Edge-based finite element techniques for non-linear solid mechanics problems

Edge-based data structures are used to improve computational e ciency of inexact Newton methods for solving nite element non-linear solid mechanics problems on unstructured meshes. Edge-based data structures are employed to store the sti ness matrix coe cients and to compute sparse matrix{vector products needed in the inner iterative driver of the inexact Newton method. Numerical experiments on three-dimensional plasticity problems have shown that memory and computer time are reduced, respectively, by factors of 4 and 6, compared with solutions using element-by-element storage and matrix{vector products