Gas dynamics, numerical methods of

Methods for solving problems in gas dynamics by computational algorithms. Below the fundamental aspects of the theory of numerical methods for solving problems in gas dynamics will be considered by writing down the equations of gas dynamics (cf. Gas dynamics, equations of) in the form of conservation laws in an inertial orthonormal coordinate system:

where

Here for the one-dimensional case, for the two-dimensional case, for the three-dimensional case, is the density of the gas, is the pressure of the gas, is the velocity of the gas, is the temperature of the gas, is the total energy of a unit mass of the gas, is the specific internal energy, is the viscosity coefficient of compression, is the shear viscosity coefficient, is the coefficient of thermal conductivity, and is the Kronecker symbol.

Two basic classes of problems in gas dynamics are distinguished:

a) the Cauchy problem for a bounded or an unbounded domain (non-stationary problems of gas dynamics);

b) stationary boundary problems of gas dynamics for a bounded or an unbounded domain.

These problems may in turn be subdivided into several classes, depending on the physical properties of the flow of the gas. In accordance with this scheme one may distinguish between:

) the flow of an ideal gas ();

) the flow of a viscous incompressible gas (, , where is the compressibility coefficient, , where is the velocity of sound) described by the Navier–Stokes equations;

) the flow of a viscous compressible heat-conducting gas (, ).

Historically, the methods for solving problems of gas dynamics developed without any connection with these classes of problems. At present, a large number of finite-difference methods are available to obtain approximations of various orders. General principles for constructing numerical methods applicable to all problems of gas dynamics have been proposed, but not yet ultimately proved with mathematical rigour. These principles will now be summarized.

1) Representations of the generalized solution of the equations of an ideal gas as the limit of the respective solutions with physical () or artificial dissipative terms as these tend to zero. Artificial dissipative terms may be introduced directly into the equations of gas dynamics or may be implicitly defined by the structure of the finite-difference scheme itself (approximation viscosity).

2) Geometric, analytic and physical-process splittings (decompositions) of the integral conservation laws and of the differential equations themselves (the method of weak approximation, cf. Fractional steps, method of).

3) Representation of the stationary solution as the limit of the solutions of non-stationary problems (the adjustment method). Both hyperbolic and parabolic partial differential equations are used as auxiliary non-stationary problems.

4) Approximation of equations which are not of Cauchy–Kovalevskaya type by equations of Cauchy–Kovalevskaya type as an appropriate small parameter tends to zero (Navier–Stokes equations, filtration equations).

5) Construction of moving difference grids both of regular and of irregular types.

6) Subdivision of the approximation problems in a finite-difference scheme by the regular interior and boundary points.

7) Representation of a complicated system of linear or non-linear algebraic equations as recurrence relations (the method of approximate or exact factorization).

8) The method of extension of the boundary value problem beyond the boundary and its inclusion in a boundary value problem with a simple domain (the method of fictitious domains).

All these representations and methods have made it possible, in the final count, to reduce the algorithm of the solution of complicated problems of gas dynamics to algorithms for solving simple problems of a standard structure (modular analysis of algorithms). There is as yet no rigorous foundation for such an approach, but the approach has proved its worth in practice and is used with increasing frequency.

Numerical methods for solving problems in gas dynamics may be subdivided into two major classes: methods with explicit display of singularities (shock waves, contact boundaries, centred damped waves) and the so-called methods of continuous computation, in which the singularities are not explicit.

In the methods of the first class a generalized solution of the equations of gas dynamics is represented as a family of classical solutions, defined in certain domains covering the phase space and adjacent to one another by way of common boundaries (lines of discontinuity), adjacency conditions being satisfied (conditions of dynamic compatibility). In each domain it is possible to employ a finite-difference scheme which is suitable for classical solutions, while the adjacency conditions must be solved by a system of algebraic equations which are, as a rule, non-linear. One of the most widespread methods of discrete representation of classical solutions is the method of characteristics. This method is only used for solving problems of gas dynamics which can be described by hyperbolic equations; it is based on the fact that hyperbolic systems of equations have — for example, in the case of two unknown functions and two independent variables — a set of characteristics which form a characteristic grid constructed in the course of the computation. The method of characteristics appeared in gas dynamics a fairly-long time ago and was successfully employed in computing one-dimensional non-stationary flows with a small number of singularities, and also in the computation of two-dimensional stationary flows in a domain by hyperbolic equations. Modifications of this method are also used in the computations; here the computation is conducted by layers bounded by fixed lines. In the case of two independent variables (one-dimensional non-stationary problems or two-dimensional stationary problems, supersonic flow around bodies) the method of characteristics makes it possible to avoid interpolations and hence also the effects of smoothing and artificial viscosity. It gives an exact determination of the location of the shock waves inside the field of the possible flow, as a result of the intersection of the characteristics of one family. If the number of unknowns and independent variables is larger, the drawbacks of this method become evident: the approximation viscosity appears, and the algorithm becomes logically complicated when a large number of singularities appears. Another serious drawback of the method is the restriction on the step size of the grid, which is connected with the Courant stability criterion (cf. also Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy condition) and the fact that the conservation laws are not exactly fulfilled. Accordingly it is recommended to use the method of characteristics to solve problems in which the number of discontinuities is small. It has been proved that the solution by the method of characteristics converges to the solution of the initial differential problem if the flow is sufficiently smooth. As new computers will be developed capable of solving complicated logical problems, the method of characteristics will become more effective.

Another method which is used for solving these problems in gas dynamics is the method of integral relations (cf. Integral-relation method), which is applicable to equations of varying type. The method is based on the conservation laws and ultimately leads to solving ordinary differential equations.

The construction of finite-difference schemes for the problems of gas dynamics is based on the approximation of the conservation laws on a given moving or fixed grid, which yields a complicated system of explicit (explicit finite-difference schemes) or implicit (implicit finite-difference schemes) non-linear relations (cf. Hyperbolic partial differential equation, numerical methods).

Thus, for the equations of one-dimensional gas dynamics in Lagrangian coordinates it is possible to construct a general finite-difference scheme in the form:

(*)

where . In order to close the relations (*) the magnitudes , must be connected with the magnitudes , . This may be done in various ways, which yield explicit finite-difference schemes if , are expressed in terms of , or else implicit finite-difference schemes if these sums are expressed in terms of , , and yield non-linear relations if one integral step is employed and linear relations if two or more fractional steps are utilized (the predictor-corrector method).

The solution of the equations obtained in this way may be greatly simplified if splitting methods — analytic (the predictor-corrector method), geometric or by physical processes — are employed. The geometric methods are employed in reducing multi-dimensional problems to problems of smaller dimensionality (the method of fractional steps or the splitting method). The splitting method yields economical, absolutely-approximating schemes in which the number of operations required to compute the desired functions at some point does not increase with the number of the points (cf. Difference scheme). One modification of the splitting method is the method of "particle-in-cells" , in which the splitting is not related to a reduction of the dimension of the operators.

This general method yields finite-difference schemes of continuous counting computation, both for an ideal gas () and for a dissipative process (). Such schemes, by introducing an approximation viscosity, smoothen the singularities in the transitional domains of width and convert shock waves to shock transitions, and contact discontinuities to contact strips. The approximation viscosity of the finite-difference schemes comprises the dissipative properties of the equations of gas dynamics and those of the finite-difference scheme itself. The structure of the approximation viscosity is determined by the differential approximation of schemes which differ from the original system of equations by terms of order , where is the order of the approximation scheme. An important factor in many cases is the extent to which the finite-difference scheme and its differential approximation preserve the group properties of the initial system of differential equations. The preservation of the group properties by the finite-difference scheme is of great importance in practical computations, especially so in problems of gas dynamics in which, for example, the non-invariance of the first differential approximation with respect to the Galilean transformation brings about undesirable computational effects (instability, non-monotone profiles, etc.).

The known finite-difference schemes of continuous computations have a local accuracy on smooth solutions which is usually of order three at most and a global accuracy of order one at most (because of the low accuracy of the finite-difference scheme near singular points). Finite-difference schemes for equations of gas dynamics must satisfy not only the independent requirements of approximation and stability, but also several other practically-indispensable requirements — divergence, economy, complete conservation, etc. The idea of splitting makes it possible to construct economic finite-difference schemes for multi-dimensional problems. Divergence or conservation of a finite-difference scheme means that the finite-difference analogues of the fundamental laws of conservation (of mass, momentum and total energy) are satisfied for the finite-difference equations. The property of complete conservation requires a fulfillment of the finite-difference analogues of the conservation laws — not only the conservation of mass, momentum and total energy, but also of different types of energy (such as kinetic, potential or magnetic).

Below a few concrete finite-difference schemes of the form (*) are considered. If, in formula (*), one sets

the following explicit difference scheme of first-order approximation is obtained:

Here

. This scheme is a conditional approximation for (for it approximates the system of equations ), it is divergent and conditionally stable. The stability condition has the form where is the velocity of sound.

Putting in formula (*)

where

one obtains an absolutely-approximating explicit finite-difference scheme of second-order approximation:

This scheme is divergent and stable if .

The finite-difference scheme

is explicit if ; it is implicit if , ; the approximation is of order two if and is of order one if ; if , the scheme is totally conservative.

The finite-difference scheme

gives a second-order approximation, is implicit, absolutely approximating and non-divergent. Here

The success of continuous-computation finite-difference schemes is due to the fact that, even though the approximation viscosity of the scheme determines the structure of the finite-difference shock transition, the conservative approximation preserves the velocity of the shock wave and reproduces conditions of dynamic compatibility.

However, these favourable features of continuous-computation finite-difference schemes lose their importance in cases in which the aim is to transmit accurately the structure of the shock transition (problems of radiative gas dynamics), the structure of the contact strip or the boundary layers. In the case of contact discontinuity a satisfactory approximation by a continuous-computation finite-difference scheme becomes impossible not only because of the strong extension of the contact strip, but also because of the appearance of Helmholtz and Taylor instabilities. In such cases the method of "particle-in-cell" can be successfully employed since, owing to the instability, strong boundary distortions can be transmitted.

In problems of flows of a viscous gas, for sufficiently large Reynolds numbers the effect of the approximation viscosity is larger than that of physical viscosity if the difference grid is not sufficiently fine. To diminish the effect of the approximation viscosity, the grid must be strongly refined near the body around which the flow is taking place. In practice, the flow problem is solved by two rather than by one method in this particular case, by subdividing the integration problem into two: the problem of flow of an ideal gas around the body in which the magnitude to be determined is, in particular, the rate of the flow on the boundary of the body; and the problem of computing the viscous flow near the body, where the gradients of the magnitudes are large (the so-called boundary layer) with boundary conditions at infinity, where the specified velocity values are . The formulation of the problem in the framework of boundary-layer theory is less rigorous than the integration of the Navier–Stokes equations, but is nevertheless most frequently employed in engineering computations for large Reynolds numbers.

An especially important class of problems in gas dynamics are problems of hydrodynamic instability and turbulence. In such a case the problems must be solved in eigen values for the hydrodynamic equations of a viscous liquid in variations (Orr–Sommerfeld equation) and complicated numerical models must be constructed to describe the non-linear instability and turbulence. Such problems belong to the most difficult ones in numerical mathematics and require the development of new models and powerful computers.

References

[1]	R.D. Richtmeyer, K.W. Morton, "Difference methods for initial-value problems" , Wiley (Interscience) (1967)
[2]	S.K. Godunov, V.S. Ryaben'kii, "Theory of difference schemes" , North-Holland (1964) (Translated from Russian) MR0181117 Zbl 0116.33102
[3]	B.L. Rozhdestvenskii, N.N. Yanenko, "Systems of quasilinear equations and their applications to gas dynamics" , Amer. Math. Soc. (1983) (Translated from Russian) MR0694243
[4]	A.A. Samarskii, "Theorie der Differenzverfahren" , Akad. Verlagsgesell. Geest u. Portig K.-D. (1984) (Translated from Russian)
[5]	A.I. Zhukov, "Application of the method of characteristics to the numerical solution of one-dimensional problems of gas dynamics" Trudy Mat. Inst. Steklov. , 58 (1960) (In Russian)
[6]	F. Harlow, , Numerical methods in hydrodynamics , Moscow (1967) pp. 316–342 (In Russian; translated from English)
[7]	A.A. Dorodnitsyn, "On a method for numerically solving certain nonlinear problems of aerohydrodynamics" , Proc. third All-Union Math. Congress , 3 , Moscow (1958) pp. 447–453 (In Russian)
[8]	O.M. Belotserkovskii, "Numerical methods for solving the stationary equations of gas dynamics" , Numerical methods for solving problems in the mechanics of continuous media , Moscow (1969) pp. 101–213 (In Russian)
[9]	N.N. Yanenko, N.N. Anuchina, V.E. Petrenko, Yu.I. Shokin, "Methods for the calculations of problems in gas dynamics involving large derivations" Chisl. Mat. Mekh. Sploshn. Sred. , 1 (1970) pp. 40–62 (In Russian)
[10]	N.N. Yanenko, "The method of fractional steps; the solution of problems of mathematical physics in several variables" , Springer (1971) (Translated from Russian) MR0307493 Zbl 0356.65109 Zbl 0209.47103 Zbl 0183.18201 Zbl 0099.33502
[11]	A.A. Samarskii, Yu.P. Popov, "Difference schemes of gas dynamics" , Moscow (1975) (In Russian) MR0831532 MR0793813 MR0776274 MR0751464 Zbl 0245.76048
[12]	S.K. Godunov, A.V. Zabrodin, G.P. Prokopov, "A computational scheme for two-dimensional non-stationary problems of gas dynamics and calculation of the flow from a shock wave approaching a stationary state" USSR Comput. Math. Math. Phys. , 1 : 6 (1961) pp. 1187–1219 Zh. Vychisl. Mat. i Mat. Fiz. , 1 : 6 (1961) pp. 1020–1050

Comments

Additional references and recent monographs discussing the discretization of the equations of gas dynamics by finite-difference schemes, the methods of finite elements and finite volumes are [a1], [a2] and [a4]. All these discretization methods lead to large systems of, usually non-linear, equations. In addition to the splitting techniques mentioned above as methods for solving these equations, one may apply the powerful multi-grid method (see the editorial comment to Difference schemes, theory of). For this method applied to problems in gas dynamics see [a3] and the literature mentioned in this monograph.

Finally, the terminology "divergent difference scheme" used in text above refers to a difference scheme for which some conservation condition is satisfied.

References

[a1]	A.J. Baker, "Finite element computational fluid mechanics" , Hemisphere & McGraw-Hill (1983) MR0700104 Zbl 0515.76001
[a2]	M. Holt, "Numerical methods in fluid dynamics" , Springer (1984) MR0735254 Zbl 0357.76009 Zbl 0268.00010 Zbl 0215.58001
[a3]	S.F. McCormick, "Multigrid methods" , SIAM (1987)
[a4]	R. Peyret, T.D. Taylor, "Computational methods for fluid flow" , Springer (1983) MR0681481 Zbl 0514.76001
[a5]	R. Temam, "Numerical analysis" , North-Holland (1973) MR0347099 Zbl 0273.35002 Zbl 0261.65001