Space time discretization for flexible multibody systems and multisymplectic variational integrators
Internally funded project
Start date : 01.10.2011
End date : 30.09.2018
Project details
Scientific Abstract
Variational integrators are based on the discretization of the variational principle. It is applied to an approximation of the action functional and results in the discrete Euler-Lagrange equations. If space time is discretized in one step, the resulting integrator is multisymplectic, i.e. symplectic in both space and time.Those integrators are suitable for the simulation of flexible multibody systems including beams, shells and 3D continua. Some of the symmetries present in the continuous system are carried over to the discrete setting which leads to the conservation of the associated discrete momentum maps. Furthermore, variational integrators show a very good energy behaviour, i.e. they do not artificially dissipate or gain total energy in a conservative system.
