Prof. Erdogan Madenci
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
University of Arizona

Peridynamics and Its Applications in the Ansys Framework

ABSTRACT: Since its inception, the nonlocal peridynamic (PD) theory has been extended to address a wide range of challenging problems across various disciplines. Unlike classical partial differential equations that require smoothness in field variables, PD uses integro-differential equations free of spatial derivatives, making it uniquely suited for multi-physics analysis and damage prediction across different scales. While PD excels at predicting failure responses, it is computationally intensive. Conversely, the finite element method (FEM), based on local continuum theory, is computationally robust but struggles with predicting material failure due to undefined field variable derivatives at discontinuities. Coupling PD and FEM leverages the strengths of both approaches, though this integration is complex due to the nonlocal volume constraints in PD and local surface constraints in FEM. This talk presents a novel coupling approach within a commercial finite element analysis framework, Ansys, that resolves these challenges. The method seamlessly integrates PD and FEM regions by sharing nodes along their interface without additional constraints or overlap zones. This approach avoids unphysical concentrations near the interface, making it effective for both steady-state and transient analyses. The coupling strategy is validated through various solutions and is poised to be an invaluable tool for integrating PD into FEM-based engineering design processes.

BIOGRAPHY: Erdogan Madenci has been a professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arizona since 1989. Prior to joining the University of Arizona, he worked at Northrop Corporation, Aerospace Corporation, and the Fraunhofer Institute. Also, he worked at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, NASA Langley Research Center, Sandia National Laboratories, and MIT as part of his sabbatical leaves. He is the lead author of six books on Peridynamics (available in Chinese and Persian) and Finite Element analysis. He serves as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Peridynamics and Nonlocal Modeling and an Associate Editor of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Open Journal of Engineering. He is a Fellow of ASME and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).