New ANCF solid-beam element: relationship with Bézier volume and application on leaf spring modeling

An eight-node solid-beam element based on absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) which uses cubic interpolation at the longitudinal direction and linear at the transverse direction is proposed. The element can accurately discretize the geometry represented by the Bezier volume with the same basis function order. The continuity property of the proposed beam element is verified. Advantages of the proposed element can be found in the application of leaf spring modeling. The parabolically varying thickness of the leaf can be accurately described. Components in leaf spring such as the spring eye and the rubber bushing can be assembled efficiently since the proposed element can be connected at any direction. The ANCF reference node is used to represent the rigid components and the revolute joints in the vehicle suspension system. Static I-shaped cross-section cantilever beam and flexible pendulum model are used to test the accuracy and dynamic performance of the proposed solid-beam element. The leaf spring model shows the flexibility of the element in modeling the complex mechanical system and the balance between the accuracy and the efficiency. An eight-node ANCF solid-beam element is proposed. The element can accurately discretize the geometry represented by the Bezier volume with the same basis function order. The parabolically varying thickness of the leaf can be accurately described. Components in leaf spring such as the spring eye and the rubber bushing can be assembled efficiently since the proposed element can be connected at any direction. Numerical results show that the proposed element can reach good balance between the accuracy and the efficiency.