Solving the Navier-Stokes Equations Using the Control Volume Finite Element Method

A wide variety of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools based on solving the Navier-Stokes equations are used in various industrial fields. The majority uses the cell centred finite volume method (FVM) for the equation discretization. This works purpose is to solve the Navier-Stokes equations using the lesser known vertex centred discretization scheme control volume finite element method (CVFEM). Due to the lack of detailed information available, numerical experiments had to be carried out in order to find a robust discretization. Therefore, a new software framework in C++ with a segregated and fully coupled solution procedure was developed. It was then used to simulate various cases order to proof its capabilities. The discretization did work as expected. In order to be competitive, the implementation of the linear solver has to be improved. Based on the results the CVFEM is considered a method with potential to improve the current state of the art in CFD.

Studienbetreuer: Luca Mangani