Overview

Abstract

Purpose To present numerical approaches to the solution of physically coupled non-linear problems, which frequently happen to be characterized by their multi-domain character.

Design/methodology/approach By adopting coupled solution strategies a considerable attention is devoted, in order to obtain a computationally efficient numerical algorithm, to the selection of appropriate space and time discretization, as well as to a proper discrete approximation method used.

Findings Coupling of two methods, the finite element method and the boundary element method, respectively, has proved to be computationally exceedingly advantageous, particularly in case of moving domains.

Practical implications As specific case studies computer simulation of an induction heating problem and a mushy-state forming problem are considered. A thorough discussion on the coupling effects, characterizing the evolutions of respective physical quantities fields, is given, and their impact on those evolutions is identified.

Originality/value This paper presents efficient numerical strategies for the solution of a certain class of multi-physics and multi-domain problems.

Keywords Finite element analysis, Simulation, Numerical analysis, Linear programming, Mechanical systems

Paper type Research paper

1. Introduction

When considering continuum mechanics problems it is to emphasize...