Adaptive finite element approximation of coupled flow and transport problems with applications in heat transfer

Abstract

AbstractIn this paper we develop an adaptive finite element method for heat transfer in incompressible fluid flow. The adaptive method is based on an a posteriori error estimate for the coupled problem, which identifies how accurately the flow and heat transfer problems must be solved in order to achieve overall accuracy in a specified goal quantity. The a posteriori error estimate is derived using duality techniques and is of dual weighted residual type. We consider, in particular, an a posteriori error estimate for a variational approximation of the integrated heat flux through the boundary of a hot object immersed into a cooling fluid flow. We illustrate the method on some test cases involving three‐dimensional time‐dependent flow and transport. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.