Intelligent finite element method: An evolutionary approach to constitutive modeling

In this paper, a new approach is presented, for constitutive modeling of materials in finite element analysis, with potential applications in different engineering disciplines. The proposed approach provides a unified framework for modeling of complex materials, using evolutionary polynomial regress ion-based constitutive model (EPRCM), integrated in finite element analysis. Evolutionary polynomial regression (EPR) is a computing technique that generates a transparent and structured representation of the system being studied. The main advantage of EPRCM over conventional constitutive models is that it provides the optimum structure for the material constitutive model representation, as well as its parameters, directly from raw experimental (or field) data. The proposed algorithm provides a transparent relationship for the constitutive material model that can readily be incorporated in a finite element model (FEM). The incorporation of EPRCM into FEM will be presented and the application of the resulting methodology for material modeling in finite element analysis will be illustrated through two examples. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.