Numerical solution of axisymmetric cavity flows using the boundary element method

This paper presents a formulation of the boundary element method (BEM) for solution of axisymmetric cavity flow problems. The governing equation is written in terms of Stokes' stream function, requiring a new fundamental solution to be found. The iterative procedure for adjusting the free-surface position is similar to that used for planar cavity flows. Numerical results are compared with finite difference and finite element solutions, showing the robustness of the BEM model.     

A numerical implementation using mid-node collocation for the hypersingular boundary contour method

A variant of the boundary element method, called the boundary contour method (BCM), offers a further reduction in dimensionality. Consequently, boundary contour analysis of two-dimensional problems does not require any numerical integration at all. In another development, a boundary contour implementation of a regularized hypersingular boundary integral equation (HBIE) using quadratic elements and end-node collocation was proposed and the technique is termed the hypersingular boundary contour method (HBCM). As reported in that work, the approach requires highly refined meshes in order to numerically enforce the stress continuity across boundary contour elements. This continuity requirement is very crucial since the regularized HBIE is only valid at collocation points where the stress tensor is continuous, while the computed stress at the endpoints of a boundary contour element, which is a non-conforming element, is generally not. This paper presents a new implementation of the HBCM for which the regularized HBIE is collocated at the mid-node of a boundary contour element. As the computed stress tensor is continuous at these mid-nodes, there is no need for unusually refined meshes. Some numerical tests herein show that, for the same mesh density, the HBCM using mid-node collocation has a comparable accuracy as the BCM.     

Computer-aided spillway design using the boundary element method and non-linear programming

The general context of this paper is to support the design of spillways by a direct mathematical approach instead of trial-and-error methods. First, a two-dimensional model is formulated to determine the free surface and the discharge for a stationary, incompressible, homogeneous, non-viscous and irrotational flow over a fixed spillway. The flow satisfies the Laplace equation and the Bernoulli equation (potential flow). An important feature of the model is that it can be extended to design the spillway structure when the spillway is not fixed but the pressure on the spillway is described by a cavitation criterion. Next, the continuous model is discretized by the boundary element method (BEM). We use a non-linear programming algorithm to calculate the pressures and the shape of the spillway. A computer-aided design package is developed on a PC using the equations describing the free surface, the BEM and standard optimization techniques. The input and output of the model are realized using graphical routines. Finally, we discuss the convergence and the computation time of the algorithms.     

A boundary element method for steady viscous fluid flow using penalty function formulation

A new boundary element method is presented for steady incompressible flow at moderate and high Reynolds numbers. The whole domain is discretized into a number of eight-noded cells, for each of which the governing boundary integral equation is formulated exclusively in terms of velocities and tractions. The kernels used in this paper are the fundamental solutions of the linearized Navier–Stokes equations with artificial compressibility. Significant attention is given to the numerical evaluation of the integrals over quadratic boundary elements as well as over quadratic quadrilateral volume cells in order to ensure a high accuracy level at high Reynolds numbers. As an illustration, square driven cavity flows are considered for Reynolds numbers up to 1000. Numerical results demonstrate both the high convergence rate, even when using simple (direct) iterations, and the appropriate level of accuracy of the proposed method. Although the method yields a high level of accuracy in the primary vortex region, the secondary vortices are not properly resolved. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A complete boundary integral formulation for steady compressible inviscid flows governed by non-linear equations

A complete boundary integral formulation for steady compressible inviscid flows governed by non-linear equations is established by using the specific mass flux as a dependent variable. Thus, the dimensionality of the problem to be solved is reduced by one and the computational mesh to be generated is needed only on the boundary of the domain. It is shown that the boundary integral formulation developed in this paper is equivalent of the results of distributions of the fundamental solutions of the Laplacian operator equation with a different order along the boundaries of the domain. Hence, we have succeeded in establishing the fundamental-solution method for compressible inviscid flows governed by non-linear equations.     

A boundary element method for anisotropic coupled thermoelasticity

Summary A boundary element formulation is presented for the solution of the equations of fully coupled thermoelasticity for materials of arbitrary degree of anisotropy. By employing the fundamental solutions of anisotropic elastostatics and stationary heat conduction, a system of equations with time-independent matrices is obtained. Since the fundamental solutions are uncoupled and time-independent, a domain integral remains in the representation formula which contains the time-dependence as well as the thermoelastic coupling. This domain integral is transformed to the boundary by means of the dual reciprocity method. By taking this approach, the use of dynamic fundamental solutions is avoided, which enables an efficient calculation of system matrices. In addition, the solution of transient processes as well as, free and forced vibration analysis becomes straightforward and can be carried out with standard time-stepping schemes and eigensystem solvers. Another important advantage of the present formulation is its versatility, since it includes a number of simplified thermoelastic theories, viz. the theory of thermal stresses, coupled and uncoupled quasi-static thermoelasticity, and stationary thermoelasticity. The accuracy of the new thermoelastic boundary element method is demonstrated by a number of example problems. Support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) of the Graduate Collegium Modelling and discretization methods for continua and fluids (GKKS) at the University of Stuttgart is gratefully acknowledged.     

Recent advances on the fast multipole accelerated boundary element method for 3D time-harmonic elastodynamics

This article is mainly devoted to a review on fast BEMs for elastodynamics, with particular attention on time-harmonic fast multipole methods (FMMs). It also includes original results that complete a very recent study on the FMM for elastodynamic problems in semi-infinite media. The main concepts underlying fast elastodynamic BEMs and the kernel-dependent elastodynamic FM-BEM based on the diagonal-form kernel decomposition are reviewed. An elastodynamic FM-BEM based on the half-space Green’s tensor suitable for semi-infinite media, and in particular on the fast evaluation of the corresponding governing double-layer integral operator involved in the BIE formulation of wave scattering by underground cavities, is then presented. Results on numerical tests for the multipole evaluation of the half-space traction Green’s tensor and the FMM treatment of a sample 3D problem involving wave scattering by an underground cavity demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed approach. The article concludes with a discussion of several topics open to further investigation, with relevant published work surveyed in the process.     

A quadratic-element formulation of the complex variable boundary element method

The complex variable boundary element method (CVBEM) for simply connected domains is extended to include the use of quadratic elements and interpolating functions. The derivation follows the format for linear elements given in the literature, with second-degree Lagrange polynomials taken as the interpolating functions. The quadratic-element CVBEM nodal- and interior-point equations are given in detail, and the resulting formulation is successfully tested by solving example problems with available analytical solutions. Comparisons of computational efficiency and accuracy are made between the solutions obtained using linear and quadratic elements. Additional comparisons are made using published results from other boundary element methods.     

Non-element method of solving 2D boundary problems defined on polygonal domains modeled by Navier equation

The paper presents a non-element method of solving boundary problems defined on polygonal domains modeled by corner points. To solve these problems a parametric integral equation system (PIES) is used. The system is characterized by a separation of the approximation of boundary geometry from the approximation of boundary functions. This feature makes it possible to effectively investigate the convergence of the obtained solutions with no need of performing the approximation of boundary geometry. The testing examples included confirm high accuracy of the solutions.     

The numerical solution of Stokes flow in a domain with re-entrant boundaries by the boundary element method

Numerical solutions are presented for two-dimensional low Reynolds number flow in a rotating tank with stationary barriers. The boundary element method is employed, assuming straight panels and quadratic source distribution. The feasibility of repositioning the nodes as a way to minimize the error is explored. A stretching parameter places smaller elements near the re-entrant regions. Elementary error analysis shows uniform improvement in the solution with stretching. The changing eddy pattern for different numbers and sizes of the barriers is compared with experimental results.     

A subdomain boundary element method for high‐Reynolds laminar flow using stream function‐vorticity formulation

The paper presents a new formulation of the integral boundary element method (BEM) using subdomain technique. A continuous approximation of the function and the function derivative in the direction normal to the boundary element (further ‘normal flux’) is introduced for solving the general form of a parabolic diffusion‐convective equation. Double nodes for normal flux approximation are used. The gradient continuity is required at the interior subdomain corners where compatibility and equilibrium interface conditions are prescribed. The obtained system matrix with more equations than unknowns is solved using the fast iterative linear least squares based solver. The robustness and stability of the developed formulation is shown on the cases of a backward‐facing step flow and a square‐driven cavity flow up to the Reynolds number value 50 000. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Boundary element method for steady 2D high-Reynolds-number flow

This paper deals with the numerical simulation of fluid dynamics using the boundary–domain integral technique (BEM). The steady 2D diffusion–convection equations are discussed and applied to solve the plane Navier-Stokes equations. A vorticity–velocity formulation has been used. The numerical scheme was tested on the well-known ‘driven cavity’ problem. Results for Re = 1000 and 10,000 are compared with benchmark solutions. There are also results for Re = 15,000 but they have only qualitative value. The purpose was to show the stability and robustness of the method even when the grid is relatively coarse.     

A consistent boundary element method for free surface hydrodynamic calculations

Free surface phenomena are described by equations that exhibit two types of non-linearities. The first is inherent to the equations themselves and the second is caused by the application of boundary conditions at a free surface at an unknown location. Numerical calculations usually do not specifically recognize the second non-linearity, nor treat it in a fashion consistent with the more obvious non-linearities in the boundary conditions. A consistent formulation is introduced in the present paper. The field equation is integrated and the free surface boundary conditions are applied on the unknown geometry by means of appropriate series expansions. The consistent formulation introduces improvements in accuracy and computing speed. The method is demonstrated on several hydrodynamic free surface problems and an error analysis is included.     

Lifting aerofoil calculation using the boundary element method

The bbundary integral formulation and boundary element method are extended to include lifting flow problems. This involves inclusion of a branch cut in the flow field and imposition of a Kutta condition to determine the circulation, Γ Additional boundary integral contributions arise from the cut surface. Techniques for calculating Γ are developed and we treat, in particular, a superposition procedure which permits very efficient computation. Numerical results are presented for an NACA0012 aerofoil at several angles of attack.     

A boundary integral equation method for Navier-Stokes equations—application to flow in annulus of eccentric cylinders

A novel Navier-Stokes solver based on the boundary integral equation method is presented. The solver can be used to obtain flow solutions in arbitrary 2D geometries with modest computational effort. The vorticity transport equation is modelled as a modified Helmholtz equation with the wave number dependent on the flow Reynolds number. The non-linear inertial terms partly manifest themselves as volume vorticity sources which are computed iteratively by tracking flow trajectories. The integral equation representations of the Helmholtz equation for vorticity and Poisson equation for streamfunction are solved directly for the unknown vorticity boundary conditions. Rapid computation of the flow and vorticity field in the volume at each iteration level is achieved by precomputing the influence coefficient matrices. The pressure field can be extracted from the converged streamfunction and vorticity fields. The solver is validated by considering flow in a converging channel (Hamel flow). The solver is then applied to flow in the annulus of eccentric cylinders. Results are presented for various Reynolds numbers and compared with the literature.     

A self-consistent boundary element, parametric dislocation dynamics formulation of plastic flow in finite volumes

We present a self-consistent formulation of 3-D parametric dislocation dynamics (PDD) with the boundary element method (BEM) to describe dislocation motion, and hence microscopic plastic flow in finite volumes. We develop quantitative measures of the accuracy and convergence of the method by considering a comparison with known analytical solutions. It is shown that the method displays absolute convergence with increasing the number of quadrature points on the dislocation loop and the surface mesh density. The error in the image force on a screw dislocation approaching a free surface is shown to increase as the dislocation approaches the surface, but is nevertheless controllable. For example, at a distance of one lattice parameter from the surface, the relative error is less than 5% for a surface mesh with an element size of 1000×2000 (in units of lattice parameter), and 64 quadrature points. The Eshelby twist angle in a finite-length cylinder containing a coaxial screw dislocation is also used to benchmark the method. Finally, large scale 3-D simulation results of single slip behavior in cylindrical microcrystals are presented. Plastic flow characteristics and the stress-strain behavior of cylindrical microcrystals under compression are shown to be in agreement with experimental observations. It is shown that the mean length of dislocations trapped at the surface is the dominant factor in determining the size effects on hardening of single crystals. The influence of surface image fields on the flow stress is finally explored. It is shown that the flow stress is reduced by as much as 20% for small single crystals of size less than .     

A boundary element method for the simulation of non-spherical bubbles and their interactions near a free surface

The basic principle and numerical technique for simulating two three-dimensional bubbles near a free surface are studied in detail by using boundary element method. The singularities of influence coefficient matrix are eliminated using coordinate transformation and so-called 4 π rule. The solid angle for the open surface is treated in direct method based on its definition. Several kinds of configurations for the bubbles and free surface have been investigated. The pressure contours during the evolution of bubbles are obtained in our model and can better illuminate the mechanism underlying the motions of bubbles and free surface. The bubble dynamics and their interactions have close relation with the standoff distances, buoyancy parameters and initial sizes of bubbles. Completely different bubble shapes, free surface motions, jetting patterns and pressure distributions under different parameters can be observed in our model, as demonstrated in our calculation results.     

A total linearization method for solving viscous free boundary flow problems by the finite element method

In this paper a total linearization method is derived for solving steady viscous free boundary flow problems (including capillary effects) by the finite element method. It is shown that the influence of the geometrical unknown in the totally linearized weak formulation can be expressed in terms of boundary integrals. This means that the implementation of the method is simple. Numerical experiments show that the iterative method gives accurate results and converges very fast.     

Diagonal form fast multipole boundary element method for 2D acoustic problems based on Burton-Miller boundary integral equation formulation and its applications

This paper describes formulation and implementation of the fast multipole boundary element method (FMBEM) for 2D acoustic problems. The kernel function expansion theory is summarized, and four building blocks of the FMBEM are described in details. They are moment calculation, moment to moment translation, moment to local translation, and local to local translation. A data structure for the quad-tree construction is proposed which can facilitate implementation. An analytical moment expression is derived, which is more accurate, stable, and efficient than direct numerical computation. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the FMBEM, and radiation of a 2D vibration rail mode is simulated using the FMBEM.