Efficient simulation of free surface flows with discrete least-squares meshless method using a priori error estimator

Abstract

In this article, a priori error estimate is employed to improve the efficiency of simulating free surface flows with discrete least-squares meshless (DLSM) method. DLSM is a fully least-squares approach in which both function approximation and the discretisation of the governing differential equations is carried out using a least-squares concept. The meshless shape functions are derived using the moving least-squares (MLS) method of function approximation. The discretised equations are obtained via a discrete least-squares method in which the sum of the squared residuals are minimised with respect to unknown nodal parameters. The governing equations of mass and momentum conservation are solved in a Lagrangian form using a pressure projection method. The proposed simulation strategy is composed of error estimation and a node moving refinement method. Since in free surface problems, the position of the free surface is of primary interest, a priori error estimate is used which automatically associates higher error to the nodes near the free surface. The node moving refinement method is used to construct a nodal configuration with dense nodal arrangement near the free surface. Four test problems namely dam break, evolution of a water bubble, solitary wave propagation and wave run-up on slope are investigated to test the ability and efficiency of the proposed efficient simulation method.