Adaptive Finite Element Methods for the Compressible Euler Equations


Book Description

In this thesis we introduce a discontinuous Galerkin method for the numerical solution of hyperbolic conversation laws, as for example the compressible Euler equations of gas dynamics. Based on this finite element method, we develop an adaptive algorithm for the efficient computation of physically relevant quantities of the solution. This includes a posteriori error estimation of the error in the computed quantity as well as adaptive mesh design specifically tailored to the efficient computation of this quantity. We illustrate this approach by several different hyperbolic problems in combination with various different target quantities, including the efficient computation of drag and lift coefficients of airfoils immersed in inviscid compressible gas flows.




Adaptive Finite Element Solution Algorithm for the Euler Equations


Book Description

This monograph is the result of my PhD thesis work in Computational Fluid Dynamics at the Massachusettes Institute of Technology under the supervision of Professor Earll Murman. A new finite element al gorithm is presented for solving the steady Euler equations describing the flow of an inviscid, compressible, ideal gas. This algorithm uses a finite element spatial discretization coupled with a Runge-Kutta time integration to relax to steady state. It is shown that other algorithms, such as finite difference and finite volume methods, can be derived using finite element principles. A higher-order biquadratic approximation is introduced. Several test problems are computed to verify the algorithms. Adaptive gridding in two and three dimensions using quadrilateral and hexahedral elements is developed and verified. Adaptation is shown to provide CPU savings of a factor of 2 to 16, and biquadratic elements are shown to provide potential savings of a factor of 2 to 6. An analysis of the dispersive properties of several discretization methods for the Euler equations is presented, and results allowing the prediction of dispersive errors are obtained. The adaptive algorithm is applied to the solution of several flows in scramjet inlets in two and three dimensions, demonstrat ing some of the varied physics associated with these flows. Some issues in the design and implementation of adaptive finite element algorithms on vector and parallel computers are discussed.













Adaptive Finite Element Methods for Differential Equations


Book Description

These Lecture Notes have been compiled from the material presented by the second author in a lecture series ('Nachdiplomvorlesung') at the Department of Mathematics of the ETH Zurich during the summer term 2002. Concepts of 'self adaptivity' in the numerical solution of differential equations are discussed with emphasis on Galerkin finite element methods. The key issues are a posteriori er ror estimation and automatic mesh adaptation. Besides the traditional approach of energy-norm error control, a new duality-based technique, the Dual Weighted Residual method (or shortly D WR method) for goal-oriented error estimation is discussed in detail. This method aims at economical computation of arbitrary quantities of physical interest by properly adapting the computational mesh. This is typically required in the design cycles of technical applications. For example, the drag coefficient of a body immersed in a viscous flow is computed, then it is minimized by varying certain control parameters, and finally the stability of the resulting flow is investigated by solving an eigenvalue problem. 'Goal-oriented' adaptivity is designed to achieve these tasks with minimal cost. The basics of the DWR method and various of its applications are described in the following survey articles: R. Rannacher [114], Error control in finite element computations. In: Proc. of Summer School Error Control and Adaptivity in Scientific Computing (H. Bulgak and C. Zenger, eds), pp. 247-278. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1998. M. Braack and R. Rannacher [42], Adaptive finite element methods for low Mach-number flows with chemical reactions.




Numerical Simulation of Compressible Euler Flows


Book Description

The numerical simulation of the Euler equations of Fluid Dynamics has been these past few years a challenging problem both for research scientists and aerospace engineers. The increasing interest of more realistic models such as the Euler equations originates in Aerodynamics and also Aerothermics where aerospace applications such as military aircrafts and also space vehicles require accurate and efficient Euler solvers (which can be extended to more complicated modelisations including non-equilibrium chemistry) for su personic and hypersonic flows at high angles of attack and Mach number regimes involving strong shocks and vorticity. This book contains the proceedings of the GAMM Workshop on the Numerical Simu lation of Compressible Euler Flows. that W:LS held at INRIA, Rocquencourt (France), on June 10-13, 1986. The purpose of this event was to compare in terms of accuracy and efficiency several codes for solving compressible inviscid, mainly steady, Euler flows. This workshop was a sequel of the GAMM workshop held in 1979 in Stockholm; this time, though, because of the present strong activity in numerical methods for the Euler equat.ions, the full-potential approach was not included. Since 1979, other Eulpr workshops have been organised, sev eral of them focussed on airfoil calculations; however, many recently derived methods were not presented at these workshops, because, among other reasons, the methods were not far enough developed, or had not been applied to flow problems of sufficient complexity. In fact, the 1986 GAMM workshop scored very high as regards to the novelty of methods.




Finite Elements


Book Description

This volume covers the proceedings ofthe ICASE/LaRC workshop on "Finite Element Theory and Application" held during July 28-30, 1986. The purpose of this workshop was to provide an update on the status of finite element theory, to assess the impactoftbis theory on practice, and to suggest directions for Cuture research. There were thirteen participants in the workshop. Some of them were leading mathematicians working on the finite element theory, and the rest expert practitioners in the areas of fluid dynamics and structural analysis. The first six articles in this volume provide a brief review of the theoretical and computational aspects of finite element methods (FEM). The remaining seven articles deal with a variety of applications highlighting the type of results that are possible, and indicating areas which deserve future research. The first article is by Temam. lt provides an introduction and overview of the general finite element methods for the nonspecialist. lt also illustrates the power of finite element methods with two specific applications-the free surface flowjstructure interaction problern and the compressible Euler solu tion to the flow past a finite aspect ratio flat plate at incidence. The second article by Brezzi is againan introduction and overview ofmixed finite element methods. lt includes a brief discussion of special techniques for solving the discrete problem, as weil as some applications to certain basic problems in elasticity and hydrodynamics.