A Spectral Element-FCT Method for the Compressible Euler Equations

Abstract

A new algorithm based on spectral element discretizations and flux-corrected transport concepts is developed for the solution of the Euler equations of inviscid compressible fluid flow. A conservative formulation is proposed based on one- and two-dimensional cell-averaging and reconstruction procedures, which employ a staggered mesh of Gauss-Chebyshev and Gauss-Lobatto-Chebyshev collocation points. Particular emphasis is placed on the construction of robust boundary and interfacial conditions in one- and two-dimensions. It is demonstrated through shock-tube problems and two-dimensional simulations that the proposed algorithm leads to stable, non-oscillatory solutions of high accuracy. Of particular importance is the fact that dispersion errors are minimal, as show through experiments. From the operational point of view, casting the method in a spectral element formulation provides flexibility in the discretization, since a variable number of macro-elements or collocation points per element can be employed to accomodate both accuracy and geometric requirements.