The role of data transfer on the selection of a single vs. multiple mesh architecture for tightly coupled multiphysics applications

Data transfer from one mesh to another may be necessary in a number of situations including spatial adaptation, remeshing, arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE), and multiphysics simulation. Data transfer has the potential to introduce error into a simulation; the magnitude and impact of which depends on the application, transfer scenario, and the algorithm used to perform the data transfer. During a transient simulation, data transfer may occur many times, with the potential of error accumulation at each transfer. This paper examines data transfer error and its impact on a set of simple multiphysics problems. Data transfer error is examined using analytical functions to compare schemes based on interpolation, area-weighted averaging, and L² minimization. An example error analysis is performed to illustrate data transfer error and behavior for a simple problem. Data transfer error is also investigated for a one-dimensional time-dependent system of partial differential equations. This study concludes that data transfer error can be significant in coupled multiphysics systems. These numerical experiments suggest that error is a function of data transfer scheme, and characteristics of the field data and mesh. If there are significant differences in the meshes in a multiple mesh simulation, this study suggests that data transfer may lead to error and instability if care is not taken. Further, this work motivates that data transfer error should be included in the estimation of numerical error when data transfer is employed in a simulation.