Premium
Updated Lagrangian free surface flow simulations with natural neighbour Galerkin methods
Author(s) -
Martínez M. A.,
Cueto E.,
Alfaro I.,
Doblaré M.,
Chinesta F.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal for numerical methods in engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.421
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1097-0207
pISSN - 0029-5981
DOI - 10.1002/nme.1036
Subject(s) - finite element method , domain (mathematical analysis) , meshfree methods , galerkin method , newtonian fluid , flow (mathematics) , free surface , non newtonian fluid , viscoplasticity , surface (topology) , benchmark (surveying) , regularized meshless method , mathematics , fluid dynamics , computer science , mechanics , geometry , mathematical analysis , physics , geology , boundary element method , structural engineering , singular boundary method , engineering , constitutive equation , geodesy
In this paper, a new method to simulate free surface fluid flows within an updated Lagrangian framework is described. It is based on the use of a meshless technique coined as natural element method (NEM) or, more recently, as natural neighbour Galerkin method. The position of the flow front or the geometry of the fluid domain is handled by invoking the geometrical concept of α‐shape of the cloud of points, thus avoiding the explicit definition of the boundary of the domain as it evolves. This method also avoids the traditional need of remeshing typical in finite element simulations of this kind of processes. Three types of fluid behaviour have been considered, namely a purely Newtonian fluid, a non‐Newtonian short fibre‐reinforced thermoplastic, and finally a Norton–Hoff viscoplastic behaviour. Benchmark examples showing the performance of the technique are included in the paper. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.