Application of a posteriori error estimation to finite element simulation of compressible Navier–Stokes flow

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss how to improve the adaptive finite element simulation of compressible Navier–Stokes flow via a posteriori error estimate analysis. We use the moving space–time finite element method to globally discretize the time-dependent Navier–Stokes equations on a series of adapted meshes. The generalized compressible Stokes problem, which is the Stokes problem in its most generalized form, is presented and discussed. On the basis of the a posteriori error estimator for the generalized compressible Stokes problem, a numerical framework of a posteriori error estimation is established corresponding to the case of compressible Navier–Stokes equations. Guided by the a posteriori errors estimation, a combination of different mesh adaptive schemes involving simultaneous refinement/unrefinement and point-moving are applied to control the finite element mesh quality. Finally, a series of numerical experiments will be performed involving the compressible Stokes and Navier–Stokes flows around different aerodynamic shapes to prove the validity of our mesh adaptive algorithms.