How does Abaqus interpolate material properties between two elements?

[bigphikl]

Hi,

How does Abaqus interpolate material properties between at the interface between two cells of different properties?

I have read through much of the analysis manual on material but I cannot seem to find anything on how the interface between two different materials is treated.

I have attached a picture showing two different material (different colours) and have put red circle around the interface nodes.
If the green material has E=E1 and the white material has E=E2, then what is E at the interface nodes and interface faces?

If anyone could point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated,
the is probably more of a general finite element question.

Thanks,
Philip

 

[mrgoldthorpe]

Philip,

There isn't a specific value of 'E' at the interface. When the stiffness matrix is assembled, each node gets an appropriate contribution from each of the elements it belongs to, depending on the properties of the elements themselves. So 'E' and other material properties are element rather than node-based.

 

[bigphikl]

Hi mrgoldthorpe,


Thank you for your reply.

I normally work with finite volume and so am not that familiar with FE.
OK so the interface node displacements depend on the adjoining cell properties.
I get the general idea but I would like to understand FE better, is there any online source you might recommended as a good starting point to understanding FE?

I found a quite complete FEA course found at the website below, maybe this would be good:

http://www.colorado.edu/engineering/CAS/courses.d/IFEM.d/

Philip