Explicit predictor-multicorrector time discontinuous Galerkin methods for non-linear dynamics

Explicit predictor-multicorrector time discontinuous Galerkin (TDG) methods developed for linear structural dynamics are formulated and implemented in a form suitable for arbitrary non-linear analysis of structural dynamics problems. The formulation is intended to inherit the accuracy properties of the exact parent implicit TDG methods. To this end, suitable predictors and correctors are designed to achieve third order accuracy, large stability limits and controllable numerical dissipation by means of an algorithmic parameter. As the study of a general non-linear case is rather complex, the analysis of the convergence properties of the resulting algorithms are restricted to conservative Duffing oscillators, for which closed-form solutions are available. It is shown that the main properties of the underlying parent scheme can be retained. Finally, results of representative numerical simulations relevant to Duffing oscillators and to a stiff spring pendulum discretized with finite elements illustrate the performance of the numerical schemes and confirm the analytical estimates. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.