Application of A pressure gradient method to an FEM flow analysis

Abstract

AbstractA pressure gradient method employing pressure gradients as dependent variables is applied to a finite‐element‐method flow analysis for a two‐dimensional incompressible Newtonian fluid flow. In a numerical analysis, a triangular element is adopted, a velocity vector and a pressure gradient vector being assigned as dependent variables at the nodal points. Velocity and pressure gradient are interpolated linearly in space, and a discretizing formulation can be made using a suitably selected weighting function. An example of application is shown for an unsteady‐state development of a recirculating circular cavity flow, the numerical results to which are in good agreement with those obtained analytically or by other numerical means.