Application of the Nodal Integrated Finite Element Method to Cutting: a Preliminary Comparison with the Traditional FEM Approach

FEM implicit formulation shows specific limitations in processes such as cutting, where large deformation results in a heavy mesh distortion. Powerful rezoning-remeshing algorithms strongly reduce the effects of such a limitation but the computational times are significantly increased and additional errors are introduced. Nodal Integration is a recently introduced technique that allows finite element method to provide more reliable results when mesh becomes distorted in traditional FEMs. Furthermore, volumetric locking phenomenon seems to be avoided by using this integration technique instead of other methods, such as the coupled formulations. In this paper, a comparison between a classical FEM simulation and the Nodal Integration one is carried out taking into account a simple orthogonal cutting process.