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In many applications, free surface flow through rigid porous media has to be modeled. Examples refer to coastal engineering applications as well as geotechnical or biomedical applications. Albeit the frequent applications, slight inconsistencies in the formulation of the governing equations can be found in the literature. The main goal of this paper is to identify these differences and provide a quantitative assessment of different approaches. Following a review of the different formulations, simulation results obtained from three alternative formulations are compared with experimental and numerical data. Results obtained by 2D and 3D test cases indicate that the predictive differences returned by the different formulations remain small for most applications, in particular for small porous Reynolds number ReP < 5000. Thus it seems justified to select a simplified formulation that supports an efficient algorithm and coding structure in a computational fluid dynamics environment. An estimated accuracy depending on the porous Reynolds number or the mean grain diameter is given for the simplified formulation.

We present a new 2.5D model for predicting the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at street level in an urban area. This work develops the first prototype of a tool that should provide fast quantitative answers to help decision-making on the suitability of implementing traffic restrictions during air pollution episodes. The model first solves the wind flow over the city streets ignoring vorticity and turbulence. The obtained velocity field is used to transport the pollutant via a semi-Lagrangian model, combining the particle finite element method of second generation (PFEM2) with the finite element method. A variable absorption term is used to account for the part of the contaminant entering and leaving the calculation plane. The NO2 emissions are estimated from the historical traffic data. The model has been tested during four air pollution episodes in the city of Barcelona (Spain), two in summer and two in winter. A comparison against experimental measurements has been performed at seven different locations throughout the city with promising results.

In this paper an enhanced version of the semi-explicit Particle Finite Element Method for incompressible flow problems is presented. This goal is achieved by improving the solution of the advective sub-problem that results of applying the Strang operator splitting to the Navier–Stokes equations. An acceleration term is taken into account in the solution of the advective step and the Stokes problem. The solution of the advetive step is perfomed using a SPH kernel. Two test cases are solved for validating the methodology and estimating its accuracy. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed scheme improves the accuracy of the semi-explicit PFEM scheme.

The main objective of this research is to formulate and couple technologies for modeling discrete and continuous media using real particle morphologies. To that end, two coupled formulations based on virtual modeling technologies of single real particles with another one called real particle packing technique are presented. The first formulation employs Fourier descriptors’ theory to virtually achieve the morphology and construct a repository of real particle geometries. The second formulation is a particle packing method, supported by advancing front techniques combined with dynamic methods. This method presents a stochastic formulation and allows the packing of particle systems following continuous, discrete and empirical statistical distributions. The coupling of both techniques is a very efficient tool to achieve discrete or continuous media geometries to solve engineering problems. Three different examples are developed to illustrate the usefulness of the formulations. The first one is a discrete angle-of-repose problem involving clusters of spheres (real particle morphologies are described with groups of spheres); in the second example the same angle-of-repose problem is resolved with real particles. In the third case, which involves continuous medium mechanics, a small-scale road engineering problem is modeled, specifically, the testing of an asphalt concrete.

We present an explicit integration scheme for solving the transient heat conduction equation that allows larger time steps than the standard forward Euler scheme. The derivation starts from a higher order form of the governing differential equations of the problem obtained using a Finite Increment Calculus (FIC) procedure. The efficiency of the new explicit integration scheme in terms of substantial gains in the time step size versus the forward Euler scheme is verified in the solution of transient heat conduction problems in one and two dimensions. The method is readily extendible to other problems in mechanics governed by the first order transient differential equation. We thank Profs. Sergio Idelsohn, Norberto Nigro and Juan Miquel for their useful comments during the development of the research. This work was partially funded by the project PARAFLUIDS (PID2019-104528RB-I00). The authors also acknowledge the financial support from the CERCA programme of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain, and from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness , through the “Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D”, Spain (CEX2018-000797-S).

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Structural Engineering International on 2022, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/10168664.2022.2064403. Buildair S.A. has designed, manufactured and built an inflatable hangar (called hangar H75) for the aeronautical industry at Jeddah Airport, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. H75 is the largest air-cell inflated structure ever built in the world, finally erected in July 2019. The structural analysis and design of the main body of the hangar has involved complex structural concepts due to the specificity of the structural elements employed, like membranes and straps that lead to a highly nonlinear mechanical problem, or the treatment of wind over the structure without a defined standard for inflatable structures. In this article, the structural concept and specificities of the structure are presented, as well as the design procedure for H75 based on numerical analysis, to fulfil the design requirements in terms of stress and deformation of the main body. This work was supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities [MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033: Grant Number CEX2018-000797-S].

Several methods to derive accurate Timoshenko beam finite elements are presented and compared. Two application problems are examined: linear elastostatics and linearized prebuckling (LPB) stability analysis. Accurate elements can be derived for both problems using a well known technique that long preceeds the Finite Element Method: using homogeneous solutions of the governing equations as shape functions. An interesting question is: can accurate elements be derived with simpler assumptions? In particular, can linear-linear interpolation of displacements and rotations with one-point integration reproduce those elements? The answers are: no if standard variational tools based on classical functionals are used, but yes if modified functionals are introduced. The connection of modified functionals to newer methods, in particular templates, modified differential equations and Finite Increment Calculus (FIC) are examined. The results brings closure to a 50-year conumdrum centered on this particular finite element model. In addition, the discovery of modified functionals provides motivation for extending these methods to full geometrically nonlinear analysis while still using inexpensive numerical integration.

We present a stable finite element formulation for the shallow water equations using the finite increment calculus (FIC) procedure. This research is focused on the stability properties of the FIC technique and uses linear triangles for the spatial discretization with an equal order of interpolation for all the variables. The extension to higher order polynomial interpolation functions and different geometries is straightforward. The present FIC-FEM procedure is also able to introduce artificial viscosity for an adequate shock capturing. An implicit time integration has been used. Special attention has been payed to the dry domain in order to solve the moving boundaries with a fixed mesh eulerian approach. Three academic examples are included in order to test the capabilities of the FIC-FEM procedure: the global stabilization, the shock capturing technique and the dry-wet interface. An experimental benchmark tests the overall accuracy of the present formulation.

The construction industry has traditionally been characterised by the high diversity of its agents and processes, high resistance to change and low incorporation of technology compared to manufacturing industries. However, the construction sector is experiencing now a strong renovation process in methodology and tools due to the incorporation of the Building Information Modelling, Lean Construction and Integrated Project Delivery. Meanwhile, in production systems, “Industry 4.0” is a new paradigm that proposes automation, monitoring, sensorisation, robotisation, and digitalisation to improve production and distribution processes. In this context, some authors have proposed the concept of “Construction 4.0” as the counterpart of Industry 4.0 for the construction sector, although the methodological-technological implications are not clear. This research shows a methodological-technological framework adapted to the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations industry. This papers includes a detailed proposal for a reference frameworks and related technologies that could impact on this sector, responding to its complexities and specific challenges, such as the unique spaces for each work, which are difficult to standardise, arbitrary cost overruns and a productivity far below the average for other industries, increasing competitiveness and globalisation, as opposed to its traditionally local deployment, and an increasing demand to reduce the carbon footprint for all its activities.

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40571-019-00306-4 This paper presents an enhanced coupled approach between the finite element method (FEM) and the discrete element method (DEM) in which an adaptive remeshing technique has been implemented. The remeshing technique is based on the computation of the Hessian of a selected nodal variable, i.e. the mesh is refined where the curvature of the variable field is greater. Once the Hessian is known, a metric tensor is defined node-wise that serves as input data for the remesher (MmgTools) that creates a new mesh. After remeshing, the mapping of the internal variables and the nodal values is performed and a regeneration of the discrete elements on the crack faces of the new mesh is carried out. Several examples of fracturing problems using the enhanced FEM–DEM formulation are presented. Accurate results in comparison with analytical and experimental solutions are obtained. This work has been supported by the Spanish Government program FPU: FPU16/02697. The authors gratefully acknowledge the received support.

An efficient method for the aeroelastic analysis of wind effects on inflatable structures is presented. The solution scheme is staggered and uses an explicit finite-element structural solver and potential flow aerodynamics. In order to take into account the essential features of the flow around blunt-shaped structures, a physics-based correction of the inviscid solution is proposed. The procedure involves automatic prediction of the detached flow areas (using Stratford’s criterion) and an empirical modification of the calculated pressure field intended to match the real viscous behavior. Several validation benchmarks and a realistic application example are presented. The results show the capability of the model to predict the wind loads on the structure with sufficient accuracy and low computational cost, making it possible to use aeroelastic analysis for routine calculation of inflatable structures.

Due to the fact of activity, environment and work dynamics, the construction industry is characterised by high accident rates. Different initiatives have emerged to reduce these figures, which focus on using new methodologies and technologies for safety management. Therefore, it is essential to know the key factors and their influence on safety in construction projects (fSCPs) to focus efforts on these elements. Through a systematic literature review, based on PRISMA methodology, this article identifies, describes and categorises 100 factors that affect construction safety. It thus contributes by providing a comprehensive general framework, unifying previous studies focused on specific geographic areas or case studies with factors not considered or insufficiently disaggregated, along with an absence of classifications focused on understanding where and how factors affect the different dimensions of construction projects. The 100 factors identified are described and categorised according to the dimensions and aspects of the project in which these have an impact, along with identifying whether they are shaping or immediate factors or originating influences for the generation of accidents. These factors, their description and classification are a key contribution to improving the systematic creation of safety and generating training and awareness materials to fully develop a safety culture in organisations. This research was funded by Proyecto VRIEA-PUCV (grant number 039.429/2021). This work was supported by the CONICYT to F.M., who was the beneficiary of a pre-doctoral grant (CONICYT—PCHA/International Doctorate/2019-72200306) and by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain (MICIU) through the BIMIoTICa project (RTC-2017-6454-7). The authors also acknowledge the financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, through the “Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (CEX2018-000797-S)”. Institution: Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Estudios avanzados - Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (VRIEA-PUCV) Code Project: 039.429/2021.

This paper presents a novel coupled formulation for fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problems involving free-surface fluid flows, fracture phenomena, solid mutual contact and large displacements. The numerical formulation combines three different Lagrangian computational methods. The Particle Finite Element Method (PFEM) is used to solve the free-surface fluid flow, a Finite Element Method (FEM) with smoothed isotropic damage model is employed for the solution of solid structures and debris, finally, the Discrete Element Method (DEM) is used to manage the contact interaction between different solid boundaries, including the new ones generated by propagating cracks. The proposed method has a high potential for the prediction of the structural damages on civil constructions caused by natural hazards, such as floods, tsunami waves or landslides. Its application field can also be extended to fracture phenomena in structures and soils/rocks arising from explosions or hydraulic fracking processes. Several numerical examples are presented to show the validity and accuracy of the numerical technique proposed. This research was supported by the Spanish Government through the FPU 16/02697 grant and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, MINECO) through the Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (CEX2018-000797-S), the project PRECISE (BIA2017- 83805-R) and the PARAFLUID talk. The authors gratefully acknowledge the received support.

We present a numerical method for solving advective–diffusive–absorptive problems with high values of advection and absorption. A Lagrangian approach based on the updated version of the classical Particle Finite Element Method (PFEM) is used to calculate advection, while a Eulerian strategy based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) is adopted to compute diffusion and absorption. The Eulerian FEM procedure is based on a Finite Increment Calculus (FIC) stabilized formulation recently developed by the authors. The most relevant features of each computational approach are outlined and the coupling scheme is explained. Several problems are solved to validate the method: the evolution of a localized concentration field in two dimensions (2D), the evolution of a spherical field in 3D and three benchmark problems from the literature with high absorption.

A multiscale approach for the detailed simulation of water droplets dispersed in a turbulent airflow is presented. The multiscale procedure combines a novel representative volume element (RVE) with the Pseudo Direct Numerical Simulation (P-DNS) method. The solution at the coarse-scale relies on a synthetic model, constructed using precomputed offline RVE simulations and an alternating digital tree, to characterize the non-linear dynamic response at the fine-scale. A set of numerical experiments for a wide range of volume fractions, particle distribution sizes, and external shear forces in the RVE are carried out. Quantitative results of the statistically stationary turbulent state are obtained, and the turbulence modulation phenomenon due to the presence of droplets is discussed. The developed synthetic model is then employed to solve global scale simulations of flows with airborne droplets via the P-DNS method. Improved predictions are obtained for flow conditions where turbulence modulation is noticeable.

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40571-019-00278-5. We present a numerical procedure for elastic and nonlinear analysis (including fracture situations) of solid materials and structures using the discrete element method. It can be applied to strongly cohesive frictional materials such as concrete and rocks. The method consists on defining nonlocal constitutive equations at the contact interfaces between discrete particles using the information provided by the stress tensor over the neighbor particles. The method can be used with different yield surfaces, and in the paper, it is applied to the analysis of fracture of concrete samples. Good comparison with experimental results is obtained.

The discrete element method (DEM) is an emerging tool for the calculation of the behaviour of bulk materials. One of the key features of this method is the explicit integration of the motion equations. Explicit methods are rapid, at the cost of a limited time step to achieve numerical stability. First- or second-order integration schemes based on a Taylor series are frequently used in this framework and shown to be accurate for the translational and rotational motion of spherical particles. However, they may lead to relevant inaccuracies when non-spherical particles are used since the orientation implies a modification in the second-order inertia tensor in the inertial reference frame. Specific integration schemes for non-spherical particles have been proposed in the literature, such as the fourth-order Runge–Kutta scheme presented by Munjiza et al. and the predictor–corrector scheme developed by Zhao and van Wachem which applies the direct multiplication algorithm for integrating the orientation. In this work, both methods are adapted to be used together with a velocity Verlet scheme for the translational integration. The performance of the resulting schemes, as well as that of the direct integration method, is assessed, both in benchmark tests with analytical solution and in real-scale problems. The results suggest that the fourth-order Runge–Kutta and the Zhao and van Wachem schemes are clearly more accurate than the direct integration method without increasing the computational time. This work was carried out with the financial support Spanish MINECO within the MONICAB (BIA2015-67263-R) project.

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00466-018-1647-9 In this work a stabilized mixed formulation for the solution of non-linear solid mechanics problems in nearly-incompressible conditions is presented. In order to deal with high material deformation, an implicit Material Point Method is chosen. Such choice allows avoiding the classical limitations of the Finite Element Method, e.g., element tangling and extreme mesh distortion. The proposed mixed formulation, with displacement and pressure as primary variables, is tested through classical benchmarks in solid and geo-mechanics where a Neo-Hookean, a J2 and a Mohr-Coulomb plastic law are employed. Further, the stabilized mixed formulation is compared with a displacement-based formulation to demonstrate how the proposed approach gets better results in terms of accuracy, not only when incompressible materials are simulated, but also in the case of compressible ones.

Heat dissipation remains a key challenge to be addressed, determining the performance and durability of smart electronic devices. Graphene reinforced metal matrix composites have been extensively studied as a thermal management material due to their high thermal conductivity and low coefficient of thermal expansion. The emphasis of this review is pivoted on the thermal conductivity enhancement of graphene reinforced Cu matrix composites developed in the recent literature. An overview of factors affecting thermal conductivity of composite namely defect processing route, density, graphene derivative, lateral size, concentration, alignment, graphene/matrix interfacial bonding and graphene modification are discussed. An extensive weightage is given to the processing route as it is the most influential factor in determining the enhancement efficiency. Furthermore, graphene based functional products such as heat spreader and heat sink developed for heat dissipation of electronic devices are also reviewed. Finally, the development and outlook for graphene based Cu composites are presented.

An overview of high-fidelity modeling of pathogen propagation, transmission and mitigation in the built environment is given. In order to derive the required physical and numerical models, the current understanding of pathogen, and in particular virus transmission and mitigation is summarized. The ordinary and partial differential equations that describe the flow, the particles and possibly the UV radiation loads in rooms or HVAC ducts are presented, as well as proper numerical methods to solve them in an expedient way. Thereafter, the motion of pedestrians, as well as proper ways to couple computational fluid dynamics and computational crowd dynamics to enable high-fidelity pathogen transmission and infection simulations is treated. The present review shows that high-fidelity simulations of pathogen propagation, transmission and mitigation in the built environment have reached a high degree of sophistication, offering a quantum leap in accuracy from simpler probabilistic models. This is particularly the case when considering the propagation of pathogens via aerosols in the presence of moving pedestrians.

Notwithstanding its complexity in terms of numerical implementation and limitations in coping with problems involving extreme deformation, the finite element method (FEM) offers the advantage of solving complicated mathematical problems with diverse boundary conditions. Recently, a version of the particle finite element method (PFEM) was proposed for analyzing large-deformation problems. In this version of the PFEM, the finite element formulation, which was recast as a standard optimization problem and resolved efficiently using advanced optimization engines, was adopted for incremental analysis whilst the idea of particle approaches was employed to tackle mesh issues resulting from the large deformations. In this paper, the numerical implementation of this version of PFEM is detailed, revealing some key numerical aspects that are distinct from the conventional FEM, such as the solution strategy, imposition of displacement boundary conditions, and treatment of contacts. Additionally, the correctness and robustness of this version of PFEM in conducting failure and post-failure analyses of landslides are demonstrated via a stability analysis of a typical slope and a case study on the 2008 Tangjiashan landslide, China. Comparative studies between the results of the PFEM simulations and available data are performed qualitatively as well as quantitatively.

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00466-020-01867-5 This work presents the development of the Particle Finite Element Method (PFEM) for the modelling of 3D solid mechanics problems under cutting conditions. The study and analysis of numerical models reproducing the cut of a material is a matter of interest in several areas; namely, the improvement of the material properties, the optimization of the process and tool geometries and the prediction of unexpected failures. The analysis of bi-dimensional (2D) models is the most common approach for different reasons. Just focusing on the simulation point of view, it is the simplest procedure, the cheapest in terms of computational cost and sometimes the only feasible numerical solution. However, many industrial machining processes, such as cutting, blanking, milling and drilling have not a possible simplification to 2D models. Actually even a simple turning processes for non-orthogonal cuts can not be simplified to 2D. This work present an upgrade of the PFEM techniques in order to deal with the 3D machining problems. We present recent improvements in the finite element formulation, the meshing re-connections and the contact detection. By applying these developments the PFEM has the capability for modelling a wide range of practical machining processes. In this paper the capacity of the formulation and the accuracy of the results are analyzed and validated with some representative examples. Open access funding provided by Polytecnico di Milano within the CRUI-CARE Agreement. This research was supported by the Italian Ministry of University and Research through the project PRIN2017 XFAST-SIMS: Extra fast and accurate simulation of complex structural systems (D41F19000080001), by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, MINECO) through the Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (CEX2018-000797-S) and the Project PRECISE (BIA2017-83805-R).

We present a combination of the Finite Element Method (FEM), the Particle Finite Element Method (PFEM), and the Discrete Element Method (DEM) for modeling and analyzing the failure of reinforced concrete structures under impulsive wave forces originating from free-surface flows in critical water hazards. The free-surface water flow is modeled with the PFEM, while the structural behavior and the fractures induced by the water forces in the structure are modeled with a coupled FEM–DEM technique. The concrete material behavior is simulated with a standard isotropic damage model. The reinforcing bars are modeled by a rule of mixtures procedure, for simplicity. The possibilities of the new integrated PDFEM approach for predicting the evolution of free-surface tsunami-type waves and their devastating effect on constructions are validated with experiments on the failure of reinforced concrete plates under large impacting waves, performed in a laboratory facility in Japan. This work has been supported by the Spanish Government program FPU: FPU16/02697. The authors gratefully acknowledge the received support.

This work presents a Fluid–Structure Interaction framework for the robust and efficient simulation of strongly coupled problems involving arbitrary large displacements and rotations. We focus on the application of the proposed tool to lightweight membrane-like structures. Nonetheless, all the techniques we present in this work can be applied to both volumetric and volumeless bodies. To achieve this, we rely on the use of embedded mesh methods in the fluid solver to conveniently handle the extremely large deflections and eventual topology changes of the structure. The coupling between the embedded fluid and mechanical solvers is based on an interface residual black-box strategy. We validate our proposal by solving reference benchmarking examples that consider both volumetric and volumeless geometries. Whenever it is possible, we also compare the embedded solution with the one obtained with our reference body fitted solver. Finally we present a real-life application of the presented embedded Fluid–Structure Interaction solver. This research has been partly supported by the International Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Germany (IGSSE) and the European Commission (EC) through the projects ATMOPACE and ExaQUte (H2020-FETHPC-2016-2017-800898). The authors also acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness , through the “Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D” (CEX2018-000797-S). Rubén Zorrilla gratefully acknowledges the support of the Spanish ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for his FPU grant (FPU15/03796).

In this paper we present a stabilized FIC–FEM formulation for the multidimensional transient advection–diffusion–absorption equation. The starting point is the non-local form of the governing equations for the multidimensional transient advection–diffusion–absorption problems obtained via the Finite Increment Calculus (FIC) procedure. The FIC governing equations have a residual form that introduces a characteristic length vector that depends on streamline, absorption and shock capturing stabilization parameters, as well as on a characteristic element size that ensures a stabilized numerical solution using a standard Galerkin FEM. The value of the stabilization parameters is obtained as an extension of the steady-state form. The accuracy of the FIC–FEM formulation is verified in the solution of several transient advection–diffusion–absorption problems using regular meshes of 3-noded triangles and 4-noded quadrilaterals. This research was partially funded by the PRECISE, Spain project (BIA2017-83805-R) of the National Research Plan of the Spanish Government. Support for this work was also provided from the Office for Naval Research Global (ONRG) of the US Navy through the NICE-SHIP project.The authors acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in RTD (CEX2018-000797-S). We also acknowledge the financial support of the CERCA programme of the Generalitat de Catalunya (Spain).

This work presents a numerical method for the simulation of landslides generated impulse waves and its application to the historical Vajont case study. The computational tool is based on the Particle Finite Element Method (PFEM), a Lagrangian strategy that combines the finite element solution of the governing equations with an efficient remeshing strategy to deal with large deformation problems. After presenting the numerical formulation, different landslide impulse wave problems with Froude number ranging from 0.5 to 2.8, are analyzed to validate the proposed methodology. The computational method is shown to be able to reproduce accurately the landslide runout, the momentum transfer between the sliding material and the impounded water, and the consequent wave propagation observed in experimental physical models. Then, the PFEM model is applied to the numerical simulation of the Vajont disaster, which is analyzed with a fully-resolved three-dimensional model. The numerical results are discussed and compared to the post-event observations and the numerical results of other computational methods. The results in terms of landslide velocity and runout, geometry of the deposit, maximum water runup, dam overtopping wave, and water discharge in the downstream valley are in good agreement with observations and reconstructions. The calibration and validation performed for this study form the basis for the PFEM analyses presented in a companion paper finalized to simulate different scenarios of the Vajont rockslide considered in the experimental tests done a year before the disaster. This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, MINECO) through the Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (CEX2018-000797-S) and the project PRECISE (BIA2017-83805-R), the CARIPLO Project 2016-0769 - DARFLIS Distributed quantitative risk Analysis for Rapid Flow-like Landslides induced by high Intensity Storms, the Project MIUR – Dipartimenti di Eccellenza 2018–2022, and the PRIN2017 project XFAST-SIMS: Extra fast and accurate simulation of complex structural systems (D41F19000080001).

The particle finite element method (PFEM) is a powerful and robust numerical tool for the simulation of multi-physics problems in evolving domains. The PFEM exploits the Lagrangian framework to automatically identify and follow interfaces between different materials (e.g. fluid–fluid, fluid–solid or free surfaces). The method solves the governing equations with the standard finite element method and overcomes mesh distortion issues using a fast and efficient remeshing procedure. The flexibility and robustness of the method together with its capability for dealing with large topological variations of the computational domains, explain its success for solving a wide range of industrial and engineering problems. This paper provides an extended overview of the theory and applications of the method, giving the tools required to understand the PFEM from its basic ideas to the more advanced applications. Moreover, this work aims to confirm the flexibility and robustness of the PFEM for a broad range of engineering applications. Furthermore, presenting the advantages and disadvantages of the method, this overview can be the starting point for improvements of PFEM technology and for widening its application fields. Technology Innovation Program funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MI, Korea), Grant/Award Number: 10053121; Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) Internal Grant, Grant/Award Number: URIF 0153AAG24