Investigation of allowable time-step sizes for generalized finite element analysis of the transient heat equation

Abstract

This paper investigates the heat equation for domains subjected to an internal source with a sharp spatial gradient. The solution is first approximated using linear finite elements, and sufficiently small time-step sizes to yield stable simulations. The main area of interest is then in the ability to approximate the solution using Generalized Finite Elements, and again explore the time-step limitations required for stable simulations. Both high order elements, as well as elements with special enrichments are used to generate solutions. When compared to linear finite elements, the high order elements deliver better accuracy at a given level of mesh refinement, but do not offer an increase in critical time-step size. When special enrichment functions are used, the solution can be approximated accurately on very coarse meshes, while yielding solutions which are both accurate and computationally efficient. The major conclusion of interest is that the significantly larger element size yields larger allowable time-step sizes while still maintaining stability of the time-stepping algorithm.