| Abstract: | When the Galerkin finite-element method with a nine-node isoparametric Lagrangian element is applied to solve non-Newtonian fluid flow problems, a considerable amount of computing time is required to solve the discretized non-linear system of equations by Newton's method. A method proposed by Broyden has been modified to compute the Jacobian matrix associated with Newton's method. This modified Broyden's method can be combined with the frontal method to efficiently solve the linearized finite-element equations during the iteration. Numerical results of a sample problem concerning the determination of the pressure-drop/flow-rate relationship for power-law fluids in rectangular ducts show that the application of this new method can reduce computing time substantially. |
