A polygonal finite element method for modeling arbitrary interfaces in large deformation problems.

In this paper, a polygonal-FEM technique is presented in modeling of arbitrary interfaces in large deformations. The method is used to model the internal interfaces and arbitrary geometries using a uniform non-conformal mesh. The technique is applied to capture discontinuous deformations in the non-conformal elements, which are cut by the interface in a uniform regular mesh. In this approach, a uniform non-conformal mesh is decomposed into sub-elements that conform to the internal interfaces. The geometry of interface is used to produce various triangular, quadrilateral and pentagonal elements at the intersection of interface with regular FE mesh, in which the extra degrees-of-freedom are defined along the interface. The level set method is employed to describe the material geometry on the background mesh. The technique is used to extrude any arbitrary geometry from an initial background mesh and model under different external effects. An important feature of the technique is the decomposition of the uniform non-conformal mesh to the polygonal-FEM mesh, which is conformed to the material interfaces. Finally, several numerical examples are analyzed to demonstrate the efficiency of proposed technique in modeling arbitrary interfaces in large deformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]