An exact zooming method for finite element analyses

Abstract

An exact zooming technique which employs static condensation and exact structural reanalysis methods was developed. Successive application of static condensation reduces the system to one that is only associated with the degrees of freedom (dof) of the original model. Application of an exact static reanalysis technique permits the displacements at the dof of the original model that are contained in the zoomed portion of the structure to be obtained first. The response external to the zoom, as well as the response of additional dof within various levels of zooming, is computed. With the triangular factor of the stiffness matrix of the original system available, this approach involves only the solution of a system of equations of small order.