Two-level stabilized finite element method for Stokes eigenvalue problem

A two-level stabilized finite element method for the Stokes eigenvalue problem based on the local Gauss integration is considered.This method involves solving a Stokes eigenvalue problem on a coarse mesh with mesh size H and a Stokes problem on a fine mesh with mesh size h = O(H 2),which can still maintain the asymptotically optimal accuracy.It provides an approximate solution with the convergence rate of the same order as the usual stabilized finite element solution,which involves solving a Stokes eigenvalue problem on a fine mesh with mesh size h.Hence,the two-level stabilized finite element method can save a large amount of computational time.Moreover,numerical tests confirm the theoretical results of the present method.     

A stabilized finite element method for the Stokes problem based on polynomial pressure projections

A new stabilized finite element method for the Stokes problem is presented. The method is obtained by modification of the mixed variational equation by using local L² polynomial pressure projections. Our stabilization approach is motivated by the inherent inconsistency of equal‐order approximations for the Stokes equations, which leads to an unstable mixed finite element method. Application of pressure projections in conjunction with minimization of the pressure–velocity mismatch eliminates this inconsistency and leads to a stable variational formulation. Unlike other stabilization methods, the present approach does not require specification of a stabilization parameter or calculation of higher‐order derivatives, and always leads to a symmetric linear system. The new method can be implemented at the element level and for affine families of finite elements on simplicial grids it reduces to a simple modification of the weak continuity equation. Numerical results are presented for a variety of equal‐order continuous velocity and pressure elements in two and three dimensions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An iterative implementation of the Uzawa algorithm for 3-D fluid flow problems

A new iterative algorithm for the solution of the three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations by the finite element method is presented. This algorithm is based on a combination of the Uzawa and the Arrow–Hurwicz algorithms and uses a preconditioning technique to enhance convergence. Numerical tests are presented for the cubic cavity problem with two elements, namely the linear brick Q₁?P₀ and the enriched linear brick Q₁⁺ ? P₁. It is shown that the proposed methodology is optimal with the enriched element and that the CPU time varies as NEQ^1·44, where NEQ is the number of equations.     

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.     

On the stability of bubble functions and a stabilized mixed finite element formulation for the Stokes problem

In this paper we investigate the relationship between stabilized and enriched finite element formulations for the Stokes problem. We also present a new stabilized mixed formulation for which the stability parameter is derived purely by the method of weighted residuals. This new formulation allows equal‐order interpolation for the velocity and pressure fields. Finally, we show by counterexample that a direct equivalence between subgrid‐based stabilized finite element methods and Galerkin methods enriched by bubble functions cannot be constructed for quadrilateral and hexahedral elements using standard bubble functions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Iterative solvers for quadratic discretizations of the generalized Stokes problem

We present in this paper various iterative methods for the solution of large linear and non‐linear systems resulting from the discretization of the generalized Stokes problem. A second‐order (O(h²)) P₂‐P₁ mixed finite element is used for the approximation of the velocity and the pressure. Solution strategies based on conjugate gradient‐like methods, the Uzawa's and Arrow–Hurwicz's methods are presented. Schur complement methods are also explored in the context of a hierarchical decomposition of the velocity field. The ever present preconditioning problem is also addressed. The performance of these iterative methods will be discussed on complex flows of industrial interest. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Efficient preconditioning techniques for finite‐element quadratic discretization arising from linearized incompressible Navier–Stokes equations

We develop an efficient preconditioning techniques for the solution of large linearized stationary and non‐stationary incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. These equations are linearized by the Picard and Newton methods, and linear extrapolation schemes in the non‐stationary case. The time discretization procedure uses the Gear scheme and the second‐order Taylor–Hood element P₂?P₁ is used for the approximation of the velocity and the pressure. Our purpose is to develop an efficient preconditioner for saddle point systems. Our tools are the addition of stabilization (penalization) term r?(div(·)), and the use of triangular block matrix as global preconditioner. This preconditioner involves the solution of two subsystems associated, respectively, with the velocity and the pressure and have to be solved efficiently. Furthermore, we use the P₁?P₂ hierarchical preconditioner recently proposed by the authors, for the block matrix associated with the velocity and an additive approach for the Schur complement approximation. Finally, several numerical examples illustrating the good performance of the preconditioning techniques are presented. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new stable space–time formulation for two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional incompressible viscous flow

A space–time finite element method for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations in a bounded domain in ?^d (with d=2 or 3) is presented. The method is based on the time‐discontinuous Galerkin method with the use of simplex‐type meshes together with the requirement that the space–time finite element discretization for the velocity and the pressure satisfy the inf–sup stability condition of Brezzi and Babu?ka. The finite element discretization for the pressure consists of piecewise linear functions, while piecewise linear functions enriched with a bubble function are used for the velocity. The stability proof and numerical results for some two‐dimensional problems are presented. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New nonconforming finite element method for solving transient Naiver-Stokes equations

For transient Naiver-Stokes problems, a stabilized nonconforming finite element method is presented, focusing on two pairs inf-sup unstable finite element spaces, i.e., pNC/pNC triangular and pNQ/pNQ quadrilateral finite element spaces. The semi- and full-discrete schemes of the stabilized method are studied based on the pressure projection and a variational multi-scale method. It has some attractive features： avoiding higher-order derivatives and edge-based data structures, adding a discrete velocity term only on the fine scale, being effective for high Reynolds number fluid flows, and avoiding increased computation cost. For the full-discrete scheme, it has second-order estimations of time and is unconditionally stable. The presented numerical results agree well with the theoretical results.     

Efficient computation of mean drag for the subcritical flow past a circular cylinder using general Galerkin G2

General Galerkin (G2) is a new computational method for turbulent flow, where a stabilized Galerkin finite element method is used to compute approximate weak solutions to the Navier–Stokes equations directly, without any filtering of the equations as in a standard approach to turbulence simulation, such as large eddy simulation, and thus no Reynolds stresses are introduced, which need modelling. In this paper, G2 is used to compute the drag coefficient c_D for the flow past a circular cylinder at Reynolds number Re=3900, for which the flow is turbulent. It is found that it is possible to approximate c_D to an accuracy of a few percent, corresponding to the accuracy in experimental results for this problem, using less than 10⁵ mesh points, which makes the simulations possible using a standard PC. The mesh is adaptively refined until a stopping criterion is reached with respect to the error in a chosen output of interest, which in this paper is c_D. Both the stopping criterion and the mesh‐refinement strategy are based on a posteriori error estimates, in the form of a space–time integral of residuals times derivatives of the solution of a dual problem, linearized at the approximate solution, and with data coupling to the output of interest. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stabilized Crouzeix-Raviart element for the coupled Stokes and Darcy problem

This paper introduces a new stabilized finite element method for the coupled Stokes and Darcy problem based on the nonconforming Crouzeix-Raviart element. Optimal error estimates for the fluid velocity and pressure are derived. A numerical example is presented to verify the theoretical predictions.     

On pressure separation algorithms (PSepA) for improving the accuracy of incompressible flow simulations

We investigate a special technique called ‘pressure separation algorithm’ (PSepA) (see Applied Mathematics and Computation 2005; 165 :275–290 for an introduction) that is able to significantly improve the accuracy of incompressible flow simulations for problems with large pressure gradients. In our numerical studies with the computational fluid dynamics package FEATFLOW ( www.featflow.de ), we mainly focus on low‐order Stokes elements with nonconforming finite element approximations for the velocity and piecewise constant pressure functions. However, preliminary numerical tests show that this advantageous behavior can also be obtained for higher‐order discretizations, for instance, with Q₂/P₁ finite elements. We analyze the application of this simple, but very efficient, algorithm to several stationary and nonstationary benchmark configurations in 2D and 3D (driven cavity and flow around obstacles), and we also demonstrate its effect to spurious velocities in multiphase flow simulations (‘static bubble’ configuration) if combined with edge‐oriented, resp., interior penalty finite element method stabilization techniques. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Least‐squares meshfree method for incompressible Navier–Stokes problems

A least‐squares meshfree method based on the first‐order velocity–pressure–vorticity formulation for two‐dimensional incompressible Navier–Stokes problem is presented. The convective term is linearized by successive substitution or Newton's method. The discretization of all governing equations is implemented by the least‐squares method. Equal‐order moving least‐squares approximation is employed with Gauss quadrature in the background cells. The boundary conditions are enforced by the penalty method. The matrix‐free element‐by‐element Jacobi preconditioned conjugate method is applied to solve the discretized linear systems. Cavity flow for steady Navier–Stokes problem and the flow over a square obstacle for time‐dependent Navier–Stokes problem are investigated for the presented least‐squares meshfree method. The effects of inaccurate integration on the accuracy of the solution are investigated. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A mixed finite element method for the generalized Stokes problem

We present and analyse a new mixed finite element method for the generalized Stokes problem. The approach, which is a natural extension of a previous procedure applied to quasi‐Newtonian Stokes flows, is based on the introduction of the flux and the tensor gradient of the velocity as further unknowns. This yields a two‐fold saddle point operator equation as the resulting variational formulation. Then, applying a slight generalization of the well known Babu?ka–Brezzi theory, we prove that the continuous and discrete formulations are well posed, and derive the associated a priori error analysis. In particular, the finite element subspaces providing stability coincide with those employed for the usual Stokes flows except for one of them that needs to be suitably enriched. We also develop an a posteriori error estimate (based on local problems) and propose the associated adaptive algorithm to compute the finite element solutions. Several numerical results illustrate the performance of the method and its capability to localize boundary layers, inner layers, and singularities. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of element order and interface reconstruction in FEM/volume‐of‐fluid incompressible flow simulation

In previous studies, the moment‐of‐fluid interface reconstruction method showed dramatic accuracy improvements in static and pure advection tests over existing methods, but this did not translate into an equivalent improvement in volume‐tracked multimaterial incompressible flow simulation using low‐order finite elements. In this work, the combined effects of the spatial discretization and interface reconstruction in flow simulation are examined. The mixed finite element pairs, Q₁Q₀ (with pressure stabilization) and Q₂P _{? 1} are compared. Material order‐dependent and material order‐independent first and second‐order accurate interface reconstruction methods are used. The Q₂P _{? 1} elements show significant improvements in computed flow solution accuracy for single material flows but show reduced convergence using element‐average piecewise constant density and viscosity in volume‐tracked simulations. In general, a refined Q₁Q₀ grid, with better material interface resolution, provided an accuracy similar to the Q₂P _{? 1} element grid with a comparable number of degrees of freedom. Moment‐of‐fluid shows more benefit from the higher‐order accurate flow simulation than the LVIRA, Youngs', and power diagram interface reconstruction methods, especially on unstructured grids, but does not recover the dramatic accuracy improvements it has shown in advection tests. Published 2012. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

A New Stable Bubble Element for Incompressible Fluid Flow Based on a Mixed Petrov–Galerkin Finite Element Formulation

A new mixed Petrov–Galerkin formulation employing the MINI element with a non-confirming bubble function for an incompressible media governed by the Stokes equations, which is equivalent to the stabilized finite element by P ¹-P ¹ approximation, is proposed. The new formulation possesses better stability properties than the conventional Bubnov–Galerkin formulation employing the MINI element. In this aspect, the stabilizing effect of this formulation is evaluated by a stabilizing parameter determined by both shapes of the trial and the weighting bubble functions.     

Augmented mixed finite element methods for a vorticity‐based velocity–pressure–stress formulation of the Stokes problem in 2D

In this paper, we consider an augmented velocity–pressure–stress formulation of the 2D Stokes problem, in which the stress is defined in terms of the vorticity and the pressure, and then we introduce and analyze stable mixed finite element methods to solve the associated Galerkin scheme. In this way, we further extend similar procedures applied recently to linear elasticity and to other mixed formulations for incompressible fluid flows. Indeed, our approach is based on the introduction of the Galerkin least‐squares‐type terms arising from the corresponding constitutive and equilibrium equations, and from the Dirichlet boundary condition for the velocity, all of them multiplied by stabilization parameters. Then, we show that these parameters can be suitably chosen so that the resulting operator equation induces a strongly coercive bilinear form, whence the associated Galerkin scheme becomes well posed for any choice of finite element subspaces. In particular, we can use continuous piecewise linear velocities, piecewise constant pressures, and rotated Raviart–Thomas elements for the stresses. Next, we derive reliable and efficient residual‐based a posteriori error estimators for the augmented mixed finite element schemes. In addition, several numerical experiments illustrating the performance of the augmented mixed finite element methods, confirming the properties of the a posteriori estimators, and showing the behavior of the associated adaptive algorithms are reported. The present work should be considered as a first step aiming finally to derive augmented mixed finite element methods for vorticity‐based formulations of the 3D Stokes problem. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spectral/hp penalty least‐squares finite element formulation for unsteady incompressible flows

In this paper, we present spectral/hp penalty least‐squares finite element formulation for the numerical solution of unsteady incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. Pressure is eliminated from Navier–Stokes equations using penalty method, and finite element model is developed in terms of velocity, vorticity and dilatation. High‐order element expansions are used to construct discrete form. Unlike other penalty finite element formulations, equal‐order Gauss integration is used for both viscous and penalty terms of the coefficient matrix. For time integration, space–time decoupled schemes are implemented. Second‐order accuracy of the time integration scheme is established using the method of manufactured solution. Numerical results are presented for impulsively started lid‐driven cavity flow at Reynolds number of 5000 and transient flow over a backward‐facing step. The effect of penalty parameter on the accuracy is investigated thoroughly in this paper and results are presented for a range of penalty parameter. Present formulation produces very accurate results for even very low penalty parameters (10–50). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the difficulties and remedies in enforcing the div = 0 condition in the finite element analysis of thermal plumes with strongly temperature-dependent viscosity

A finite element (FE) analysis of experimentally observed creeping thermal plumes in a medium whose viscosity is strongly temperature-dependent is performed. Such plumes are considered to play an important role in numerous geological processes and numerical modelling is often the only option to study their physics. Initial simulations by means of the general-purpose Galerkin finite element package NACHOS-II demonstrated serious deficiencies of the method in modelling plumes with large viscosity contrasts, in spite of several options for the solution (mixed or penalty formulation) and the elements (continuous or discontinous pressure). In agreement with observations from FE simulations of isothermal Stokes flow in other studies, we have isolated the violation of the div = 0 or incompressibility constraint as the major culprit in the failure of the FE method. It is demonstrated that the a posteriori computed discrete divergence (DDIV) can be used as a diagnostic tool to evaluate the reliability of the FE solution and to rank the solution and element options provided in the NACHOS code. On the basis of these considerations, the combination of the mixed method with a Q₂-P₁ (discontinuous pressure) element turns out to be the most suitable for the present plume problem but is still unable to sufficiently enforce the div = 0 condition. With a goal to remedy this detrimental behaviour, several FE modifications and new approaches have been taken. These include: (i) use of a new scaling option for the governing equations which has the effect of equilbrating the stiffness matrices and thus improving their condition; (ii) implementation of several iterative solution techniques such as the iterated penalty and the Uzawa algorithm for the augmented Langrangian to better accommodate the dual role of the pressure; (iii) use of a multistep Newton method to better handle the high non-linearity of the coupled flow/transport problem. Although each of these options (or a combination of them) is able to improve on the quality of FE solution, the most startling amelioration has been gained with option (iii). Use of the latter resulted in very satisfactory modelling of the experimentally observed plumes.     

A least-squares finite element method for time-dependent incompressible flows with thermal convection

The time-dependent Navier–Stokes equations and the energy balance equation for an incompressible, constant property fluid in the Boussinesq approximation are solved by a least-squares finite element method based on a velocity–pressure–vorticity–temperature–heat-flux ( u –P–ω–T– q ) formulation discretized by backward finite differencing in time. The discretization scheme leads to the minimization of the residual in the l²-norm for each time step. Isoparametric bilinear quadrilateral elements and reduced integration are employed. Three examples, thermally driven cavity flow at Rayleigh numbers up to 10⁶, lid-driven cavity flow at Reynolds numbers up to 10⁴ and flow over a square obstacle at Reynolds number 200, are presented to validate the method.