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At least 559 records · Page 31

Fast projection algorithm for unstructured meshes

Two projection operators are presented which employ a very efficient point-location algorithm. For a wide variety of practical problems, the projection cost was reduced by a substantial factor when compared with simpler procedures. Problems involving high levels of local refinement do not impede the point-location algorithm, and the extension of these concept to three dimensions has been implemented with no additional difficulty. Nodal interpolation is noted to be an excellent projection operator when cost is a criterion, while consistent-mass L2-projection furnishes the highest accuracy.

Jansen, Kenneth↗

3D Euler flow solutions using unstructured Cartesian and prismatic grids

A hyperbolic prismatic grid generation technique is combined with a background Cartesian grid for the study of inviscid three-dimensional flows. The mathematics of the hyperbolic prismatic grid generation algorithm are described, and some simple inviscid demonstration cases are presented. By combining the simplicity of the Cartesian background grid with the geometric flexibility and computational efficiencies inherent to prismatic grids, this approach shows promise for improving computational aerodynamic simulations.

Melton, John E.↗

Automatic partitioning of unstructured meshes for the parallel solution of problems in computational mechanics

Most of the recently proposed computational methods for solving partial differential equations on multiprocessor architectures stem from the 'divide and conquer' paradigm and involve some form of domain decomposition. For those methods which also require grids of points or patches of elements, it is often necessary to explicitly partition the underlying mesh, especially when working with local memory parallel processors. In this paper, a family of cost-effective algorithms for the automatic partitioning of arbitrary two- and three-dimensional finite element and finite difference meshes is presented and discussed in view of a domain decomposed solution procedure and parallel processing. The influence of the algorithmic aspects of a solution method (implicit/explicit computations), and the architectural specifics of a multiprocessor (SIMD/MIMD, startup/transmission time), on the design of a mesh partitioning algorithm are discussed. The impact of the partitioning strategy on load balancing, operation count, operator conditioning, rate of convergence and processor mapping is also addressed. Finally, the proposed mesh decomposition algorithms are demonstrated with realistic examples of finite element, finite volume, and finite difference meshes associated with the parallel solution of solid and fluid mechanics problems on the iPSC/2 and iPSC/860 multiprocessors.

Farhat, Charbel↗

A parallel dynamic load balancing algorithm for 3-D adaptive unstructured grids

Adaptive local grid refinement and coarsening results in unequal distribution of workload among the processors of a parallel system. A novel method for balancing the load in cases of dynamically changing tetrahedral grids is developed. The approach employs local exchange of cells among processors in order to redistribute the load equally. An important part of the load balancing algorithm is the method employed by a processor to determine which cells within its subdomain are to be exchanged. Two such methods are presented and compared. The strategy for load balancing is based on the Divide-and-Conquer approach which leads to an efficient parallel algorithm. This method is implemented on a distributed-memory MIMD system.

Vidwans, A.↗

An upwind multigrid algorithm for calculating flows on unstructured grids

An algorithm is described that calculates inviscid, laminar, and turbulent flows on triangular meshes with an upwind discretization. A brief description of the base solver and the multigrid implementation is given, followed by results that consist mainly of convergence rates for inviscid and viscous flows over a NACA four-digit airfoil section. The results show that multigrid does accelerate convergence when the same relaxation parameters that yield good single-grid performance are used; however, larger gains in performance can be realized by doing less work in the relaxation scheme.

Bonhaus, Daryl L.↗

An upwind multigrid method for solving viscous flows on unstructured triangular meshes

A multigrid algorithm is combined with an upwind scheme for solving the two dimensional Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations on triangular meshes resulting in an efficient, accurate code for solving complex flows around multiple bodies. The relaxation scheme uses a backward-Euler time difference and relaxes the resulting linear system using a red-black procedure. Roe's flux-splitting scheme is used to discretize convective and pressure terms, while a central difference is used for the diffusive terms. The multigrid scheme is demonstrated for several flows around single and multi-element airfoils, including inviscid, laminar, and turbulent flows. The results show an appreciable speed up of the scheme for inviscid and laminar flows, and dramatic increases in efficiency for turbulent cases, especially those on increasingly refined grids.

Bonhaus, Daryl Lawrence↗

Software systems used for unstructured grid generation at NASA Langley

These viewgraphs provide an overview of grid generation system for 3D configurations (Euler Grids) and grid generators of viscous and inviscid flow, solution adaptive for steady and unsteady flow. The five systems presented are VGRID, FELISA, TETRA, NGP, and TGRID.

Michael J Bockelie↗

Unstructured grid research and use at NASA Lewis Research Center

Computational fluid dynamics applications of grid research at LRC include inlets, nozzles, and ducts; turbomachinery; propellers - ducted and unducted; and aircraft icing. Some issues related to internal flow grid generation are resolution requirements on several boundaries, shock resolution vs. grid periodicity, grid spacing at blade/shroud gap, grid generation in turbine blade passages, and grid generation for inlet/nozzle geometries. Aircraft icing grid generation issues include (1) small structures relative to airfoil chord must be resolved; (2) excessive number of grid points in far-field using structured grid; and (3) grid must be recreated as ice shape grows.

Mark G Potapczuk↗

Parallel unstructured grid generation for computational aerosciences

The objective of this research project is to develop efficient parallel automatic grid generation procedures for use in computational aerosciences. This effort is focused on a parallel version of the Finite Octree grid generator. Progress made during the first six months is reported.

Shephard, Mark S.↗

An implicit numerical scheme for the simulation of internal viscous flows on unstructured grids

The Navier-Stokes equations are solved numerically for two-dimensional steady viscous laminar flows. The grids are generated based on the method of Delaunay triangulation. A finite-volume approach is used to discretize the conservation law form of the compressible flow equations written in terms of primitive variables. A preconditioning matrix is added to the equations so that low Mach number flows can be solved economically. The equations are time marched using either an implicit Gauss-Seidel iterative procedure or a solver based on a conjugate gradient like method. A four color scheme is employed to vectorize the block Gauss-Seidel relaxation procedure. This increases the memory requirements minimally and decreases the computer time spent solving the resulting system of equations substantially. A factor of 7.6 speed up in the matrix solver is typical for the viscous equations. Numerical results are obtained for inviscid flow over a bump in a channel at subsonic and transonic conditions for validation with structured solvers. Viscous results are computed for developing flow in a channel, a symmetric sudden expansion, periodic tandem cylinders in a cross-flow, and a four-port valve. Comparisons are made with available results obtained by other investigators.

Jorgenson, Philip C. E.↗