Applications and improvements of the particle finite element method to free surface flows

JUAN M. GIMENEZ; LEO M. GONZÁLEZ; PEDRO GALÁN DEL SASTRE

Paris

Workshop; 9th SPHERIC International Workshop; 2014

In this work a new generation of the particle method known as Particle Finite Element Method (PFEM), which com- bines convective particle movement and fixed mesh resolution, is applied to free surface flows. This methodology, named PFEM-2, presents basically two novel steps: first, the possibility of using larger time steps compared to other similar numerical tools, showing that shorter computational times can be achieved while the solution accuracy is maintained. Second, different improved versions of discontinuous and continuous enriched basis functions for the pressure field have been also developed in order to recon- struct the free surface without artificial diffusion or undesired numerical effects. Combining these two improvements, a variety of free surface flows have been solved in 2D and 3D cases, where the evident advantages of the improvements are remarked. The results of the different free-surface problems solved which include: Rayleigh-Taylor instability, sloshing problems, viscous standing waves and the dam break problem are compared to well validated numerical alternatives and experimental measurements obtaining good approximations for such complex flows.