Isogeometric analysis based on splerical B-spline interpolation for elastic articulated slender structures
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The analysis of space deformable mechanisms composed of slender space elements employed in advanced structural systems like deployable or morphing structures requires reliable and effective models, able to accurately reproduce complex non-linear behaviours. In the contribution a geometrically exact rod model is employed using a recently introduced B-spline spherical interpolation of order p≥1 for the rotations and the spins [1]. The internal constraints like pivots, Hooke joints and others are implicitly accounted for using a decomposition of the rotation manifold and (in the case od Kirchhoff rods) a G1 conforming formulation [2]. In order to avoid locking phenomena and reduce the computational effort a two field mixed formulation is considered introducing discontinuous assumed internal forces, so that they can be condensed at the element level. A symmetric formulation is recovered consistently performing the variations of the relevant variables on the configuration manifold using the proper Levi-Civita connection. A path-following algorithm, generalized to the case that the configuration space is a manifold, is used.