Automatic Element Separation:

Element Connectivity & Auto Element Separation:  In the Finite Element Method (FEM), elements are connected together through nodes with all the deformations happening inside the element itself. Conversly, in the Applied Element Method (AEM), elements are connected together using surface springs. To be able to separate elements and continue to track the structural behavior post separation, connectivity must not be through shared nodes but via an independent surface. In AEM, elements are connected through the whole surface via a series of connecting springs. Each spring is in reality 3 springs, 1 spring to take the normal deformations and 2 springs for the shear deformations. 

Element Connectivity & Auto-Element Separation:

Transition from Large Elements to Small Elements: Some zones of the analyzed structure are smaller in mesh-size because of stress concentration and smaller crack spacing. In FEM the transition from elements of a larger size to a smaller size must be done through special meshing techniques in order to assure connectivity between elements, resulting in the following problems:

1. The number of elements may increase due to transition layer
2. A complication in the meshing process occurs, as elements must be connected through the boundaries

In contrast, this problem is non-existent when using AEM because AEM relies on interfaces between neighboring elements for connectivity rather than shared nodes.

Transition of Element Size:

Partial Element Connectivity:  With AEM, elements sharing the same surface will have connectivity springs even if the shared surfaces occupy only a part of the overall surface and not the entire area. Finite Elements are not connected, while the elements are connected with springs in Applied Elements. In FEM, partial connectivity would actually be included if more nodes were considered at the location of contacts; this approach, however, would introduce more Degrees of Freedom (DOF) and more complexities in element formulations.

 Partial Element Connectivity:

Contact:  Automatically detected without any intervention from the user. Elements may contact and separate, re-contact again, or engage in contact with other elements without any need for user intervention.

There are several types of contacts:

• Corner-to-face
• Edge-to-edge
• Corner-to-ground

Corner-to-Face:  A corner from one element impacts with the face of another element. In some cases multiple corners of each element may contact other elements either simultaneously or in succession.

Corner to Face Contact:

 Element Collision:

Edge-to-Edge:  Two elements come into contact at their edges.

Edge-to-Edge Contact: 

 Corner-to-Ground:  The corner of an element is in contact with the ground. This is very similar to corner-to-face except that here the contact is between the element and the ground instead of undergoing contact with another element''s face.

Corner to Ground Contact: