An iterative divergence-free immersed boundary method in the finite element framework for moving bodies

Abstract

A novel iterative direct-forcing immersed boundary (IB) method, which meets the divergence-free and no-slip conditions simultaneously, is proposed in the finite element framework for incompressible flow problems. The coupled velocity and the pressure of the fluid field are solved by the Characteristic-based Split scheme. The formulation for the extra body force is derived according to the no-slip boundary condition. The novelty of the proposed IB method lies in that the calculation of the pressure, the iterations of the velocity, the pressure and the extra body force are accomplished in a loop at the same time. Therefore, the divergence-free and no-slip conditions are ensured fully at the same time. The accuracy of the current IB method is verified by several cases, including static and moving boundaries. Meanwhile, the contributing factors of the spurious force oscillations for moving boundaries are studied. A brand-new viewpoint is proposed, which is different with the common standpoint. The major source of spurious force oscillations pointed out in this paper is that the change of interpolation coefficients when boundaries sweep within an element, instead of the change of interpolation points when boundaries move across adjacent elements, as discussed in existing references. The oscillations which are caused by the inherent properties of the immersed boundary method cannot be avoided, while effective methods can be employed to suppress them, including refining the meshes and applying a proper discrete delta function.