Formulation of the numerical algorithm for the code SPMHD

• Published in: IEEE conference record-abstracts - IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science p. 1
• Main Authors: Thio, Y.C.F., Liu, Z.H., Qi, S.B., Mu, J., Huang, J., Li, Z.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 16.06.2024
• Subjects: Codes; Finite element analysis; Fluid flow; Fluids; Magnetohydrodynamics; Mathematical models; Plasmas
• ISSN: 2576-7208
• DOI: 10.1109/ICOPS58192.2024.10626761

A new Smoothed Particle Magnetohydrodynamics (SPMHD) code that combines smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) and finite element method (FEM) has been developed to simulate the motion of fluids and electromagnetic fields. In this paper, we lay out the formulation of the numerical methods/algorithm implemented in code, while a companion paper [1] present details on the development of the code. An operator splitting method is used to split the large and complex MHD operator into two sub-operators consisting of the fluid equations and the electromagnetic equations. The fluid equations are solved by a SPH method while the electromagnetic method is solved by the use of a FEM method. A leapfrog time scheme is used to effect information exchange between the SPH particles and the FEM mesh in both directions. The hybrid formulation allows for a more comprehensive simulation of magnetohydrodynamic phenomena, especially at plasma/vacuum interface and the propagation of magnetic field and electrical currents across vacuum regions.