Acta Mechanica Sinica (2013) 29(5):699–708
DOI 10.1007/s10409-013-0075-5
RESEARCH PAPER
Study on spline wavelet finite-element method in
multi-scale analysis for foundation
Qiang Xu · Jian-Yun Chen · Jing Li · Gang Xu · Hong-Yuan Yue
Received: 26 February 2013 / Revised: 16 April 2013 / Accepted: 1 July 2013
©The Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Abstract A new finite element method (FEM) of B-spline
wavelet on the interval (BSWI) is proposed. Through ana-
lyzing the scaling functions of BSWI in one dimension, the
basic formula for 2D FEM of BSWI is deduced. The 2D
FEM of 7 nodes and 10 nodes are constructed based on the
basic formula. Using these proposed elements, the multi-
scale numerical model for foundation subjected to harmonic
periodic load, the foundation model excited by external and
internal dynamic load are studied. The results show the pro-
posed finite elements have higher precision than the tradi-
tional elements with 4 nodes. The proposed finite elements
can describe the propagation of stress waves well whenever
the foundation model excited by external or internal dynamic
load. The proposed finite elements can be also used to con-
nect the multi-scale elements. And the proposed finite ele-
ments also have high precision to make multi-scale analysis
for structure.
Keywords Finite-element method · Dynamic response ·
B-spline wavelet on the interval · Multi-scale analysis
The project was supported by the National Natural Science Foun-
dation of China (51109029, 51178081, 51138001, and 51009020),
the State Key Development Program for Basic Research of China
(2013CB035905).
Q. Xu (¬) · J.-Y. Chen · J. Li · H.-Y. Yue
School of Civil and Hydraulic Eng.,
Dalian University of Technology,
116023 Dalian, China
e-mail: xuqiang528826@163.com
G. Xu
Plan and Design Institute of Daqing Oilfield
Commmunication Company,
163453 Daqing, China
1 Introduction
The finite element method (FEM) of B-spline wavelet on
the interval (BSWI) is an important numerical analysis tool.
It has been playing a distinctive role in many fields. The
theory and methods of the FEM of BSWI have been devel-
oped significantly and have been documented in an increas-
ing number of publications. Peng et al. [1] proposed a new
wavelet FEM based on singular quadratic isoparametric ele-
ments to overcome the shortcoming in computing stress field
near a crack tip with traditional FEM. And they [2] presented
a new virtual crack closure method based on wavelet FEM
in the numerical calculation of the fracture mechanics aim-
ing at the defect of conventional FEM in calculating fracture
parameters of the complex structure. Zhang et al. [3] pre-
sented a new multivariable wavelet FEM with two types of
variables adopting BSWI and the generalized potential varia-
tional principle. You and Shi [4] proposed FEM by the scale
function of BSWI and constructed an elemental transforma-
tion matrix aiming at combining the parameters in both phys-
ical and wavelet spaces. Dong et al. [5] used recognition
model for high-precision modal parameter and wavelet FEM
to construct a new model aiming at the problems in the diag-
nosis of the properties of a transverse surface crack, which is
in a rotor system. Xiang et al. [6] used the scaling functions
of BSWI as trial functions to improve the FEM of BSWI.
And they [7–9] used wavelet theory and variational principle
in FEM to construct a kind of wavelet-based plate element.
Moreover, they [10–12] used the FEM of a BSWI to analyze
the model-based forward and inverse problems for describ-
ing structural crack size and location. Ma and Wang [13]
utilized wavelet FEM to study the vibration and deforma-
tion of beam on elastic foundations and adopted the scaling
functions of Daubechies wavelet as interpolation functions
of element. Tomás et al. [14] presented a wavelet-based
stabilization of the blended FEM based on Lagrange mul-
tipliers (LM). Amaratunga and Sudarshan [15] constructed
general finite element interpolation functions. Sudarshan et
700 Q. Xu, et al.

⎧
al. [16] improved that method, which give a convenient and ⎪
⎪ ω, ω ∈ [0, 1],
⎪
⎪
⎪
simple method for both goal-oriented error evaluation and ⎨
φ02,0 (ω) = ⎪
⎪ 2 − ω, ω ∈ [1, 2], (2)
adaptivity in analysis for FEM. Han et al. [17] proposed a ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎩
new wavelet-based FEM in structural mechanics by using 0, else.
the spline wavelets and developed the formulation in a sim-
j
ilar method of traditional displacement-based FEM. Xue et Then, scaling functions φm,k (ω) and the corresponding
al. [18] presented the method combining wavelet FEM with j
wavelets ψm,k (ω) of j scale m-th order BSWI can be given by
fracture mechanics in order to solve the problem of the sin-
gularity near the cracked tip and obtained the element stiff- j
φm,k (ω) =
ness matrixes of the wavelet beam element and the crack el-
ement. Fu et al. [19] presented a new mutil-axial fatigue ⎧ 1
damage parameter through analyzing the varying behaviour ⎪
⎪
⎪ φm,k (2 j−1 ω),
⎪
⎪
⎪
of the energy on the critical plan. In this method, the non- ⎪
⎪
⎪ k = −m + 1, −m, · · · , −1,
⎪
⎪
⎪
proportional scale describing the grade of additional hard- ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪ 0 boundary scaling functions,
ening is used as a friction coefficient. Chen et al. [20] ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
constructed the two-dimensional wavelet FEM and used the ⎪
⎪
⎪ φ1m,2 j −m−k (1 − 2 j−1 ω),
⎪
⎪
⎪
scaling functions based on Daubechies wavelets, which is ⎨
for trial functions. Basu et al. [21] studied the higher- ⎪
⎪ k = 2 j − m + 1, 2 j − m, · · · , 2 j − 1, (3)
⎪
⎪
⎪
order modeling schemes for the continua based on wavelet ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪ 1 boundary scaling functions,
method. Dahmen [22] analyzed recent changes of wavelet ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
schemes for the calculation of operator equations focusing ⎪
⎪
⎪ φm,0 (2 j−1 ω − 2−1 k),
1
⎪
⎪
⎪
on these problems, which can be described as adaptive solu- ⎪
⎪
⎪ k = 0, 1, · · · , 2 j − m,
⎪
⎪
⎪
tion concepts and nontrivial domain geometries. Canuto et ⎪
⎪
⎩ inner scaling functions,
al. [23, 24] studied adapted biorthogonal wavelet systems on
the interval in order to construct wavelet bases using tensor
products of these functions. In practical engineering, the tra- j
ψm,k (ω) =
ditional elements with 4 nodes are usually used in structure.
It needs a method to improve accuracy in the region that we ⎧ 1
⎪
⎪
⎪ ψm,k (2 j−1 ω),
are interested in, but not to change mesh of other region. And ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
FEM of BSWI has not yet been applied to connect the differ- ⎪
⎪
⎪ k = −m + 1, −m, · · · , −1,
⎪
⎪
⎪
ent scale elements to make multi-scale and dynamic analysis ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪ 0 boundary scaling functions,
for structure. Thus, we try to do some work in this field. ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪ ψm,2 j −2m−k+1 (1 − 2 j−1 ω),
1
In the paper, a new FEM of BSWI is proposed. The ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎨
proposed elements (7 nodes and 10 nodes finite element) can ⎪
⎪ k = 2 j − 2m + 2, 2 j − 2m, · · · , 2 j − m, (4)
be used to replace the traditional elements with 4 nodes in ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
the same number of elements. The proposed elements can ⎪
⎪ 1 boundary scaling functions,
⎪
⎪
⎪
improve accuracy in the region that we are interested in, but ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪ ψ1m,0 (2 j−1 ω − 2−1 k),
not to change mesh of other region. And some numerical ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪ k = 0, 1, · · · , 2 j − 2m + 1,
experiments are taken to study the precision of the proposed ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎩ inner scaling functions.
elements.

2 The construction of 2D finite element models of BSWI The scaling and wavelet functions can be calculated
through Eqs. (3) and (4). Generally, there are m−1 boundary
2.1 The scaling functions of BSWI scaling functions and wavelets at 0 and 1. Otherwise, there
are 2 j − m + 1 inner scaling functions. Moreover, there are
B-spline functions (BSF), which have some knots, can be 2 j − 2m + 2 inner wavelets. Thus, 2 scale 2nd order BSF can
proposed by the steps in order to get a certain order of overall be given by
smoothness, which are using piecewise polynomials between ⎧
the knots and joining them together at the knots. 0 scale m-th ⎪
⎨ 1 − 4ω,
⎪ ω ∈ [0, 0.25],
φ22,−1 (ω) =⎪
⎪ (5)
order BSF and the corresponding wavelets are proposed by ⎩ 0, else,
Goswami et al. [25]. And 0 scale 2nd order BSF ( j = 0,
m = 2) are expressed as ⎧
⎪
⎪ 4ω, ω ∈ [0, 0.25],
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎧ ⎨
⎪
⎨ 1 − ω, ω ∈ [0, 1],
⎪ φ22,0 (ω) = ⎪ 2 − 4ω, ω ∈ [0.25, 0.5], (6)
0 ⎪
⎪
⎪
φ2,−1 (ω) = ⎪
⎪ (1) ⎪
⎩ 0,
⎩ 0, else, else,