Extended Hydrodynamics Using the Discontinuous-Galerkin Hancock Method

Abstract

Moment methods derived from the kinetic theory of gases can be used for the prediction of continuum and non-equilibrium flows and offer numerical advantages over other methods, such as the Navier-Stokes model. Models developed in this fashion are described by first-order hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs) with stiff local relaxation source terms.

The application of discontinuous-Galerkin (DG) methods for the solution of such models has many benefits. Of particular interest is the third-order accurate, coupled space-time discontinuous-Galerkin Hancock (DGH) method. This scheme is accurate, as well as highly efficient on large-scale distributed-memory computers.

The current study outlines a general implementation of the DGH method used for the parallel solution of moment methods in one, two, and three dimensions on modern distributed clusters. An algorithm for adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) was developed alongside the implementation of the scheme, and is used to achieve even higher accuracy and efficiency.

Many different first-order hyperbolic and hyperbolic-relaxation PDEs are solved to demonstrate the robustness of the scheme. First, a linear convection-relaxation equation is solved to verify the order of accuracy of the scheme in three dimensions. Next, some classical compressible Euler problems are solved in one, two, and three dimensions to demonstrate the scheme's ability to capture discontinuities and strong shocks, as well as the efficacy of the implemented AMR. A special case, Ringleb's flow, is also solved in two-dimensions to verify the order of accuracy of the scheme for non-linear PDEs on curved meshes. Following this, the shallow water equations are solved in two dimensions. Afterwards, the ten-moment (Gaussian) closure is applied to two-dimensional Stokes flow past a cylinder, showing the abilities of both the closure and scheme to accurately compute classical viscous solutions. Finally, the one-dimensional fourteen-moment closure is solved.