Method of Equivalent Strength Conditions in Composite Structures Evaluations

It is important to know the error or the approximate solution when calculating the strength of elastic composite structures (bodies) using the finite element method (FEM). To construct a sequence of solutions according to the FEM is necessary for the evaluation of the approximation error. It involves the grinding procedure for discrete models. The implementation of the grinding procedure for basic models that take into account the inhomogeneous, micro-homogeneous structures of bodies within the microapproach requires ample computer resources. This paper proposes a method of equivalent strength conditions (MESC) to calculate the static strength of elastic bodies with a non-uniform, microuniform regular structure. The calculation of composite bodies strength according to the MESC is reduced to the calculation of isotropic homogeneous bodies strength using equivalent strength conditions. Adjusted equivalent strength conditions are used in the numerical implementation of the MESC. They take into account the error of the approximate solutions. If a set of loads is specified for a composite body, then generalized equivalent strength conditions are applied. The FEM-based calculation of composite bodies strength that follows the MESC using multigrid finite elements requires 103 ÷ 105 times less computer memory than a similar calculation using ground basic models of composite bodies. The provided example of strength calculation for a beam with an inhomogeneous regular fiber structure using the MESC shows its high efficiency. The main MESC implementation procedures are outlined.