Three‐dimensional finite element analysis of transient fluid flow with free‐surface using marker surface method and adaptive grid refinement

For three‐dimensional finite element analysis of transient fluid flow with free‐surface, a new marker surface method is proposed, in which the fluid flow is represented by the marker surface composed of marker elements instead of marker particles used in the marker particle method. This also involves an adaptive grid that is created under a new criterion of element categorization of filling states and the locations in the total region at each time step. The marker surface is used in order to represent the free‐surface accurately, as well as to decrease the memory and computation time, and to effectively display the predicted three‐dimensional free‐surface. By using the adaptive grid in which the elements, finer than those in internal and external regions, are distributed in the surface region through refinement and coarsening procedures, the analysis of three‐dimensional transient fluid flow with free‐surface is achieved more efficiently. Through three‐dimensional analysis of two kinds of problems using several grids, the efficiency of the proposed marker surface method and the adaptive grid are verified. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Parallel finite element simulation of mooring forces on floating objects

The coupling between the equations governing the free‐surface flows, the six degrees of freedom non‐linear rigid body dynamics, the linear elasticity equations for mesh‐moving and the cables has resulted in a fluid‐structure interaction technology capable of simulating mooring forces on floating objects. The finite element solution strategy is based on a combination approach derived from fixed‐mesh and moving‐mesh techniques. Here, the free‐surface flow simulations are based on the Navier–Stokes equations written for two incompressible fluids where the impact of one fluid on the other one is extremely small. An interface function with two distinct values is used to locate the position of the free‐surface. The stabilized finite element formulations are written and integrated in an arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian domain. This allows us to handle the motion of the time dependent geometries. Forces and momentums exerted on the floating object by both water and hawsers are calculated and used to update the position of the floating object in time. In the mesh moving scheme, we assume that the computational domain is made of elastic materials. The linear elasticity equations are solved to obtain the displacements for each computational node. The non‐linear rigid body dynamics equations are coupled with the governing equations of fluid flow and are solved simultaneously to update the position of the floating object. The numerical examples includes a 3D simulation of water waves impacting on a moored floating box and a model boat and simulation of floating object under water constrained with a cable. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic simulation of free surfaces in capillaries with the finite element method

The mathematical formulation of the dynamics of free liquid surfaces including the effects of surface tension is governed by a non-linear system of elliptic differential equations. The major difficulty of getting unique closed solutions only in trivial cases is overcome by numerical methods. This paper considers transient simulations of liquid–gas menisci in vertical capillary tubes and gaps in the presence of gravity. Therefore the CFD code FIDAP 7.52 based on the Galerkin finite element method (FEM) is used. Calculations using the free surface model are presented for a variety of contact angles and cross-sections with experimental and theoretical verification. The liquid column oscillations are compared for numerical accuracy with a mechanical mathematical model, and the sensitivity with respect to the node density is investigated. The efficiency of the numerical treatment of geometric non-trivial problems is demonstrated by a prismatic capillary. Present restrictions limiting efficient transient simulations with irregularly shaped calculational domains are stated. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prolonged simulation of near-free surface underwater explosion based on Eulerian finite element method

In the area of naval architecture and ocean engineering, the research about the underwater explosion problem is of great significance. To achieve prolonged simulation of near-free surface underwater explosion, the underwater explosion transient numerical model is established in this paper based on compressible Eulerian finite element method(EFEM). Compared with Geers–Hunter formula, EFEM is availably validated by simulating the free-field underwater explosion case. Then, the bubble pulsation and flow field dynamic characteristics of the cases with different underwater explosive depth are compared in this work. Lastly, the height of the water hump and the pressure of flow flied are analyzed quantitatively through the simulation results.     

面向对象的无单元法

介绍了一种用C 进行的面向对象无单元方法程序设计;定义了一些关键的类并将有些类设计成类等级,从而建立了包含权函数、基函数和形函数在内的面向对象无单元法程序类库,在此过程中考虑了无单元法与有限元法的某些联系,保留并重用了面向对象有限元法程序中的一些类。本文提供了一种无单元法大型分析软件开发新途径。     

近场动力学最小二乘和有限元耦合方法研究

准确高效地对损伤和断裂问题进行建模是计算力学中的关键研究课题之一。将近场动力学最小二乘在处理含裂纹等非连续问题上的优势和有限元计算效率高及便于施加边界条件的优势结合,提出了近场动力学最小二乘和有限元耦合方法。将裂纹及其可能扩展区域划分为近场动力学区域,边界及其他区域划分为有限元区域,并将其中的结点类型分为近场动力学结点和有限元结点。有限元结点仅与同单元中的其他结点产生作用,近场动力学结点则与其族内的所有结点产生作用。将以上的单元刚度矩阵和质量矩阵进行组装得到整体刚度矩阵和整体质量矩阵。本文的耦合方法数值实现简单有效,相对于键基和常规态基近场动力学,该耦合方法包含了应力和应变的概念,同时不受零能模式的影响。一维和二维静态和动态问题的研究,验证了本文的耦合方法的有效性和准确性。     

基于ALE方法的3D充填流动模拟

基于任意拉格朗日-欧拉方法发展了三维充填流动的数值模拟方案.该方案采用ALE方法准确地追踪移动自由面的位置并避免了网格扭曲;基于移动最小二乘曲面拟合方法提出了移动自由面上网格节点重定位方法,将充填流动的网格更新过程简化为自由面附近的局部网格重划分过程,并通过分级多面体三角剖分实现,减小了网格划分的计算量,实现了实时网格生成.给出的数值算例结果表明了该数值模型对三维充填流动模拟的有效性.     

A finite element method for free surface flows of incompressible fluids in three dimensions. Part I. Boundary fitted mesh motion

Computational fluid mechanics techniques for examining free surface problems in two‐dimensional form are now well established. Extending these methods to three dimensions requires a reconsideration of some of the difficult issues from two‐dimensional problems as well as developing new formulations to handle added geometric complexity. This paper presents a new finite element formulation for handling three‐dimensional free surface problems with a boundary‐fitted mesh and full Newton iteration, which solves for velocity, pressure, and mesh variables simultaneously. A boundary‐fitted, pseudo‐solid approach is used for moving the mesh, which treats the interior of the mesh as a fictitious elastic solid that deforms in response to boundary motion. To minimize mesh distortion near free boundary under large deformations, the mesh motion equations are rotated into normal and tangential components prior to applying boundary conditions. The Navier–Stokes equations are discretized using a Galerkin–least square/pressure stabilization formulation, which provides good convergence properties with iterative solvers. The result is a method that can track large deformations and rotations of free surface boundaries in three dimensions. The method is applied to two sample problems: solid body rotation of a fluid and extrusion from a nozzle with a rectangular cross‐section. The extrusion example exhibits a variety of free surface shapes that arise from changing processing conditions. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A finite element method for the one‐dimensional extended Boussinesq equations

A new finite element method for Nwogu's (O. Nwogu, ASCE J. Waterw., Port, Coast., Ocean Eng., 119 , 618–638 (1993)) one‐dimensional extended Boussinesq equations is presented using a linear element spatial discretisation method coupled with a sophisticated adaptive time integration package. The accuracy of the scheme is compared to that of an existing finite difference method (G. Wei and J.T. Kirby, ASCE J. Waterw., Port, Coast., Ocean Eng., 121 , 251–261 (1995)) by considering the truncation error at a node. Numerical tests with solitary and regular waves propagating in variable depth environments are compared with theoretical and experimental data. The accuracy of the results confirms the analytical prediction and shows that the new approach competes well with existing finite difference methods. The finite element formulation is shown to enable the method to be extended to irregular meshes in one dimension and has the potential to allow for extension to the important practical case of unstructured triangular meshes in two dimensions. This latter case is discussed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A finite element method for free surface flows of incompressible fluids in three dimensions. Part II. Dynamic wetting lines

To date, few researchers have solved three‐dimensional free surface problems with dynamic wetting lines. This paper extends the free surface finite element method (FEM) described in a companion paper [Cairncross RA, Schunk PR, Baer TA, Sackinger PA, Rao RR. A finite element method for free surface flows of incompressible fluid in three dimensions. Part I. Boundary fitted mesh motion. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids 2000; 33 : 375–403] to handle dynamic wetting. A generalization of the technique used in two‐dimensional modeling to circumvent double‐valued velocities at the wetting line, the so‐called kinematic paradox, is presented for a wetting line in three dimensions. This approach requires the fluid velocity normal to the contact line to be zero, the fluid velocity tangent to the contact line to be equal to the tangential component of web velocity, and the fluid velocity into the web to be zero. In addition, slip is allowed in a narrow strip along the substrate surface near the dynamic contact line. For realistic wetting line motion, a contact angle that varies with wetting speed is required because contact lines in three dimensions typically advance or recede at different rates depending upon location and/or have both advancing and receding portions. The theory is applied to capillary rise of static fluid in a corner, the initial motion of a Newtonian droplet down an inclined plane, and extrusion of a Newtonian fluid from a nozzle onto a moving substrate. The extrusion results are compared with experimental visualization. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical simulation of free‐surface flow using the level‐set method with global mass correction

A new numerical method that couples the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations with the global mass correction level‐set method for simulating fluid problems with free surfaces and interfaces is presented in this paper. The finite volume method is used to discretize Navier–Stokes equations with the two‐step projection method on a staggered Cartesian grid. The free‐surface flow problem is solved on a fixed grid in which the free surface is captured by the zero level set. Mass conservation is improved significantly by applying a global mass correction scheme, in a novel combination with third‐order essentially non‐oscillatory schemes and a five stage Runge–Kutta method, to accomplish advection and re‐distancing of the level‐set function. The coupled solver is applied to simulate interface change and flow field in four benchmark test cases: (1) shear flow; (2) dam break; (3) travelling and reflection of solitary wave and (4) solitary wave over a submerged object. The computational results are in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions, experimental data and previous numerical simulations using a RANS‐VOF method. The simulations reveal some interesting free‐surface phenomena such as the free‐surface vortices, air entrapment and wave deformation over a submerged object. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A finite element model for free surface flows on fixed meshes

In this paper, we present a finite element model for free surface flows on fixed meshes. The main novelty of the approach, compared with typical fixed mesh finite element models for such flows, is that we take advantage of the particularities of free surface flow, instead of considering it a particular case of two‐phase flow. The fact that a given free surface implies a known boundary condition on the interface, allows us to solve the Navier–Stokes equations on the fluid domain uncoupled from the solution on the rest of the finite element mesh. This, together with the use of enhanced integration allows us to model low Froude number flows accurately, something that is not possible with typical two‐phase flow models applied to free surface flow. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Finite element analysis of transient fluid flow with free surface using VOF (volume-of-fluid) method and adaptive grid

The VOF method is adopted for the finite element analysis of transient fluid flow with a free surface. In particular, an adaptation technique for generating an adaptive grid is incorporated to capture a higher resolution of the free surface configuration. An adaptive grid is created through the refinement and mergence of elements. In this domain the elements in the surface region are made finer than those in the remaining regions for more efficient computation. Also, three techniques based on the VOF method are newly developed to increase the accuracy of the analysis, namely the filling pattern, advection treatment and free surface smoothing techniques. Using the proposed numerical techniques, radial flow with a point source and the collapse of a dam are analysed. The numerical results agree well with the theoretical solutions as well as with the experimental results. Through comparisons with the numerical results of several cases using different grids, the efficiency of the proposed technique is verified. © 1998 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A finite element method for the two‐dimensional extended Boussinesq equations

A new numerical method for Nwogu's (ASCE Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering 1993; 119 :618)two‐dimensional extended Boussinesq equations is presented using a linear triangular finite element spatial discretization coupled with a sophisticated adaptive time integration package. The authors have previously presented a finite element method for the one‐dimensional form of these equations (M. Walkley and M. Berzins (International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids 1999; 29 (2):143)) and this paper describes the extension of these ideas to the two‐dimensional equations and the application of the method to complex geometries using unstructured triangular grids. Computational results are presented for two standard test problems and a realistic harbour model. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Large eddy simulation of turbulent incompressible flows by a three‐level finite element method

The variational multiscale method provides a methodical framework for large eddy simulation of turbulent flows. In this work, a particular implementation in the form of a three‐level finite element method separating large resolved, small resolved, and unresolved scales is proposed. Residual‐free bubbles are used for the numerical approximation of the small‐scale momentum equation. A stabilizing term is added, in order to take into account the effect of the small‐scale continuity equation. This implementation guarantees the stability of the method without further provisions and offers substantial computational savings on the small‐scale level. Furthermore, it is accounted for the unresolved scales by a specific dynamic modelling procedure. The method is tested for two different turbulent flow situations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A finite element method for two‐dimensional water‐wave problems

In this paper, the authors treat the free‐surface waves generated by a moving disturbance with a constant speed in water of finite and constant depth. Specifically, the case when the disturbance is moving with the critical speed is investigated. The water is assumed inviscid and its motion irrotational. The surface tension is neglected. It is well‐known that the linear theory breaks down when a disturbance is moving with the critical speed. As a remedy to overcome the invalid linear theory, approximate non‐linear theories have been applied with success in the past, i.e. Boussinesq and Korteweg de Vries equations, for example. In the present paper, the authors describe a finite element method applied to the non‐linear water‐wave problems in two dimensions. The present numerical method solves the exact non‐linear formulation in the scope of potential theory without any additional assumptions on the magnitude of the disturbances. The present numerical results are compared with those obtained by other approximate non‐linear theories. Also presented are the discussions on the validity of the existing approximate theories applied to two types of the disturbances, i.e. the bottom bump and the pressure patch on the free‐surface at the critical speed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.