Unified non-hourglass formulation for total Lagrangian SPH solid dynamics

The persistence of hourglass modes poses a significant numerical instability issue in total Lagrangian smoothed particle hydrodynamics (TLSPH) solid dynamics, especially when dealing with substantial deformations, regardless of material properties. However, existing hourglass control methods have shown effectiveness only within limited applications. Thus far, a comprehensive solution capable of addressing hourglass issues across a wide range of material models, including elasticity, plasticity, and anisotropy, remains elusive. In this study, we introduce a unified TLSPH formulation grounded in volumetric-deviatoric stress decomposition, aimed at fundamentally mitigating hourglass modes in general simulations. Different conceptually from previous approaches using stress points or extra viscous or hourglass-control stresses within the momentum equation, our formulation is based on the weighted average of a standard but hourglass-prone formulation and an essentially non-hourglass formulation for elastic materials, employing a single limiter to dynamically adjust the weighting between the two formulations. Crucially, the dimensionless characteristic of the formulation enables seamless handling of complex material models. To validate the effectiveness of our formulation, we conduct simulations across a range of benchmark cases involving elastic, plastic, and anisotropic materials. To illustrate its versatility, we apply the formulation to simulate a complex scenario involving viscous plastic Oobleck material, contacts, and very large deformation. Our work addresses a critical gap in TLSPH simulations by offering a unified approach to mitigate hourglass modes, enhancing the reliability and accuracy of simulations across diverse material models and complex scenarios. © The Author(s) 2024.     «

The persistence of hourglass modes poses a significant numerical instability issue in total Lagrangian smoothed particle hydrodynamics (TLSPH) solid dynamics, especially when dealing with substantial deformations, regardless of material properties. However, existing hourglass control methods have shown effectiveness only within limited applications. Thus far, a comprehensive solution capable of addressing hourglass issues across a wide range of material models, including elasticity, plasticity,...     »