Conservative and non-conservative methods based on hermite weighted essentially-non-oscillatory reconstruction for Vlasov equations

We introduce a WENO reconstruction based on Hermite interpolation both for semi-Lagrangian and finite difference methods. This WENO reconstruction technique allows to control spurious oscillations. We develop third and fifth order methods and apply them to non-conservative semi-Lagrangian schemes and conservative finite difference methods. Our numerical results will be compared to the usual semi-Lagrangian method with cubic spline reconstruction and the classical fifth order WENO finite difference scheme. These reconstructions are observed to be less dissipative than the usual weighted essentially non- oscillatory procedure. We apply these methods to transport equations in the context of plasma physics and the numerical simulation of turbulence phenomena

Multi-patch discontinuous Galerkin isogeometric analysis for wave propagation: explicit time-stepping and efficient mass matrix inversion

We present a class of spline finite element methods for time-domain wave propagation which are particularly amenable to explicit time-stepping. The proposed methods utilize a discontinuous Galerkin discretization to enforce continuity of the solution field across geometric patches in a multi-patch setting, which yields a mass matrix with convenient block diagonal structure. Over each patch, we show how to accurately and efficiently invert mass matrices in the presence of curved geometries by using a weight-adjusted approximation of the mass matrix inverse. This approximation restores a tensor product structure while retaining provable high order accuracy and semi-discrete energy stability. We also estimate the maximum stable timestep for spline-based finite elements and show that the use of spline spaces result in less stringent CFL restrictions than equivalent piecewise continuous or discontinuous finite element spaces. Finally, we explore the use of optimal knot vectors based on L2 n-widths. We show how the use of optimal knot vectors can improve both approximation properties and the maximum stable timestep, and present a simple heuristic method for approximating optimal knot positions. Numerical experiments confirm the accuracy and stability of the proposed methods

Boundary-Conforming Finite Element Methods for Twin-Screw Extruders using Spline-Based Parameterization Techniques

This paper presents a novel spline-based meshing technique that allows for usage of boundary-conforming meshes for unsteady flow and temperature simulations in co-rotating twin-screw extruders. Spline-based descriptions of arbitrary screw geometries are generated using Elliptic Grid Generation. They are evaluated in a number of discrete points to yield a coarse classical mesh. The use of a special control mapping allows to fine-tune properties of the coarse mesh like orthogonality at the boundaries. The coarse mesh is used as a 'scaffolding' to generate a boundary-conforming mesh out of a fine background mesh at run-time. Storing only a coarse mesh makes the method cheap in terms of memory storage. Additionally, the adaptation at run-time is extremely cheap compared to computing the flow solution. Furthermore, this method circumvents the need for expensive re-meshing and projections of solutions making it efficient and accurate. It is incorporated into a space-time finite element framework. We present time-dependent test cases of non-Newtonian fluids in 2D and 3D for complex screw designs. They demonstrate the potential of the method also for arbitrarily complex industrial applications

Boundary-Conforming Free-Surface Flow Computations: Interface Tracking for Linear, Higher-Order and Isogeometric Finite Elements

The simulation of certain flow problems requires a means for modeling a free fluid surface; examples being viscoelastic die swell or fluid sloshing in tanks. In a finite-element context, this type of problem can, among many other options, be dealt with using an interface-tracking approach with the Deforming-Spatial-Domain/Stabilized-Space-Time (DSD/SST) formulation. A difficult issue that is connected with this type of approach is the determination of a suitable coupling mechanism between the fluid velocity at the boundary and the displacement of the boundary mesh nodes. In order to avoid large mesh distortions, one goal is to keep the nodal movements as small as possible; but of course still compliant with the no-penetration boundary condition. Standard displacement techniques are full velocity, velocity in a specific coordinate direction, and velocity in normal direction. In this work, we investigate how the interface-tracking approach can be combined with isogeometric analysis for the spatial discretization. If NURBS basis functions of sufficient order are used for both the geometry and the solution, both a continuous normal vector as well as the velocity are available on the entire boundary. This circumstance allows the weak imposition of the no-penetration boundary condition. We compare this option with an alternative that relies on strong imposition at discrete points. Furthermore, we examine several coupling methods between the fluid equations, boundary conditions, and equations for the adjustment of interior control point positions.Comment: 20 pages, 16 figure

Using the generalized interpolation material point method for fluid-solid interactions induced by surface tension

This thesis is devoted to the development of new, Generalized Interpolation Material Point Method (GIMP)-based algorithms for handling surface tension and contact (wetting) in fluid-solid interaction (FSI) problems at small scales. In these problems, surface tension becomes so dominant that its influence on both fluids and solids must be considered. Since analytical solutions for most engineering problems are usually unavailable, numerical methods are needed to describe and predict complicated time-dependent states in the solid and fluid involved due to surface tension effects. Traditional computational methods for handling fluid-solid interactions may not be effective due to their weakness in solving large-deformation problems and the complicated coupling of two different types of computational frameworks: one for solid, and the other for fluid. On the contrary, GIMP, a mesh-free algorithm for solid mechanics problems, is numerically effective in handling problems involving large deformations and fracture. Here we extend the capability of GIMP to handle fluid dynamics problems with surface tension, and to develop a new contact algorithm to deal with the wetting boundary conditions that include the modeling of contact angle and slip near the triple points where the three phases -- fluid, solid, and vapor -- meet. The error of the new GIMP algorithm for FSI problems at small scales, as verified by various benchmark problems, generally falls within the 5% range. In this thesis, we have successfully extended the capability of GIMP for handling FSI problems under surface tension in a one-solver numerical framework, a unique and innovative approach.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Using the generalized interpolation material point method for fluid dynamics at low reynolds numbers -- Chapter 3. On the modeling of surface tension and its applications by the generalized interpolation material point method -- Chapter 4. Using the generalized interpolation material point method for fluid-solid interactions induced by surface tension -- Chapter 5. Conclusions