A 3-D adaptive mesh refinement using variable-node solid transition elements

Abstract

An automated three-dimensional adaptive h-refinement strategy using the solid transition elements with variable midside nodes at edges and faces of the element is presented. The basic behaviour of these transition elements were improved by addition of associated non-conforming modes. By introducing these transition elements, some difficulties associated with imposing displacement constraints on irregular nodes to enforce interelement compatibility in the conventional adaptive h-refinement are easily overcome. A superconvergent patch recovery technique is also extended to three-dimensional problem. Numerical examples show the, effectiveness of the proposed adaptive mesh refinement scheme using transition elements.