Adaptive finite element simulation of incompressible viscous flow

A finite element method is employed for solving two- and three-dimensional incompressible flows. The formulation is based on a segregated solution method. In this segregated formulation, the velocities and pressures are uncoupled and the equations for each are solved one after the other. This segregated solution method is numerically compared to the penalty method and to previous reported data to determine its validity. Next an iterative solution method which employs an element by - element data structure of the finite element method is developed. Two types of iterative methods are used. For a symmetric stiffness matrix, the conjugate gradient method is used. For an unsymmetric stiffness matrix, the bi-conjugate gradient method is used. Both iterative solution methods make use of a diagonal preconditioning method (Jacobi preconditioning). Several problems are solved using this segregated method. In two-dimensions, flow over a backward facing step and flow in a cavity are investigated. In three-dimensions, the problems include flow in a cavity at Reynolds number 100 and 1000, and flow in a curved duct. The simulation compares very well with previously reported data, where available.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Engineering Mechanics

Department dc:contributor.department

Engineering Mechanics

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1993

Author dc:creator

• Fithen, Robert Miller

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Reddy, Junuthula N.
• Grossman, Bernard M.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Ragab, Saad A.
• Cramer, Mark S.
• Henneke, Edmund G. II

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-06062008-170423

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/38408