A block-coupled Finite Volume methodology for linear elasticity and unstructured meshes

• Published in: Computers & structures Vol. 175; pp. 100 - 122
• Main Authors: Cardiff, P., Tuković, Ž., Jasak, H., Ivanković, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.10.2016
• Subjects: Block-coupled; Cell-centred Finite Volume method; Finite Area method; Linear elasticity; OpenFOAM; Solid mechanics; Solid mechanics; OpenFOAM; Cell-centred Finite Volume method; Finite Area method; Linear elasticity; Block-coupled
• ISSN: 0045-7949; 1879-2243; 1879-2243
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruc.2016.07.004

•A coupled extended-stencil cell-centred Finite Volume solution methodology is proposed.•Face tangential gradients of displacement are implicitly calculated using a Finite Area method.•Non-orthogonal corrections terms are treated in a fully implicit coupled manner.•In cases examined, the method is faster than comparable Finite Element and Finite Volume methods. The current article presents a fully coupled cell-centred Finite Volume solution methodology for linear elasticity and unstructured meshes. Details are given of the novel implicit discretisation and block coupled solution procedure, including use of a Finite Area method for face tangential gradient calculations and coupled treatment of non-orthogonal corrections. A number of 2-D and 3-D linear-elastic benchmark test cases are examined using hexahedral, tetrahedral and general polyhedral meshes; solution accuracy and efficiency are compared with that of a segregated procedure and a commercial Finite Element software, where the new method is shown to be faster in all cases.