Papers by Louie Maurice Balderama
International Journal for …, Jan 1, 2002
A methodology for solving three-dimensional crack problems with geometries that are independent o... more A methodology for solving three-dimensional crack problems with geometries that are independent of the mesh is described. The method is based on the extended ÿnite element method, in which the crack discontinuity is introduced as a Heaviside step function via a partition of unity. In addition, branch functions are introduced for all elements containing the crack front. The branch functions include asymptotic near-tip ÿelds that improve the accuracy of the method. The crack geometry is described by two signed distance functions, which in turn can be deÿned by nodal values. Consequently, no explicit representation of the crack is needed. Examples for three-dimensional elastostatic problems are given and compared to analytic and benchmark solutions. The method is readily extendable to inelastic fracture problems. This paper and a companion paper present further developments of the extended ÿnite element method (X-FEM) for modelling cracks and crack growth. The extended ÿnite element method alleviates much of the burden associated with mesh generation for objects with cracks by not requiring the ÿnite elements to conform to the crack surface. Moreover, it provides a convenient way for incorporating near-tip asymptotic ÿelds, so that good accuracy can be obtained for elastic fracture with relatively coarse meshes around the crack.
Int. J. Numer. Meth. Engng, Jan 1, 1999
The Energy Citations Database (ECD) provides access to historical and current research (1948 to t... more The Energy Citations Database (ECD) provides access to historical and current research (1948 to the present) from the Department of Energy (DOE) and predecessor agencies.
Research in Engineering Design, Jan 1, 1989
Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica. Supplementum, Jan 1, 1989
From the mechanical point of view the spinal system is highly complex, containing a multitude of ... more From the mechanical point of view the spinal system is highly complex, containing a multitude of components, passive and active. In fact, even if the active components (the muscles) were exchanged by passive springs, the total number of elements considerably exceeds the minimum needed to maintain static equilibrium. In other words, the system is statically highly indeterminate. The particular role of the active components at static equilibrium is to enable a virtually arbitrary choice of posture, independent of the distribution and magnitude of the outer load albeit within physiological limits. Simultaneously this implies that ordinary procedures known from the analysis of mechanical systems with passive components cannot be applied. Hence the distribution of the forces over the different elements is not uniquely determined. Consequently nervous control of the force distribution over the muscles is needed, but little is known about how this achieved. This lack of knowledge implies great difficulties at numerical simulation of equilibrium states of the spinal system. These difficulties remain even if considerable reductions are made, such as the assumption that the thoracic cage behaves like a rigid body. A particularly useful point of view about the main principles of the force distributions appears to be the distinction between a local and a global system of muscles engaged in the equilibrium of the lumbar spine. The local system consists of muscles with insertion or origin (or both) at lumbar vertebrae, whereas the global system consists of muscles with origin on the pelvis and insertions on the thoracic cage. Given the posture of the lumbar spine, the force distribution over the local system appears to be essentially independent of the outer load of the body (though the force magnitudes are, of course, dependent on the magnitude of this load). Instead different distributions of the outer load on the body are met by different distributions of the forces in the global system. Thus, roughly speaking, the global system appears to take care of different distributions of outer forces on the body, whereas the local system performs an action, which is essentially locally determined (i.e. by the posture of the lumbar spine). The present work focuses on the upright standing posture with different degree of lumbar lordosis. The outer load is assumed to consist of weights carried on the shoulders. By reduction of the number of unknown forces, which is done by using a few different principles, a unique determination of the total force distributions at static equilibrium is obtained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Mechanical engineering, Jan 1, 1953
John Wiley & Sons, 1983,, Jan 1, 1976
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Papers by Louie Maurice Balderama