An efficient edge-based level set finite element method for free surface flow problems

• Published in: International journal for numerical methods in fluids Vol. 71; no. 6; pp. 687 - 716
• Main Authors: Rossi, R., Larese, A., Dadvand, P., Oñate, E.
• Format: Journal Article Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Bognor Regis Blackwell Publishing Ltd 28-02-2013; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Anàlisi numèrica; Canals; CFD; Conservation; Data structures; edge-based formulation; Elements finits; Extrapolation; Finite element analysis; Finite element method; Flux de fluids; fractional step; free surface flows; Física; Física de fluids; Hidrodinàmica; level set; Matemàtiques i estadística; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Mètodes en elements finits; Mètodes numèrics; Open-channel flow; OpenMP parallel; Proposals; Reproduction; Studies; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC
• ISSN: 0271-2091; 1097-0363
• DOI: 10.1002/fld.3680

SUMMARY
We present an efficient technique for the solution of free surface flow problems using level set and a parallel edge‐based finite element method. An unstructured semi‐explicit solution scheme is proposed. A custom data structure, obtained by blending node‐based and edge‐based approaches is presented so to allow a good parallel performance. In addition to standard velocity extrapolation (for the convection of the level set function), an explicit extrapolation of the pressure field is performed in order to impose both the pressure boundary condition and the volume conservation. The latter is also improved with a modification of the divergence free constrain. The method is shown to allow an efficient solution of both simple benchmark cases and complex industrial examples. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
We present an efficient method for the solution of free surface flow problems using level set and a parallel edge‐based finite element method. The main new features are the technique used for the imposition of the pressure on the free surface and the proposal of an efficient volume‐ correction approach.