Experimental evaluation of numerical errors for multi-physics coupling methods using disparate meshes

Abstract

Purpose

Multiphysics problems are solved either with monolithic or segregated approaches. For accomplishing contrary discretisation requirements of the physics, disparate meshes are essential. This paper is comparing experimental results of different interpolation methods for a segregated coupling with monolithic approaches, implemented using a global and a local nearest neighbour method. The results show the significant influence of discretisation for multiphysics simulation.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying disparate meshes to the monolithic as well as the segregated calculation of finite element problems and evaluating the related numerical error is content of the contribution. This is done by an experimental evaluation of a source and a material coupling applied to a multiphysics problem. After an introduction to the topic, the evaluated multiphysics model is described based on two bidirectional coupled problems and its finite element representation. Afterwards, the considered methods for approximating the coupling are introduced. Then, the evaluated methods are described and the experimental results are discussed. A summary concludes this work.

Findings

An experimental evaluation of the numerical errors for different multiphysics coupling methods using disparate meshes is presented based on a bidirectional electro-thermal simulation. Different methods approximating the coupling values are introduced and challenges of applying these methods are given. It is also shown, that the approximation of the coupling integrals is expensive. Arguments for applying the different methods to the monolithic and the segregated solution strategies are given and applied on the example. The significant influence of the mesh density within the coupled meshes is shown. Since the projection and the interpolation methods do influence the result, a careful decision is advised.

Originality/value

In this contribution, existing coupling methods are described, applied and compared on their application for coupling disparate meshes within a multiphysics simulation. Knowing their performance is relevant when deciding for a monolithic or a segregated calculation approach with respect to physics dependent contrary discretisation requirements. To the authors’ knowledge, it is the first time these methods are compared with a focus on an application in multiphysics simulations and experimental results are discussed.

Citation

Jüttner, M., Pflug, A., Wick, M. and Rucker, W.M. (2017), "Experimental evaluation of numerical errors for multi-physics coupling methods using disparate meshes", COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, Vol. 36 No. 5, pp. 1517-1525. https://doi.org/10.1108/COMPEL-02-2017-0072