Hexahedral-Based Smoothed Finite Element Method Using Volumetric-Deviatoric Split for Contact Problem

A first-order hexahedral (H8)-element-based smoothed finite element method (S-FEM) with a volumetric-deviatoric split for nearly incompressible materials was developed for highly accurate deformation analysis of large-strain problems. In the proposed method, the isovolumetric part of the deformation gradient at the integration point is derived from F based on the beta finite element method (i.e., an S-FEM), whereas the volumetric part of the deformation gradient is derived from F on the basis of the standard FEM with reduced integration elements. This method targets H8 elements that are automatically generated from tetrahedral elements, which makes it quite practical. This is because the FE mesh can be created automatically even if the targeted object has a complex shape. This method eliminates the phenomena of volumetric and shear locking, and reduces pressure oscillations. The proposed method was implemented in the commercial FE software Abaqus and applied to the large-deformation contact problem to verify its effectiveness.