A nodal‐based implementation of a stabilized finite element method for incompressible flow problems

The objective of this paper is twofold. First, a stabilized finite element method (FEM) for the incompressible Navier–Stokes is presented and several numerical experiments are conducted to check its performance. This method is capable of dealing with all the instabilities that the standard Galerkin method presents, namely the pressure instability, the instability arising in convection‐dominated situations and the less popular instabilities found when the Navier–Stokes equations have a dominant Coriolis force or when there is a dominant absorption term arising from the small permeability of the medium where the flow takes place. The second objective is to describe a nodal‐based implementation of the finite element formulation introduced. This implementation is based on an a priori calculation of the integrals appearing in the formulation and then the construction of the matrix and right‐hand side vector of the final algebraic system to be solved. After appropriate approximations, this matrix and this vector can be constructed directly for each nodal point, without the need to loop over the elements, thus making the calculations much faster. In order to be able to do this, all the variables have to be defined at the nodes of the finite element mesh, not on the elements. This is also so for the stabilization parameters of the formulation. However, doing this gives rise to questions regarding the consistency and the conservation properties of the final scheme, which are addressed in this paper. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparison of time integration methods in an unsteady low‐Reynolds‐number flow

This paper describes three different time integration methods for unsteady incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. Explicit Euler and fractional‐step Adams–Bashford methods are compared with an implicit three‐level method based on a steady‐state SIMPLE method. The implicit solver employs a dual time stepping and an iteration within the time step. The spatial discretization is based on a co‐located finite‐volume technique. The influence of the convergence limits and the time‐step size on the accuracy of the predictions are studied. The efficiency of the different solvers is compared in a vortex‐shedding flow over a cylinder in the Reynolds number range of 100–1600. A high‐Reynolds‐number flow over a biconvex airfoil profile is also computed. The computations are performed in two dimensions. At the low‐Reynolds‐number range the explicit methods appear to be faster by a factor from 5 to 10. In the high‐Reynolds‐number case, the explicit Adams–Bashford method and the implicit method appear to be approximately equally fast while yielding similar results. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SIMPLE‐type preconditioners for cell‐centered,colocated finite volume discretization of incompressible Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations

This paper contains a comparison of four SIMPLE‐type methods used as solver and as preconditioner for the iterative solution of the (Reynolds‐averaged) Navier–Stokes equations, discretized with a finite volume method for cell‐centered, colocated variables on unstructured grids. A matrix‐free implementation is presented, and special attention is given to the treatment of the stabilization matrix to maintain a compact stencil suitable for unstructured grids. We find SIMPLER preconditioning to be robust and efficient for academic test cases and industrial test cases. Compared with the classical SIMPLE solver, SIMPLER preconditioning reduces the number of nonlinear iterations by a factor 5–20 and the CPU time by a factor 2–5 depending on the case. The flow around a ship hull at Reynolds number 2E9, for example, on a grid with cell aspect ratio up to 1:1E6, can be computed in 3 instead of 15 h.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A high‐order accurate discontinuous Galerkin finite element method for laminar low Mach number flows

In this paper we present a discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method designed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of laminar flow simulations at low Mach numbers using an implicit scheme. The algorithm is based on the flux preconditioning approach, which modifies only the dissipative terms of the numerical flux. This formulation is quite simple to implement in existing implicit DG codes, it overcomes the time‐stepping restrictions of explicit multistage algorithms, is consistent in time and thus applicable to unsteady flows. The performance of the method is demonstrated by solving the flow around a NACA0012 airfoil and on a flat plate, at different low Mach numbers using various degrees of polynomial approximations. Computations with and without flux preconditioning are performed on different grid topologies to analyze the influence of the spatial discretization on the accuracy of the DG solutions at low Mach numbers. The time accurate solution of unsteady flow is also demonstrated by solving the vortex shedding behind a circular cylinder at the Reynolds number of 100. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A locally DIV‐free projection scheme for incompressible flows based on non‐conforming finite elements

We present a projection scheme whose end‐of‐step velocity is locally pointwise divergence free, using a continuous ?₁ approximation for the velocity in the momentum equation, a first‐order Crouzeix–Raviart approximation at the projection step, and a ?₀ approximation for the pressure in both steps. The analysis of the scheme is done only for grids that guarantee the existence of a divergence free conforming ?₁ interpolant for the velocity. Optimal estimates for the velocity error in L²‐ and H¹‐norms are deduced. The numerical results demonstrate that these estimates should also hold on grids on which the continuous ?₁ approximation for the velocity locks. Since the end‐of‐step velocity is locally solenoidal, the scheme is recommendable for problems requiring good mass conservation. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solving high Reynolds‐number viscous flows by the general BEM and domain decomposition method

In this paper, the domain decomposition method (DDM) and the general boundary element method (GBEM) are applied to solve the laminar viscous flow in a driven square cavity, governed by the exact Navier–Stokes equations. The convergent numerical results at high Reynolds number Re = 7500 are obtained. We find that the DDM can considerably improve the efficiency of the GBEM, and that the combination of the domain decomposition techniques and the parallel computation can further greatly improve the efficiency of the GBEM. This verifies the great potential of the GBEM for strongly non‐linear problems in science and engineering. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical simulation of high‐Reynolds number flow around circular cylinders by a three‐step FEM–BEM model

An innovative computational model, developed to simulate high‐Reynolds number flow past circular cylinders in two‐dimensional incompressible viscous flows in external flow fields is described in this paper. The model, based on transient Navier–Stokes equations, can solve the infinite boundary value problems by extracting the boundary effects on a specified finite computational domain, using the projection method. The pressure is assumed to be zero at infinite boundary and the external flow field is simulated using a direct boundary element method (BEM) by solving a pressure Poisson equation. A three‐step finite element method (FEM) is used to solve the momentum equations of the flow. The present model is applied to simulate high‐Reynolds number flow past a single circular cylinder and flow past two cylinders in which one acts as a control cylinder. The simulation results are compared with experimental data and other numerical models and are found to be feasible and satisfactory. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A high‐order discontinuous Galerkin solver for low Mach number flows

In this work, we present a high‐order discontinuous Galerkin method (DGM) for simulating variable density flows at low Mach numbers. The corresponding low Mach number equations are an approximation of the compressible Navier–Stokes equations in the limit of zero Mach number. To the best of the authors'y knowledge, it is the first time that the DGM is applied to the low Mach number equations. The mixed‐order formulation is applied for spatial discretization. For steady cases, we apply the semi‐implicit method for pressure‐linked equation (SIMPLE) algorithm to solve the non‐linear system in a segregated manner. For unsteady cases, the solver is implicit in time using backward differentiation formulae, and the SIMPLE algorithm is applied to solve the non‐linear system in each time step. Numerical results for the following three test cases are shown: Couette flow with a vertical temperature gradient, natural convection in a square cavity, and unsteady natural convection in a tall cavity. Considering a fixed number of degrees of freedom, the results demonstrate the benefits of using higher approximation orders. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A 3D incompressible Navier–Stokes velocity–vorticity weak form finite element algorithm

The velocity–vorticity formulation is selected to develop a time‐accurate CFD finite element algorithm for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations in three dimensions.The finite element implementation uses equal order trilinear finite elements on a non‐staggered hexahedral mesh. A second order vorticity kinematic boundary condition is derived for the no slip wall boundary condition which also enforces the incompressibility constraint. A biconjugate gradient stabilized (BiCGSTAB) sparse iterative solver is utilized to solve the fully coupled system of equations as a Newton algorithm. The solver yields an efficient parallel solution algorithm on distributed‐memory machines, such as the IBM SP2. Three dimensional laminar flow solutions for a square channel, a lid‐driven cavity, and a thermal cavity are established and compared with available benchmark solutions. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SIMPLE‐type preconditioners for the Oseen problem

In this paper, the steady incompressible Navier–Stokes equations are discretized by the finite element method. The resulting systems of equations are solved by preconditioned Krylov subspace methods. Some new preconditioning strategies, both algebraic and problem dependent are discussed. We emphasize on the approximation of the Schur complement as used in semi implicit method for pressure‐linked equations‐type preconditioners. In the usual formulation, the Schur complement matrix and updates use scaling with the diagonal of the convection–diffusion matrix. We propose a variant of the SIMPLER preconditioner. Instead of using the diagonal of the convection–diffusion matrix, we scale the Schur complement and updates with the diagonal of the velocity mass matrix. This variant is called modified SIMPLER (MSIMPLER). With the new approximation, we observe a drastic improvement in convergence for large problems. MSIMPLER shows better convergence than the well‐known least‐squares commutator preconditioner which is also based on the diagonal of the velocity mass matrix. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A projection scheme for incompressible multiphase flow using adaptive Eulerian grid: 3D validation

A three‐dimensional finite element method for incompressible multiphase flows with capillary interfaces is developed based on a (formally) second‐order projection scheme. The discretization is on a fixed (Eulerian) reference grid with an edge‐based local h‐refinement in the neighbourhood of the interfaces. The fluid phases are identified and advected using the level‐set function. The reference grid is then temporarily reconnected around the interface to maintain optimal interpolations accounting for the singularities of the primary variables. Using a time splitting procedure, the convection substep is integrated with an explicit scheme. The remaining generalized Stokes problem is solved by means of a pressure‐stabilized projection. This method is simple and efficient, as demonstrated by a wide range of difficult free‐surface validation problems, considered in the paper. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An iterative stabilized fractional step algorithm for numerical solution of incompressible N–S equations

Stabilized fractional step algorithm has been widely employed for numerical solution of incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. However, smaller time step sizes are required to use for existing explicit and semi‐implicit versions of the algorithm due to their fully or partially explicit nature particularly for highly viscous flow problems. The purpose of this paper is to present two modified versions of the fractional step algorithm using characteristic based split and Taylor–Galerkin like based split. The proposed modified versions of the algorithm are based on introducing an iterative procedure into the algorithm and allow much larger time step sizes than those required to the preceding ones. A numerical study of stability at acceptable convergence rate and accuracy as well as capability in circumventing the restriction imposed by the LBB condition for the proposed iterative versions of the algorithm is carried out with the plane Poisseuille flow problem under different Reynolds numbers ranging from low to high viscosities. Numerical experiments in the plane Poisseuille flow and the lid‐driven cavity flow problems demonstrate the improved performance of the proposed versions of the algorithm, which are further applied to numerical simulation of the polymer injection moulding process. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A stabilized finite element method for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations using a hierarchical basis

Stabilized finite element methods have been shown to yield robust, accurate numerical solutions to both the compressible and incompressible Navier–Stokes equations for laminar and turbulent flows. The present work focuses on the application of higher‐order, hierarchical basis functions to the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations using a stabilized finite element method. It is shown on a variety of problems that the most cost‐effective simulations (in terms of CPU time, memory, and disk storage) can be obtained using higher‐order basis functions when compared with the traditional linear basis. In addition, algorithms will be presented for the efficient implementation of these methods within the traditional finite element data structures. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the efficiency of linearization schemes and coupled multigrid methods in the simulation of a 3D flow around a cylinder

This paper studies the efficiency of two ways to treat the non‐linear convective term in the time‐dependent incompressible Navier–Stokes equations and of two multigrid approaches for solving the arising linear algebraic saddle point problems. The Navier–Stokes equations are discretized by a second‐order implicit time stepping scheme and by inf–sup stable, higher order finite elements in space. The numerical studies are performed at a 3D flow around a cylinder. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A spectral quadrilateral multidomain penalty method model for high Reynolds number incompressible stratified flows

A two‐dimensional quadrilateral spectral multidomain penalty method (SMPM) model has been developed for the simulation of high Reynolds number incompressible stratified flows. The implementation of higher‐order quadrilateral subdomains renders this model a nontrivial extension of a one‐dimensional subdomain SMPM model built for the simulation of the same type of flows in vertically nonperiodic domains (Diamessis et al., J. Comp. Phys, 202 :298‐322, 2005). The nontrivial aspects of this extension consist of the implementation of subdomain corners, the penalty formulation of the pressure Poisson equation (PPE), and, most importantly, the treatment of specific challenges that arise in the iterative solution of the SMPM‐discretized PPE. The two primary challenges within the framework of the iterative solution of the PPE are its regularization to ensure the consistency of the associated linear system of equations and the design of an appropriate two‐level preconditioner. A qualitative and quantitative assessment of the accuracy, efficiency, and stability of the quadrilateral SMPM solver is provided through its application to the standard benchmarks of the Taylor vortex, lid‐driven cavity, and double shear layer. The capacity of the flow solver for the study of environmental stratified flow processes is shown through the simulation of long‐distance propagation of an internal solitary wave of depression in a manner that is free of numerical dispersion and dissipation. The methods and results presented in this paper make it a point of reference for future studies oriented toward the reliable application of the quadrilateral SMPM model to more complex environmental stratified flow process studies. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Implementation of a stabilized finite element formulation for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations based on a pressure gradient projection

We discuss in this paper some implementation aspects of a finite element formulation for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations which allows the use of equal order velocity–pressure interpolations. The method consists in introducing the projection of the pressure gradient and adding the difference between the pressure Laplacian and the divergence of this new field to the incompressibility equation, both multiplied by suitable algorithmic parameters. The main purpose of this paper is to discuss how to deal with the new variable in the implementation of the algorithm. Obviously, it could be treated as one extra unknown, either explicitly or as a condensed variable. However, we take for granted that the only way for the algorithm to be efficient is to uncouple it from the velocity–pressure calculation in one way or another. Here we discuss some iterative schemes to perform this uncoupling of the pressure gradient projection (PGP) from the calculation of the velocity and the pressure, both for the stationary and the transient Navier–Stokes equations. In the first case, the strategies analyzed refer to the interaction of the linearization loop and the iterative segregation of the PGP, whereas in the second the main dilemma concerns the explicit or implicit treatment of the PGP. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A coupled continuous and discontinuous finite element method for the incompressible flows

In this paper, we develop a coupled continuous Galerkin and discontinuous Galerkin finite element method based on a split scheme to solve the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. In order to use the equal order interpolation functions for velocity and pressure, we decouple the original Navier–Stokes equations and obtain three distinct equations through the split method, which are nonlinear hyperbolic, elliptic, and Helmholtz equations, respectively. The hybrid method combines the merits of discontinuous Galerkin (DG) and finite element method (FEM). Therefore, DG is concerned to accomplish the spatial discretization of the nonlinear hyperbolic equation to avoid using the stabilization approaches that appeared in FEM. Moreover, FEM is utilized to deal with the Poisson and Helmholtz equations to reduce the computational cost compared with DG. As for the temporal discretization, a second‐order stiffly stable approach is employed. Several typical benchmarks, namely, the Poiseuille flow, the backward‐facing step flow, and the flow around the cylinder with a wide range of Reynolds numbers, are considered to demonstrate and validate the feasibility, accuracy, and efficiency of this coupled method. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Remarks on the links between low‐order DG methods and some finite‐difference schemes for the Stokes problem

In this paper we demonstrate that some well‐known finite‐difference schemes can be interpreted within the framework of the local discontinuous Galerkin (LDG) methods using the low‐order piecewise solenoidal discrete spaces introduced in (SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 1990; 27 (6): 1466–1485). In particular, it appears that it is possible to derive the well‐known MAC scheme using a first‐order Nédélec approximation on rectangular cells. It has been recently interpreted within the framework of the Raviart–Thomas approximation by Kanschat (Int. J. Numer. Meth. Fluids 2007; published online). The two approximations are algebraically equivalent to the MAC scheme, however, they have to be applied on grids that are staggered on a distance h/2 in each direction. This paper also demonstrates that both discretizations allow for the construction of a divergence‐free basis, which yields a linear system with a ‘biharmonic’ conditioning. Both this paper and Kanschat (Int. J. Numer. Meth. Fluids 2007; published online) demonstrate that the LDG framework can be used to generalize some popular finite‐difference schemes to grids that are not parallel to the coordinate axes or that are unstructured. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fourth‐ and tenth‐order compact finite difference solutions of perturbed circular vortex flows

In this study, high‐order compact finite difference calculations are reported for 2D unsteady incompressible circular vortex flow in primitive variable formulation. The fourth‐order Runge–Kutta temporal discretization is used together with fourth‐ or tenth‐order compact spatial discretization. Dependent on the perturbation initially imposed, the solutions display a tripole, triangular or square vortex. The comparison of the predictions with the detailed spectral calculations of Kloosterziel and Carnevale (J. Fluid Mech. 1999; 388 :217–257) shows that the vorticity fields are very well captured. The spectral resolution of the present method was quantified from the decomposition of the vorticity distribution in its azimuthal components and compared with reported spectral results. Using identical grid resolution to the reference results yields negligible differences in the main features of the flow. The perturbation amplitude and its first harmonic are virtually identical to the reference results for both fourth‐ or tenth‐order spatial discretization, as theoretically expected but seldom a posteriori verified. The differences between the two spatial discretizations appear only for coarser grids, favouring the tenth‐order discretization. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.