Coupling FEM and BEM for computationally efficient solutions of multi‐physics and multi‐domain problems

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.

Citation

Štok, B. and Mole, N. (2005), "Coupling FEM and BEM for computationally efficient solutions of multi‐physics and multi‐domain problems", Engineering Computations, Vol. 22 No. 5/6, pp. 711-738. https://doi.org/10.1108/02644400510603078