A localized Newton basis functions meshless method for the numerical solution of the 2D nonlinear coupled Burgers’ equations

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a local Newton basis functions collocation method for solving the 2D nonlinear coupled Burgers’ equations. It needs less computer storage and flops than the usual global radial basis functions collocation method and also stabilizes the numerical solutions of the convection-dominated equations by using the Newton basis functions.

Design/methodology/approach

A meshless method based on spatial trial space spanned by the local Newton basis functions in the “native” Hilbert space of the reproducing kernel is presented. With the selected local sub-clusters of domain nodes, an approximation function is introduced as a sum of weighted local Newton basis functions. Then the collocation approach is used to determine weights. The method leads to a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) for the time-dependent partial differential equations (PDEs).

Findings

The method is successfully used for solving the 2D nonlinear coupled Burgers’ equations for reasonably high values of Reynolds number (Re). It is a well-known issue in the analysis of the convection-diffusion problems that the solution becomes oscillatory when the problem becomes convection-dominated if the standard methods are followed without special treatments. In the proposed method, the authors do not detect any instability near the front, hence no technique is needed. The numerical results show that the proposed method is efficient, accurate and stable for flow with reasonably high values of Re.

Originality/value

The authors used more stable basis functions than the standard basis of translated kernels for representing of kernel-based approximants for the numerical solution of partial differential equations (PDEs). The local character of the method, having a well-structured implementation including enforcing the Dirichlet and Neuman boundary conditions, and producing accurate and stable results for flow with reasonably high values of Re for the numerical solution of the 2D nonlinear coupled Burgers’ equations without any special technique are the main values of the paper.

Citation

Saberi Zafarghandi, F., Mohammadi, M., Babolian, E. and Javadi, S. (2017), "A localized Newton basis functions meshless method for the numerical solution of the 2D nonlinear coupled Burgers’ equations", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 27 No. 11, pp. 2582-2602. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-08-2016-0322