Finite element method for simulation of 3-D form filling with incompressible fluid

In the present article we propose an approach for treating the problem for the filling of a cavity with incompressible fluid by the Finite Element Met hod (FEM). The area occupied by fluid is approximated by elements, which ha ve dimensions in both space and time. With this choice of elements the meth od is an implicit time stepping technique and adaptive to the non-stationar y nature of the solution. An algorithm is developed for localization of the position of the free surface and for constructing of FE-mesh over the flui d occupied area at each time step. Numerical results were obtained for simu lation of the process of filling of the cavity of the form used for product ion of 3-D axi-symmetric automobile wheels by the Counter Pressure Casting- method. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.