A new explicit variable time‐integration self‐starting methodology for computational structural dynamics

A new explicit variable time‐integration methodology and architecture which possesses self‐starting attributes, eliminates the need to involve acceleration computations, and which has improved accuracy characteristics in comparison to the traditional central‐difference‐type formulations customarily advocated is described for applicability to computational structural dynamics. To sharpen the focus of the present study, an explicit variable time‐integration architecture which is relatively simple, yet effective, is described. Unlike variable explicit time‐integration formulations adopted in the past, the present self‐starting variable time‐integration architecture and implementation aspects facilitate a simplified representation and a straightforward and effective approach for combining finite element meshes requiring different time steps in a single analysis. Numerical test cases are provided which demonstrate the applicability of the proposed formulations.