Some recent developments in computational capabilities for nonlinear finite element analysis

Although the computational capabilities for nonlinear analysis of reactor structures have increased significantly during the recent years, there are a large number of areas, in which further developments are very important and desirable. This forthcoming paper represents a progress report of the work in computational mechanics that we are conducting at MIT. In the paper we describe and critically evaluate our research and development results in geometric and material nonlinear finite element analysis as applicable for the analysis of concrete structures, high temperature elastic-plastic creep behavior, fracture, the analysis of beam (pipe whip) and shell structures, fluid-structure interaction and the analysis of heat transfer and other field problems. The solution techniques have been implemented in the computer programs ADINA and ADINAT and promise to provide very significant new computational capabilities. Our objective in this compact is to briefly summarize our work. Our research and development results are described and evaluated in detail in the complete paper, where we also present demonstrative solutions to complex problems in the various areas and give an overview of important future research areas