Interface element method (IEM) for a partitioned system with non-matching interfaces Original Research Article

A novel method for non-matching interfaces on the boundaries of finite elements in partitioned domains is presented by introducing interface elements in this paper. The interface element method (IEM) satisfies the continuity conditions exactly through interface element domains without recourse to Lagrange multiplier technique. The interface elements take an interpolation scheme used in meshless methods to join partitioned domains. The moving least square (MLS) approximations in the present study are implemented to construct the shape functions of the interface elements. The compatibility of displacements on the boundaries of the finite elements and the interface elements is always preserved in this method, and the completeness of the shape functions of the interface elements transfers rigid body motions and strain fields correctly. Moreover, alignment of the boundaries of sub-domains in the MLS approximations and integration domains provides a consistent numerical integration. The numerical examples show that the IEM is a useful tool for the analysis of a partitioned system and for a global–local analysis.