Nonlinear analysis

A nonlinear analysis is an analysis where a nonlinear relation holds between applied forces and
displacements. Nonlinear effects can originate from geometrical nonlinearity’s (i.e. large
deformations), material nonlinearity’s (i.e. elasto-plastic material), and contact. These effects
result in a stiffness matrix which is not constant during the load application. This is opposed to
the linear static analysis, where the stiffness matrix remained constant. As a result, a different
solving strategy is required for the nonlinear analysis and therefore a different solver.
Modern analysis software makes it possible to obtain solutions to nonlinear problems. However,
experienced skill is required to determine their validity and these analyses can easily be
inappropriate. Care should be taken to specify appropriate model and solution parameters.
Understanding the problem, the role played by these parameters and a planned and logical
approach will do much to ensure a successful solution.
Nonlinear Problems:

 Geometric nonlinearity: nonlinear strain-displacement relation

 Material nonlinearity: nonlinear constitutive relation
 Kinematic nonlinearity: Non-constant displacement BCs, contact
Force nonlinearity: follow-up loads
The source of this nonlinearity can be attributed to multiple system properties, for example,
materials, geometry, nonlinear loading and constraints. Here are some examples…
GeometricNonlinearity
In analyses involving geometric nonlinearity, changes in geometry as the structure deforms are
considered in formulating the constitutive and equilibrium equations. Many engineering
applications such as metal forming, tire analysis, and medical device analysis require the use of
large deformation analysis based on geometric nonlinearity. Small deformation analysis based on
geometric nonlinearity is required for some applications, like analysis involving cables, arches
and shells.
MaterialNonlinearity
Material nonlinearity involves the nonlinear behavior of a material based on a current
deformation, deformation history, rate of deformation, temperature, pressure, and so on.
Examples of nonlinear material models are large strain (visco) elasto-plasticity and
hyperelasticity (rubber and plastic materials).
Constraint and Contact Nonlinearity (Boundary)
Constraint nonlinearity in a system can occur if kinematic constraints are present in the model.
The kinematic degrees-of-freedom of a model can be constrained by imposing restrictions on its
movement.
Geometric Nonlinearity
When performing structural mechanics analyses, you will inevitably encounter the concept of
geometric nonlinearity. In this blog post, we discuss what is meant by geometric nonlinearity
and when you should take this effect into consideration.
If changes in stiffness come only from changes in shape, nonlinear behavior is defined as
geometric nonlinearity. Such shape-caused changes in stiffness can happen when a part has large
deformations that are visible to the naked eye. A generally accepted rule of thumb suggests
conducting a nonlinear geometry analysis if the deformations are larger than 1/20th of the part’s
largest dimension. Another important factor to recognize is that in cases of large deformations,
the load direction can change as the model deforms. Most FEA programs offer two choices to
account for this direction change: following and nonfollowing load. A pressure vessel subjected
to very high pressure that undergoes a drastic change of shape provides another good example of
the latter situation. The pressure load always acts normal to the walls of the pressure vessel.
While linear analysis of this scenario assumes that the shape of the vessel does not change,
realistic analysis of the pressure vessel requires analyzing geometric nonlinearity with
nonconservative (or follower) loading.
Geometric nonlinearity may not even be explicitly introduced in a fundamental course on
structural mechanics. In fact, geometric linearity is often tacitly assumed. In a geometrically
linear setting, the equations of equilibrium are formulated in the undeformed state and are not
updated with the deformation. This may sound a bit alarming at first, since computing
deformations is what structural mechanics is all about.
However, in most engineering problems, the deformations are so small that the deviation from
the original geometry is not perceptible. The small error introduced by ignoring the
deformations does not warrant the added mathematical complexity generated by a more
sophisticated theory. This is why a vast majority of analyses are made with an assumption of
geometric linearity.
There are a number of cases where the deformation cannot be ignored, and not all of these
cases comprise deformations that you would intuitively think of as being large.
Simply speaking, if the relation displacement- strain is nonlinear we have  geometrical
nonlinearity, as the relation stress-strain is nonlinear we have material nonlinearity.

Geometrical nonlinearity means that you have to take the change of geometry into account.
Basically, it is the difference between nominal stress (and strain9 and true stress (or strain). So if
the cross-section of your cable changes when it is loaded, the stress should be calculated as
force/current cross section. I don't think that there is anything special about cables compared to
other structures - if you ave a special cable element, choosing non-linear geometry will take care
of this.
A general rule of thumb is that you need to use nonlinear geometry when strains exceed 5%, but
this is not a hard rule.
As a simple example of geometrical nonlinearity, one can mention the case of elastic buckling of
a column and the corresponding Euler equation. In this case the deformation of column (when it
buckles) is so high that the effect of secondary moments due to axial force have to be taken into
consideration. Geometric nonlinearities refer to nonlinearities in kinematic quantities such as the
strain-displacement relations in solids. Such nonlinearities can occur due to large displacements,
large strains, large rotations, and so on.

Contact can also be categorized as a geometric nonlinearity as the area of contact is a function of
the deformation.

Nonlinear material
Nonlinear material If changes of stiffness occur due only to changes in material properties under
operating conditions, the problem is one of material nonlinearity. A linear material model
assumes stress to be proportional to strain (Figure 6, below). That means it assumes that the
higher the load applied, the higher the stresses and deformation will be, proportional to the
changes in the load. It also assumes that no permanent deformations will result, and that once the
load has been removed the model will always return to its original shape.

Stress-strain curve for an elastic-plastic material under uniaxial tension. 

Stress-strain curve for a rubber-type material. 

 Material nonlinearity may be related to factors other than strain. Strain-rate-dependent
material data and material failure are both forms of material nonlinearity. Material properties
can also be a function of temperature and other predefined fields.
Material nonlinearity is a concern whenever the response at the operating loads causes strain
levels in a material beyond the portion of the stress-strain curve that can reasonably be
approximated as linear. Many materials have curves that deviate small amounts from linear for
large amounts of strain so that, with all the other uncertainty in the model, there would be little
value in a nonlinear material model. On the other hand, many curves deviate from linear almost
immediately to such a degree that only the roughest trend studies can be made with a linear
approximation.