Centro de Investigación de Métodos Computacionales

Abstract Particle Methods are those in which the problem is represented by a discrete number of particles. Each particle moves accordingly with its own mass and the external/internal forces applied to it. Particle Methods may be used for both, discrete and continuous problems. In this paper, a Particle Method is used to solve the continuous fluid mechanics equations. To evaluate the external applied forces on each particle, the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations using a Lagrangian formulation are solved at each time step. The interpolation functions are those used in the Meshless Finite Element Method and the time integration is introduced by an implicit fractional‐step method. In this manner classical stabilization terms used in the momentum equations are unnecessary due to lack of convective terms in the Lagrangian formulation. Once the forces are evaluated, the particles move independently of the mesh. All the information is transmitted by the particles. Fluid–structure interaction problems including free‐fluid‐surfaces, breaking waves and fluid particle separation may be easily solved with this methodology. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

We present a general formulation for the analysis of fluid-structure interaction problems using the particle finite element method (PFEM). The key feature of the PFEM is the use of a Lagrangian description to model the motion of nodes (particles) in both the fluid and the structure domains. Nodes are thus viewed as particles which can freely move and even separate from the main analysis domain representing, for instance, the effect of water drops. A mesh connects the nodes defining the discretized domain where the governing equations, expressed in an integral form, are solved as in the standard FEM. The necessary stabilization for dealing with the incompressibility condition in the fluid is introduced via the finite calculus (FIC) method. A fractional step scheme for the transient coupled fluid-structure solution is described. Examples of application of the PFEM method to solve a number of fluid-structure interaction problems involving large motions of the free surface and splashing of waves are presented.

MPI for Python provides bindings of the message passing interface (MPI) standard for the Python programming language and allows any Python program to exploit multiple processors.

Abstract A meshless method is presented which has the advantages of the good meshless methods concerning the ease of introduction of node connectivity in a bounded time of order n , and the condition that the shape functions depend only on the node positions. Furthermore, the method proposed also shares several of the advantages of the finite element method such as: (a) the simplicity of the shape functions in a large part of the domain; (b) C 0 continuity between elements, which allows the treatment of material discontinuities, and (c) ease of introduction of the boundary conditions. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In the Workshop on Computational Personality Recognition (Shared Task), we released two datasets, varying in size and genre, annotated with gold standard personality labels. This allowed participants to evaluate features and learning techniques, and even to compare the performances of their systems for personality recognition on a common benchmark. We had 8 participants to the task. In this paper we discuss the results and compare them to previous literature.

Abstract Some new aspects of the continuum strong discontinuity approach (CSDA) to model material failure in geomaterials are addressed. A new global algorithm, for tracking multiple crack lines/surfaces in 2D/3D cases is proposed. It is based on solving a simple heat conduction‐like problem accompanying the standard mechanical algorithm. A viscous perturbation method on the crack surface is also proposed to remedy the instabilities caused by mutual interactions of multiple developing cracks. A simple procedure to compute the critical time step that ensures algorithmic uniqueness is then provided. Numerical simulations of two‐ and three‐dimensional problems displaying a multi‐crack pattern are finally presented. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This paper proposes a family of Lie group time integrators for the simulation of flexible multibody systems. The method provides an elegant solution to the rotation parametrization problem. As an extension of the classical generalized-α method for dynamic systems, it can deal with constrained equations of motion. Second-order accuracy is demonstrated in the unconstrained case. The performance is illustrated on several critical benchmarks of rigid body systems with high rotation speeds, and second-order accuracy is evidenced in all of them, even for constrained cases. The remarkable simplicity of the new algorithms opens some interesting perspectives for real-time applications, model-based control, and optimization of multibody systems.

The paper proposes some new computational strategies for affordably solving multiscale fracture problems through a FE2 approach. To take into account the mechanical effects induced by fracture at the microstructure level the Representative Volume Element (RVE), assumed constituted by an elastic matrix and inclusions, is endowed with a large set of cohesive softening bands providing a good representation of the possible microstructure crack paths. The RVE response is then homogenized in accordance with a model previously developed by the authors and upscaled to the macro-scale level as a continuum stress–strain constitutive equation, which is then used in a conventional framework of a finite element modeling of propagating fracture. For reduced order modeling (ROM) purposes, the RVE boundary value problem is first formulated in displacement fluctuations and used, via the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD), to find a low-dimension space for solving the reduced problem. A domain separation strategy is proposed as a first technique for model order reduction: unconventionally, the low-dimension space is spanned by a basis in terms of fluctuating strains, as primitive kinematic variables, instead of the conventional formulation in terms of displacement fluctuations. The RVE spatial domain is then decomposed into a regular domain (made of the matrix and the inclusions) and a singular domain (constituted by cohesive bands), the required RVE boundary conditions are rephrased in terms of strains and imposed via Lagrange multipliers in the corresponding variational problem. Specific low-dimensional strain basis is then derived, independently for each domain, via the POD of the corresponding strain snapshots. Next step consists of developing a hyper-reduced model (HPROM). It is based on a second proposed technique, the Reduced Optimal Quadrature (ROQ) which, again unconventionally, is determined through optimization of the numerical integration of the primitive saddle-point problem arising from the RVE problem, rather than its derived variational equations, and substitutes the conventional Gauss quadrature. The ROQ utilizes a very reduced number of, optimally placed, sampling points, the corresponding weights and placements being evaluated through a greedy algorithm. The resulting low-dimensional and reduced-quadrature variational problem translates into very relevant savings on the computational cost and high computational speed-ups. Particular attention is additionally given to numerical tests and performance evaluations of the new hyper-reduced methodology, by “a-priori” and “a-posteriori” error assessments. Moreover, for the purposes of validation of the present techniques, a real structural problem exhibiting propagating fracture at two-scales is modeled on the basis of the strain injection-based multiscale approach previously developed by the authors. The performance of the proposed strategy, in terms of speed-up vs. error, is deeply analyzed and reported.

Surface electroencephalography is a standard and noninvasive way to measure electrical brain activity. Recent advances in artificial intelligence led to significant improvements in the automatic detection of brain patterns, allowing increasingly faster, more reliable and accessible Brain-Computer Interfaces. Different paradigms have been used to enable the human-machine interaction and the last few years have broad a mark increase in the interest for interpreting and characterizing the "inner voice" phenomenon. This paradigm, called inner speech, raises the possibility of executing an order just by thinking about it, allowing a "natural" way of controlling external devices. Unfortunately, the lack of publicly available electroencephalography datasets, restricts the development of new techniques for inner speech recognition. A ten-participant dataset acquired under this and two others related paradigms, recorded with an acquisition system of 136 channels, is presented. The main purpose of this work is to provide the scientific community with an open-access multiclass electroencephalography database of inner speech commands that could be used for better understanding of the related brain mechanisms.

An analytical solution is computed for the thermal field induced in a semi-infinite body by a moving heat source whose shape was proposed by Goldak et al. for the simulation of welding processes. Owing to its ability to accommodate a wide variety of welding techniques, this model is widely used. Throughout two semi-ellipsoidal volumes, corresponding to the front and the rear parts of the moving source, the heat power density is distributed using a Gaussian function. In the literature, Nguyen et al. have proposed an analytical solution to this problem that is, however, only correct when both semi-ellipsoids are equal (i.e. for a single-ellipsoidal model). The current work presents an extension of the analytical solution of Nguyen et al. to the double-ellipsoidal case. As a special case, the solution for the temperature field induced by a double-elliptical surface heat source is also developed. In order to validate the analytical solutions, the problem is solved using both two- and three-dimensional finite element models in several test-cases. Solutions for double-ellipsoidal and double-elliptical sources are numerically computed and compared with the analytical solutions, while clearly demonstrating the differences with respect to the solution of Nguyen et al. At the same time, the two-dimensional numerical approximation is evaluated in terms of accuracy and computational cost. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract Shaped metal deposition (SMD) is a novel process for rapid prototyping that employs tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding controlled by a robot inside an inert gas chamber to build parts by successive layer deposition. This process can be enhanced through modelling and control. Industries are interested in developing systematized models to explain observed phenomena and to predict processing conditions for process planning and optimization. In this work, thermal and mechanical finite element (FE) modelling of SMD is presented. The thermal problem is solved with linear tetrahedral finite FEs that take into account the liquid/solid phase change phenomenon. The mechanical problem is solved with hexahedral elements with tri‐linear interpolation of displacements and constant interpolation of mean stresses ( Q 1– P 0). Special techniques to account for material addition were developed, based on activation/deactivation of FEs. Numerical tests were conducted to determine the heat source model parameters. An experiment using Ti‐6Al‐4V material was developed to validate the formulation. The test consisted of a TIG‐wash procedure (arc passing without wire feeding to preheat the plate) followed by a single welding layer. The results, including temperatures and residual displacements, are compared with those obtained with the finite element method (FEM) code. Finally, a multilayer SMD numerical example is presented. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Summary Theory and empirical evidence suggest that community invasibility is influenced by propagule pressure, physical stress and biotic resistance from resident species. We studied patterns of exotic and native species richness across the Flooding Pampas of Argentina, and tested for exotic richness correlates with major environmental gradients, species pool size, and native richness, among and within different grassland habitat types. Native and exotic richness were positively correlated across grassland types, increasing from lowland meadows and halophyte steppes, through humid to mesophyte prairies in more elevated topographic positions. Species pool size was positively correlated with local richness of native and exotic plants, being larger for mesophyte and humid prairies. Localities in the more stressful meadow and halophyte steppe habitats contained smaller fractions of their landscape species pools. Native and exotic species numbers decreased along a gradient of increasing soil salinity and decreasing soil depth, and displayed a unimodal relationship with soil organic carbon. When covarying habitat factors were held constant, exotic and native richness residuals were still positively correlated across sites. Within grassland habitat types, exotic and native species richness were positively associated in meadows and halophyte steppes but showed no consistent relationship in the least stressful, prairie habitat types. Functional group composition differed widely between native and exotic species pools. Patterns suggesting biotic resistance to invasion emerged only within humid prairies, where exotic richness decreased with increasing richness of native warm‐season grasses. This negative relationship was observed for other descriptors of invasion such as richness and cover of annual cool‐season forbs, the commonest group of exotics. Our results support the view that ecological factors correlated with differences in invasion success change with the range of environmental heterogeneity encompassed by the analysis. Within narrow habitat ranges, invasion resistance may be associated with either physical stress or resident native diversity. Biotic resistance through native richness, however, appeared to be effective only at intermediate locations along a stress/fertility gradient. We show that certain functional groups, not just total native richness, may be critical to community resistance to invasion. Identifying such native species groups is important for directing management and conservation efforts.

A new approach to two-scale modeling of propagating fracture, based on computational homogenization (FE2), is presented. The specific features of the approach are: (a) a continuum setting for representation of the fracture at both scales based on the Continuum Strong Discontinuity Approach (CSDA), and (b) the use, for the considered non-smooth (discontinuous) problem, of the same computational homogenization framework than for classical smooth cases. As a key issue, the approach retrieves a characteristic length computed at the lower scale, which is exported to the upper one and used therein as a regularization parameter for a propagating strong discontinuity kinematics. This guarantees the correct transfer of fracture energy between scales and the proper dissipation at the upper scale. Representative simulations show that the resulting formulation provides consistent results, which are objective with respect to size and bias of the upper-scale mesh, and with respect to the size of the lower-scale RVE/failure cell, as well as the capability to model propagating cracks at the upper scale, in combination with crack-path-field and strain injection techniques. The continuum character of the approach confers to the formulation a minimal intrusive character, with respect to standard procedures for multi-scale computational homogenization.

Abstract The work focuses on the presently existing families of finite elements with embedded discontinuities and explores the possibilities of obtaining symmetric statically consistent finite elements that alleviate the stress‐locking problem. For this purpose, mixed (reduced integration) and assumed enhanced strain techniques are applied to the basic symmetric four‐noded element. Numerical simulations show the effectiveness of the proposed measures. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

We present unprecedented datasets of current and future projected weather files for building simulations in 15 major cities distributed across 10 climate zones worldwide. The datasets include ambient air temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, direct and diffuse solar irradiance, and wind speed at hourly resolution, which are essential climate elements needed to undertake building simulations. The datasets contain typical and extreme weather years in the EnergyPlus weather file (EPW) format and multiyear projections in comma-separated value (CSV) format for three periods: historical (2001-2020), future mid-term (2041-2060), and future long-term (2081-2100). The datasets were generated from projections of one regional climate model, which were bias-corrected using multiyear observational data for each city. The methodology used makes the datasets among the first to incorporate complex changes in the future climate for the frequency, duration, and magnitude of extreme temperatures. These datasets, created within the IEA EBC Annex 80 "Resilient Cooling for Buildings", are ready to be used for different types of building adaptation and resilience studies to climate change and heatwaves.

Despite the recent interest in the neuroanatomy of inductive reasoning processes, the regional specificity within prefrontal cortex (PFC) for the different mechanisms involved in induction tasks remains to be determined. In this study, we used fMRI to investigate the contribution of PFC regions to rule acquisition (rule search and rule discovery) and rule following. Twenty-six healthy young adult participants were presented with a series of images of cards, each consisting of a set of circles numbered in sequence with one colored blue. Participants had to predict the position of the blue circle on the next card. The rules that had to be acquired pertained to the relationship among succeeding stimuli. Responses given by subjects were categorized in a series of phases either tapping rule acquisition (responses given up to and including rule discovery) or rule following (correct responses after rule acquisition). Mid-dorsolateral PFC (mid-DLPFC) was active during rule search and remained active until successful rule acquisition. By contrast, rule following was associated with activation in temporal, motor, and medial/anterior prefrontal cortex. Moreover, frontopolar cortex (FPC) was active throughout the rule acquisition and rule following phases before a rule became familiar. We attributed activation in mid-DLPFC to hypothesis generation and in FPC to integration of multiple separate inferences. The present study provides evidence that brain activation during inductive reasoning involves a complex network of frontal processes and that different subregions respond during rule acquisition and rule following phases.

Abstract Taking the strong discontinuity approach as a framework for modelling displacement discontinuities and strain localization phenomena, this work extends previous results in infinitesimal strain settings to finite deformation scenarios. By means of the strong discontinuity analysis, and taking isotropic damage models as target continuum (stress–strain) constitutive equation, projected discrete (tractions–displacement jumps) constitutive models are derived, together with the strong discontinuity conditions that restrict the stress states at the discontinuous regime. A variable bandwidth model, to automatically induce those strong discontinuity conditions, and a discontinuous bifurcation procedure, to determine the initiation and propagation of the discontinuity, are briefly sketched. The large strain counterpart of a non‐symmetric finite element with embedded discontinuities, frequently considered in the strong discontinuity approach for infinitesimal strains, is then presented. Finally, some numerical experiments display the theoretical issues, and emphasize the role of the large strain kinematics in the obtained results. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

SUMMARY The aim of this work is to present a new model based on the volume of fluid method and the algebraic slip mixture model in order to solve multiphase gas–fluid flows with different interface scales and the transition among them. The interface scale is characterized by a measure of the grid, which acts as a geometrical filter and is related with the accuracy in the solution; in this sense, the presented coupled model allows to reduce the grid requirements for a given accuracy. With this objective in mind, a generalization of the algebraic slip mixture model is proposed to solve problems involving small‐scale and large‐scale interfaces in an unified framework taking special care in preserving the conservativeness of the fluxes. This model is implemented using the OpenFOAM ® libraries to generate a tool capable of solving large problems on high‐performance computing facilities. Several examples are solved as a validation for the presented model, including new quantitative measurements to assess the advantages of the method. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This work proposes a temperature-based finite element model for transient heat conduction involving phase-change. Like preceding temperature-based models, it is characterized by the discontinuous spatial integration over the elements affected by the phase-change. Using linear triangles or tetrahedrals, integration can be performed in a closed analytical way, assuring an exact evaluation of the discrete balance equation. Because of its unconditional stability, an Euler-backward time-stepping scheme is implemented. A crucial fact is the computation of the exact tangent matrices for the Newton–Raphson solution of the non-linear system of discretized equations. Efficiency of the model is tested by means of the results obtained for the Neumann problem and the solidification of a steel ingot. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to highlight the possibilities of a novel Lagrangian formulation in dealing with the solution of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations with very large time steps. Design/methodology/approach: The design of the paper is based on introducing the origin of this novel numerical method, originally inspired on the Particle Finite Element Method (PFEM), summarizing the previously published theory in its moving mesh version. Afterwards its extension to fixed mesh version is introduced, showing some details about the implementation. Findings: The authors have found that even though this method was originally designed to deal with heterogeneous or free-surface flows, it can be competitive with Eulerian alternatives, even in their range of optimal application in terms of accuracy, with an interesting robustness allowing to use large time steps in a stable way. Originality/value: With this objective in mind, the authors have chosen a number of benchmark examples and have proved that the proposed algorithm provides results which compare favourably, both in terms of solution time and accuracy achieved, with alternative approaches, implemented in in-house and commercial codes.