Unicorn: Parallel adaptive finite element simulation of turbulent flow and fluid–structure interaction for deforming domains and complex geometry

• Published in: Computers & fluids Vol. 80; no. SI; pp. 310 - 319
• Main Authors: Hoffman, Johan, Jansson, Johan, Vilela de Abreu, Rodrigo, Degirmenci, Niyazi Cem, Jansson, Niclas, Müller, Kaspar, Nazarov, Murtazo, Spühler, Jeannette Hiromi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 10.07.2013
• Subjects: Complex geometry; Computation; Computational fluid dynamics; Deforming domain; DOLFIN; FEniCS; Finite element method; Fluid flow; Fluid structure interaction; Mathematical analysis; Open source software; Parallel adaptive finite element method; Turbulence; Turbulent flow; Unicorn; Fluid–structure interaction; Deforming domain; Turbulent flow; Complex geometry; Unicorn; Parallel adaptive finite element method; FEniCS; DOLFIN; Open source software
• ISSN: 0045-7930; 1879-0747; 1879-0747
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compfluid.2012.02.003

We present a framework for adaptive finite element computation of turbulent flow and fluid–structure interaction, with focus on general algorithms that allow for complex geometry and deforming domains. We give basic models and finite element discretization methods, adaptive algorithms and strategies for efficient parallel implementation. To illustrate the capabilities of the computational framework, we show a number of application examples from aerodynamics, aero-acoustics, biomedicine and geophysics. The computational tools are free to download open source as Unicorn, and as a high performance branch of the finite element problem solving environment DOLFIN, both part of the FEniCS project.