Inability of Free-Interface Modes in Representing Stress Resultants Near the Free Interface

Abstract

As the fundamental cause of the slow convergence of a direct free-interface component mode synthesis method, we point out the inability of free-interface normal modes in representing the stress resultants near the free interface of a substructure. Although the effects of the residual flexibility of a substructure on the solution convergence are well known, the present theoretical analysis would help understand more clearly the convergence problems of the direct free-interface substructure coupling method. [S0739-3717(00)01704-9]