| Abstract: | We propose a finite element modified method of characteristics for numerical solution of convective heat transport. The flow equations are the incompressible Navier‐Stokes equations including density variation through the Boussinesq approximation. The solution procedure consists of combining an essentially non‐oscillatory modified method of characteristics for time discretization with finite element method for space discretization. These numerical techniques associate the geometrical flexibility of the finite elements with the ability offered by modified method of characteristics to solve convection‐dominated flows using time steps larger than its Eulerian counterparts. Numerical results are shown for natural convection in a squared cavity and heat transport in the strait of Gibraltar. Performance and accuracy of the method are compared to other published data. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2008 |
