of this method to the problem of a plate with a centre hole in tensile loading are presented. The results compared favourably with the results of the same problem solved using other methods, with significant improvement in accuracy over the specified boundary displacement method. Also presented are some results from design modification of the subregion which illustrate the potential of this method for redesign application.