Optimized Quadrature Rules for Isogeometric Frequency Analysis of Wave Equations Using Cubic Splines

Abstract

An optimization of quadrature rules is presented for the isogeometric frequency analysis of wave equations using cubic splines. In order to optimize the quadrature rules aiming at improving the frequency accuracy, a frequency error measure corresponding to arbitrary four-point quadrature rule is developed for the isogeometric formulation with cubic splines. Based upon this general frequency error measure, a superconvergent four-point quadrature rule is found for the cubic isogeometric formulation that achieves two additional orders of frequency accuracy in comparison with the sixth-order accuracy produced by the standard approach using four-point Gauss quadrature rule. One interesting observation is that the first and last integration points of the superconvergent four-point quadrature rule go beyond the domain of conventional integration element. However, these exterior integration points pose no difficulty on the numerical implementation. Subsequently, by recasting the general four-point quadrature rule into a three-point formation, the proposed frequency error measure also reveals that the three-point Gauss quadrature rule is unique among possible three-point rules to maintain the same sixth-order convergence rate as the four-point Gauss quadrature rule for the cubic isogeometric formulation. These theoretical results are clearly demonstrated by numerical examples.