A combined BEM-FEM model for the velocity-vorticity formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations in three dimensions

This paper describes a combined boundary element and finite element model f or the solution of velocity-vorticity formulation of the Navier-Stokes equa tions in thee dimensions. In the velocity-vorticity formulation of the Navi er-Stokes equations, the Poisson type velocity equations are solved using t he boundary element method (BEM) and the vorticity transport equations are solved using the finite element method (FEM) and both are combined to form an iterative scheme. The vorticity boundary conditions for the solution of vorticity transport equations are exactly obtained directly from the BEM so lution of the velocity Poisson equations. Here the results of medium Reynol ds number of up to 1000, in a typical cubic cavity flow are presented and c ompared with other numerical models. The combined BEM-FEM model are general ly in fairly close agreement with the results of other numerical models, ev en for a coarse mesh. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.