Elements of Computational Fluid Dynamics

This book details a systematic characteristics-based finite element procedure to investigate incompressible, free-surface and compressible flows. The fluid dynamics equations are derived from basic thermo-mechanical principles and the multi-dimensional and infinite-directional upstream procedure is developed by combining a finite element discretization of a characteristics-bias system with an implicit Runge-Kutta time integration. For the computational solution of the Euler and Navier Stokes equations, the procedure relies on the mathematics and physics of multi-dimensional characteristics. As a result, the procedure crisply captures contact discontinuities, normal as well as oblique shocks, and generates essentially non-oscillatory solutions for incompressible, subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic inviscid and viscous flows.

Incompressible computational fluid dynamics is an emerging and important discipline, with numerous applications in industry and science. Its methods employ rigourous mathematical analysis far beyond what is presently possible for compressible flows. Vortex methods, finite elements, and spectral methods are emphasised. Contributions from leading experts in the various sub-fields portray the wide-ranging nature of the subject.