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Publication details for Dr Charles Augarde
Augarde, C.E. , Ramage, A. & Staudacher, J. (2006). An element-based displacement preconditioner for linear elasticity problems. Computers and Structures 84(31-32): 2306–2315.- Publication type: Journal papers: academic
- ISSN/ISBN: 0045-7949
- DOI: doi:10.1016/j.compstruc.2006.08.057
- Keywords: iterative solvers, finite elements, elasticity
- View online: Online version
- Durham research online: DRO record
Author(s) from Durham
Abstract
Finite element analysis of problems in structural and geotechnical engineering results in linear
systems where the unknowns are displacements and rotations at nodes. Although the solution of
these systems can be carried out using either direct or iterative methods, in practice the matrices involved
are usually very large and sparse (particularly for 3D problems) so an iterative approach is
often advantageous in terms of both computational time and memory requirements. This memory
saving can be further enhanced if the method used does not require assembly of the full coefficient
matrix during the solution procedure. One disadvantage of iterative methods is the need to apply
preconditioning to improve convergence. In this paper, we review a range of established elementbased
preconditioning methods for linear elastic problems and compare their performance with a
new method based on preconditioning with element displacement components. This new method
appears to offer a significant improvement in performance.