Convergence and accuracy of the path integral approach for elastostatics

This paper addresses convergence rate and accuracy of a numerical technique for linear elastostatics based on a path integral formulation [Int. J. Numer. Math, Eng, 47 (2000) 1463]. The computational implementation combines a simple polynomial approximation of the displacement field with an approximate statement of the exact evolution equations, which is designated as functional integral method. A convergence analysis is performed for some simple nodal arrays. This is followed by two different estimations of the optimum parameter zeta: one is based on statistical arguments and the other on inspection of third order residuals. When the eight closest neighbors to a node are used for polynomial approximation the optimum parameter is found to depend on Poisson's ratio and lie in the range 0.5 < zeta < 1.5. Two well established numerical methods are then recovered as specific instances of the FIM. The strong formulation-point collocation-corresponds to the limit zeta = 0 while bilinear finite elements corresponds exactly to the choice C = 0.5. The use of the optimum parameter provides better precision than the other two methods with similar computational cost. Other nodal at-rays are also studied both in two and three dimensions and the performance of the FIM compared with the corresponding finite element and collocation schemes. Finally, the implementation of FIM on unstructured meshes is discussed, and a numerical example solving Laplace equation is analyzed. It is shown that FIM compares favorably with FEM and offers a number of advantages. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.