Discontinuous Galerkin approximations in computational mechanics: hybridization, exact geometry and degree adaptivity

Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) discretizations with exact representation of the geometry and local polynomial degree adaptivity are revisited. Hybridization techniques are employed to reduce the computational cost of DG approximations and devise the hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) method. Exact geometry described by non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS) is integrated into HDG using the framework of the NURBS-enhanced finite element method (NEFEM). Moreover, optimal convergence and superconvergence properties of HDG-Voigt formulation in presence of symmetric second-order tensors are exploited to construct inexpensive error indicators and drive degree adaptive procedures. Applications involving the numerical simulation of problems in electrostatics, linear elasticity and incompressible viscous flows are presented. Moreover, this is done for both high-order HDG approximations and the lowest-order framework of face-centered finite volumes (FCFV).Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

eXtended hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin for incompressible flow problems with unfitted meshes and interfaces

The eXtended hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin (X-HDG) method is developed for the solution of Stokes problems with void or material interfaces. X-HDG is a novel method that combines the hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) method with an eXtended finite element strategy, resulting in a high-order, unfitted, superconvergent method, with an explicit definition of the interface geometry by means of a level-set function. For elements not cut by the interface, the standard HDG formulation is applied, whereas a modified weak form for the local problem is proposed for cut elements. Heaviside enrichment is considered on cut faces and in cut elements in the case of bimaterial problems. Two-dimensional numerical examples demonstrate that the applicability, accuracy, and superconvergence properties of HDG are inherited in X-HDG, with the freedom of computational meshes that do not fit the interfacesPeer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

A nested hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin method for computing second-harmonic generation in three-dimensional metallic nanostructures

In this paper, we develop a nested hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) method to numerically solve the Maxwell's equations coupled with the hydrodynamic model for the conduction-band electrons in metals. By means of a static condensation to eliminate the degrees of freedom of the approximate solution defined in the elements, the HDG method yields a linear system in terms of the degrees of freedom of the approximate trace defined on the element boundaries. Furthermore, we propose to reorder these degrees of freedom so that the linear system accommodates a second static condensation to eliminate a large portion of the degrees of freedom of the approximate trace, thereby yielding a much smaller linear system. For the particular metallic structures considered in this paper, the resulting linear system obtained by means of nested static condensations is a block tridiagonal system, which can be solved efficiently. We apply the nested HDG method to compute the second harmonic generation (SHG) on a triangular coaxial periodic nanogap structure. This nonlinear optics phenomenon features rapid field variations and extreme boundary-layer structures that span multiple length scales. Numerical results show that the ability to identify structures which exhibit resonances at $\omega$ and $2\omega$ is paramount to excite the second harmonic response.Comment: 31 pages, 7 figure

An interface-tracking space-time hybridizable/embedded discontinuous Galerkin method for nonlinear free-surface flows

We present a compatible space-time hybridizable/embedded discontinuous Galerkin discretization for nonlinear free-surface waves. We pose this problem in a two-fluid (liquid and gas) domain and use a time-dependent level-set function to identify the sharp interface between the two fluids. The incompressible two-fluidd equations are discretized by an exactly mass conserving space-time hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin method while the level-set equation is discretized by a space-time embedded discontinuous Galerkin method. Different from alternative discontinuous Galerkin methods is that the embedded discontinuous Galerkin method results in a continuous approximation of the interface. This, in combination with the space-time framework, results in an interface-tracking method without resorting to smoothing techniques or additional mesh stabilization terms

eXtended Hybridizable Discontinous Galerkin (X-HDG) Method for Linear Convection-Diffusion Equations on Unfitted Domains

In this work, we propose a novel strategy for the numerical solution of linear convection diffusion equation (CDE) over unfitted domains. In the proposed numerical scheme, strategies from high order Hybridized Discontinuous Galerkin method and eXtended Finite Element method is combined with the level set definition of the boundaries. The proposed scheme and hence, is named as eXtended Hybridizable Discontinuous Galerkin (XHDG) method. In this regard, the Hybridizable Discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) method is eXtended to the unfitted domains; i.e, the computational mesh does not need to fit to the domain boundary; instead, the boundary is defined by a level set function and cuts through the background mesh arbitrarily. The original unknown structure of HDG and its hybrid nature ensuring the local conservation of fluxes is kept, while developing a modified bilinear form for the elements cut by the boundary. At every cut element, an auxiliary nodal trace variable on the boundary is introduced, which is eliminated afterwards while imposing the boundary conditions. Both stationary and time dependent CDEs are studied over a range of flow regimes from diffusion to convection dominated; using high order $(p \leq 4)$ XHDG through benchmark numerical examples over arbitrary unfitted domains. Results proved that XHDG inherits optimal $(p + 1)$ and super $(p + 2)$ convergence properties of HDG while removing the fitting mesh restriction

A Comparison of Hybridized and Standard DG Methods for Target-Based hp-Adaptive Simulation of Compressible Flow

We present a comparison between hybridized and non-hybridized discontinuous Galerkin methods in the context of target-based hp-adaptation for compressible flow problems. The aim is to provide a critical assessment of the computational efficiency of hybridized DG methods. Hybridization of finite element discretizations has the main advantage, that the resulting set of algebraic equations has globally coupled degrees of freedom only on the skeleton of the computational mesh. Consequently, solving for these degrees of freedom involves the solution of a potentially much smaller system. This not only reduces storage requirements, but also allows for a faster solution with iterative solvers. Using a discrete-adjoint approach, sensitivities with respect to output functionals are computed to drive the adaptation. From the error distribution given by the adjoint-based error estimator, h- or p-refinement is chosen based on the smoothness of the solution which can be quantified by properly-chosen smoothness indicators. Numerical results are shown for subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flow around the NACA0012 airfoil. hp-adaptation proves to be superior to pure h-adaptation if discontinuous or singular flow features are involved. In all cases, a higher polynomial degree turns out to be beneficial. We show that for polynomial degree of approximation p=2 and higher, and for a broad range of test cases, HDG performs better than DG in terms of runtime and memory requirements