Field-consistent higher-order free-interface component mode synthesis

A new free-interface component mode synthesizing technique based on the notion of higher-order field consistency is proposed. The present technique employs higher-order residual attachment modes in addition to kept normal modes while consistency in matching field variables at the substructure interface is maintained. The present field-consistency approach does not increase the size of the synthesized system even if higher-order residual attachment modes are included. Higher-order analyses greatly improves solution accuracy while the final system size always remains the same as the size of the kept normal modes regardless of the order of residual attachment modes. A general procedure of deriving higher-order residual attachment modes is first described and then a new field-consistent higher-order synthesis technique is presented. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.