A non-overlapping Schwarz domain decomposition method with high-order finite elements for flow acoustics

Abstract

A non-overlapping domain decomposition method is proposed to solve large-scale finite element models for the propagation of sound with a background mean flow. An additive Schwarz algorithm is used to split the computational domain into a collection of sub-domains, and an iterative solution procedure is formulated in terms of unknowns defined on the interfaces between sub-domains. This approach allows to solve large-scale problems in parallel with only a fraction of the memory requirements compared to the standard approach which is to use a direct solver for the complete problem. While domain decomposition techniques have been used extensively for Helmholtz problems, this is the first application to aero-acoustics. The optimized Schwarz formulation is extended to the linearized potential theory for sound waves propagating in a potential base flow. A high-order finite element method is used to solve the governing equations in each sub-domain, and well-designed interface conditions based on local approximations of the Dirichlet-to-Neumann map are used to accelerate the convergence of the iterative procedure. The method is assessed on an academic test case and its benefit demonstrated on a realistic turbofan engine intake configuration.