On the calculation of normals in free‐surface flow problems | Zendy

Walkley M. A. | Zendy; Gaskell P. H. | Zendy; Jimack P. K. | Zendy; Kelmanson M. A. | Zendy; Summers J. L. | Zendy; Wilson M. C. T. | Zendy

AI Assistant Blog Pricing

Home ZAIA Blog

Open Access

On the calculation of normals in free‐surface flow problems

Author(s) -

Walkley M. A.,

Gaskell P. H.,

Jimack P. K.,

Kelmanson M. A.,

Summers J. L.,

Wilson M. C. T.

Publication year - 2004

Publication title -

communications in numerical methods in engineering

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

eISSN - 1099-0887

pISSN - 1069-8299

DOI - 10.1002/cnm.677

Subject(s) - finite element method , mathematics , piecewise , surface (topology) , free surface , boundary (topology) , mathematical analysis , flow (mathematics) , quadratic equation , normal , kinematics , tetrahedron , geometry , piecewise linear function , rigid body , boundary value problem , polynomial , classical mechanics , mechanics , physics , thermodynamics

The use of boundary‐conforming finite element methods is considered for the solution of surface‐tension‐dominated free‐surface flow problems in three dimensions. This class of method is based upon the use of a moving mesh whose velocity is driven by the motion of the free surface, which is in turn determined via a kinematic boundary condition for the normal velocity. The significance of the method used to compute the normal direction at the finite element node points for a C 0 piecewise‐polynomial free surface is investigated. In particular, it is demonstrated that the concept of mass‐consistent normals on an isoparametric quadratic tetrahedral mesh is flawed. In this case an alternative, purely geometric, normal is shown to lead to a far more robust numerical algorithm. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.

Having issues? You can contact us here

Accelerating Research