8,101 research outputs found
Efficient solution of 3D electromagnetic eddy-current problems within the finite volume framework of OpenFOAM
Eddy-current problems occur in a wide range of industrial and metallurgical
applications where conducting material is processed inductively. Motivated by
realising coupled multi-physics simulations, we present a new method for the
solution of such problems in the finite volume framework of foam-extend, an
extended version of the very popular OpenFOAM software. The numerical procedure
involves a semi-coupled multi-mesh approach to solve Maxwell's equations for
non-magnetic materials by means of the Coulomb gauged magnetic vector potential
and the electric scalar potential. The concept is further extended on the basis
of the impressed and reduced magnetic vector potential and its usage in
accordance with Biot-Savart's law to achieve a very efficient overall modelling
even for complex three-dimensional geometries. Moreover, we present a special
discretisation scheme to account for possible discontinuities in the electrical
conductivity. To complement our numerical method, an extensive validation is
completing the paper, which provides insight into the behaviour and the
potential of our approach.Comment: 47 pages, improved figures, updated references, fixed typos, reverse
phase shift, consistent use of inner produc
An adaptive fixed-mesh ALE method for free surface flows
In this work we present a Fixed-Mesh ALE method for the numerical simulation of free surface flows capable of using an adaptive finite element mesh covering a background domain. This mesh is successively refined and unrefined at each time step in order to focus the computational effort on the spatial regions where it is required. Some of the main ingredients of the formulation are the use of an Arbitrary-Lagrangian–Eulerian formulation for computing temporal derivatives, the use of stabilization terms for stabilizing convection, stabilizing the lack of compatibility between velocity and pressure interpolation spaces, and stabilizing the ill-conditioning introduced by the cuts on the background finite element mesh, and the coupling of the algorithm with an adaptive mesh refinement procedure suitable for running on distributed memory environments. Algorithmic steps for the projection between meshes are presented together with the algebraic fractional step approach used for improving the condition number of the linear systems to be solved. The method is tested in several numerical examples. The expected convergence rates both in space and time are observed. Smooth solution fields for both velocity and pressure are obtained (as a result of the contribution of the stabilization terms). Finally, a good agreement between the numerical results and the reference experimental data is obtained.Postprint (published version
Modeling elastic wave propagation in fluid-filled boreholes drilled in nonhomogeneous media: BEM – MLPG versus BEM-FEM coupling
The efficiency of two coupling formulations, the boundary element method (BEM)-meshless local Petrov–Galerkin (MLPG) versus the BEM-finite element method (FEM), used to simulate the elastic wave propagation in fluid-filled boreholes generated by a blast load, is compared. The longitudinal geometry is assumed to be invariant in the axial direction (2.5D formulation). The material properties in the vicinity of the borehole are assumed to be nonhomogeneous as a result of the construction process and the ageing of the material. In both models, the BEM is used to tackle the propagation within the fluid domain inside the borehole and the unbounded homogeneous domain. The MLPG and the FEM are used to simulate the confined, damaged, nonhomogeneous, surrounding borehole, thus utilizing the advantages of these methods in modeling nonhomogeneous bounded media. In both numerical techniques the coupling is accomplished directly at the nodal points located at the common interfaces. Continuity of stresses and displacements is imposed at the solid–solid interface, while continuity of normal stresses and displacements and null shear stress are prescribed at the fluid–solid interface. The performance of each coupled BEM-MLPG and BEM-FEM approach is determined using referenced results provided by an analytical solution developed for a circular multi-layered subdomain. The comparison of the coupled techniques is evaluated for different excitation frequencies, axial wavenumbers and degrees of freedom (nodal points).Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BIA2013-43085-PCentro Informático Científico de Andalucía (CICA
A partition of unity approach to fluid mechanics and fluid-structure interaction
For problems involving large deformations of thin structures, simulating
fluid-structure interaction (FSI) remains challenging largely due to the need
to balance computational feasibility, efficiency, and solution accuracy.
Overlapping domain techniques have been introduced as a way to combine the
fluid-solid mesh conformity, seen in moving-mesh methods, without the need for
mesh smoothing or re-meshing, which is a core characteristic of fixed mesh
approaches. In this work, we introduce a novel overlapping domain method based
on a partition of unity approach. Unified function spaces are defined as a
weighted sum of fields given on two overlapping meshes. The method is shown to
achieve optimal convergence rates and to be stable for steady-state Stokes,
Navier-Stokes, and ALE Navier-Stokes problems. Finally, we present results for
FSI in the case of a 2D mock aortic valve simulation. These initial results
point to the potential applicability of the method to a wide range of FSI
applications, enabling boundary layer refinement and large deformations without
the need for re-meshing or user-defined stabilization.Comment: 34 pages, 15 figur
An interface element based on the partition of unity
An alternative interface finite element is developed. By using the partition of unity property of finite element shape functions, discontinuous shape functions are added to the standard finite element basis. The interface behaviour is described by extra degrees of freedom at existing nodes, avoiding the need for ‘doubled nodes’. The element is kinematically equivalent to a conventional interface element but is more flexible because it allows the inclusion of interface surfaces within solid elements. In describing interface phenomena, the methodology proposed here makes possible the use of coarser meshes and it is completely insensitive to mesh topology. The new formulation is analysed throughly and comparisons are drawn with the conventional formulation
Isogeometric FEM-BEM coupled structural-acoustic analysis of shells using subdivision surfaces
We introduce a coupled finite and boundary element formulation for acoustic
scattering analysis over thin shell structures. A triangular Loop subdivision
surface discretisation is used for both geometry and analysis fields. The
Kirchhoff-Love shell equation is discretised with the finite element method and
the Helmholtz equation for the acoustic field with the boundary element method.
The use of the boundary element formulation allows the elegant handling of
infinite domains and precludes the need for volumetric meshing. In the present
work the subdivision control meshes for the shell displacements and the
acoustic pressures have the same resolution. The corresponding smooth
subdivision basis functions have the continuity property required for the
Kirchhoff-Love formulation and are highly efficient for the acoustic field
computations. We validate the proposed isogeometric formulation through a
closed-form solution of acoustic scattering over a thin shell sphere.
Furthermore, we demonstrate the ability of the proposed approach to handle
complex geometries with arbitrary topology that provides an integrated
isogeometric design and analysis workflow for coupled structural-acoustic
analysis of shells
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