A Least-Squares Finite Element Method for Electromagnetic Scattering Problems

The least-squares finite element method (LSFEM) is applied to electromagnetic scattering and radar cross section (RCS) calculations. In contrast to most existing numerical approaches, in which divergence-free constraints are omitted, the LSFF-M directly incorporates two divergence equations in the discretization process. The importance of including the divergence equations is demonstrated by showing that otherwise spurious solutions with large divergence occur near the scatterers. The LSFEM is based on unstructured grids and possesses full flexibility in handling complex geometry and local refinement Moreover, the LSFEM does not require any special handling, such as upwinding, staggered grids, artificial dissipation, flux-differencing, etc. Implicit time discretization is used and the scheme is unconditionally stable. By using a matrix-free iterative method, the computational cost and memory requirement for the present scheme is competitive with other approaches. The accuracy of the LSFEM is verified by several benchmark test problems

Simulation of Two-Fluid Flows by the Least-Squares Finite Element Method Using a Continuum Surface Tension Model

In this paper a numerical procedure for simulating two-fluid flows is presented. This procedure is based on the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method proposed by Hirt and Nichols and the continuum surface force (CSF) model developed by Brackbill, et al. In the VOF method fluids of different properties are identified through the use of a continuous field variable (color function). The color function assigns a unique constant (color) to each fluid. The interfaces between different fluids are distinct due to sharp gradients of the color function. The evolution of the interfaces is captured by solving the convective equation of the color function. The CSF model is used as a means to treat surface tension effect at the interfaces. Here a modified version of the CSF model, proposed by Jacqmin, is used to calculate the tension force. In the modified version, the force term is obtained by calculating the divergence of a stress tensor defined by the gradient of the color function. In its analytical form, this stress formulation is equivalent to the original CSF model. Numerically, however, the use of the stress formulation has some advantages over the original CSF model, as it bypasses the difficulty in approximating the curvatures of the interfaces. The least-squares finite element method (LSFEM) is used to discretize the governing equation systems. The LSFEM has proven to be effective in solving incompressible Navier-Stokes equations and pure convection equations, making it an ideal candidate for the present applications. The LSFEM handles all the equations in a unified manner without any additional special treatment such as upwinding or artificial dissipation. Various bench mark tests have been carried out for both two dimensional planar and axisymmetric flows, including a dam breaking, oscillating and stationary bubbles and a conical liquid sheet in a pressure swirl atomizer

Study on the Mechanical Cumulative Damage Model of Slope Fault Fracture Zone under the Cumulative Effect of Blasting Vibration

As for the slope with fault fracture zone, the fault fracture zone is the main sliding surface, whose shear strength parameter is the main calculation parameter of landslide occurrence. In this paper, shaking table model tests and damage theory were used to study the change of shear strength and mechanical cumulative damage model of fault fracture zone under the blasting vibration cyclic load. At first, the slope of Daye Iron Mine is selected as a case to study the shear strength weakening law of fault fracture zone by the similarity theory and the principle of the orthogonal test, in which the influence of the characteristics of vibration loading on the shear strength parameters of fault fracture zone with different thicknesses was studied. Secondly, by the assumption of Lemaitre strain equivalence and according to the extreme value characteristics of the normal stress-shear stress curve, the damage theory model of the fault fracture zone was reconstructed, and the microelement of fault was selected for analysis and divided into two parts, including damaged and undamaged materials. Finally, the results of the shaking table model tests were compared with the results of the shear cumulative damage model to verify the rationality of the theoretical model. Moreover, the predicted results of the theoretical model can better reflect the degradation trend of the fault fracture zone with the loading amplitude, normal stress, and loading times. It can be used as a reference for slope stability prediction under the action of cumulative static and dynamic loads

Global syndromes induced by changes in solutes of the world’s large rivers

Rivers are increasingly plagued by “syndromes”, i.e. salinization, mineralization, desalinization, acidification, alkalization, hardening and softening. A global look at river biogeochemistry reveals dramatically increased flux estimates and anthropogenic drivers of syndromes