AN RH-METHOD FOR EFFICIENT ADAPTIVE FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS

An rh-method, which combines r- and h-methods, is proposed for cost-ef fective adaptive FE analysis in two-dimensional linear elastic problem s. Through various numerical test examples, the rh-method is compared with the h-method. From these examples it is concluded that the rh-met hod has the advantages of both the r- and h-methods, so that the rh-me thod can minimize the computational time required for the adaptive ana lysis. The algorithm of the rh-method can be implemented easily in exi sting h-adaptive FE codes, since the r-method is independently combine d with the h-method. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.