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A fast and robust fictitious domain method for modelling viscous flows in complex mixers: The example of propellant make‐down
Author(s) -
Coes Benjamin,
Heniche Mourad,
Devals Christophe,
Bertrand François,
Tanguy Philippe A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international journal for numerical methods in fluids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.938
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1097-0363
pISSN - 0271-2091
DOI - 10.1002/fld.1751
Subject(s) - solver , fictitious domain method , propellant , finite element method , lagrange multiplier , newtonian fluid , domain (mathematical analysis) , context (archaeology) , flow (mathematics) , mathematics , mechanics , computer science , mathematical optimization , mathematical analysis , physics , engineering , aerospace engineering , structural engineering , biology , paleontology
This work deals with the development of a fast three‐dimensional numerical strategy for the simulation of viscous fluid flow in complex mixing systems. The proposed method is based on a distributed Lagrange multiplier fictitious domain method and the use of the low‐cost MINI finite element. Contrary to the previous fictitious domain method developed by our group a few years ago, the underlying partial differential equations are solved here in a coupled manner using a consistent penalty technique. The method is discussed in detail and its precision is assessed by means of experimental data in the case of an agitated vessel. A comparison made with our existing fictitious domain method and its decoupled Uzawa‐based solver clearly shows the advantages of resorting to the MINI finite element and fully coupled solution strategy. The new technique is then applied to the simulation of the flow of a Newtonian viscous fluid in a three‐blade planetary mixer in the context of the production of solid propellants. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.