A multi-domain approach for smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations of highly complex flows

• Published in: Computer methods in applied mechanics and engineering Vol. 340; pp. 956 - 977
• Main Authors: Monteleone, Alessandra, De Marchis, Mauro, Milici, Barbara, Napoli, Enrico
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.10.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Adaptive control; Boundary conditions; Coalescing; Computational fluid dynamics; Computer simulation; Continuity equation; Deactivation; Domain decomposition; Domain decomposition methods; Fluid flow; Fluid mechanics; Incompressible flow; ISPH; Kernel functions; Mirror particles; Multi-block; Navier-Stokes equations; Particle size; Smooth particle hydrodynamics; Smoothed particle hydrodynamics; ISPH; Multi-block; Smoothed particle hydrodynamics; Boundary conditions; Mirror particles; Domain decomposition
• ISSN: 0045-7825; 1879-2138
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2018.06.029

An efficient and accurate method is proposed to solve the incompressible flow momentum and continuity equations in computational domains partitioned into subdomains in the framework of the smoothed particle hydrodynamics method. The procedure does not require any overlap of the subdomains, which would result in the increase of the computational effort. Perfectly matching solutions are obtained at the surfaces separating neighboring blocks. The block interfaces can be both planar and curved surfaces allowing to easily decompose even geometrically complex domains. The smoothing length of the kernel function is maintained constant in each subdomain, while changing between blocks where a different resolution is required. Particles leaving each block through the interfaces are deactivated and correspondingly new particles are generated at the neighboring block using a dynamically adaptive procedure to control their frequency of release. No splitting and coalescing method is thus employed to take into account the different size and mass of the particles going through the interfaces. Mass conservation is guaranteed during the procedure, which is a challenging task in a Lagrangian method based on the domain decomposition. The test cases in both 2D and 3D approximation show the accuracy of the method and its ability to strongly reduce the computational efforts through a multi-resolution approach. •A novel multi-domain approach is proposed in smoothed particle hydrodynamics method.•The computational domain is partitioned into non-overlapping blocks.•Particles leave and enter subdomains through a procedure ensuring mass conservation.•A fast and efficient matching procedure at the block interfaces is employed.•2D and 3D test cases confirm the seamless flow transition through the interfaces.