# Source term linearization

(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

# Introduction

In seeking the solution of the general transport equation for a scalar $\phi$, the main objective is to correctly handle the non-linearities by transforming them into linear form and then iteratively account for the non-linearity. The source term plays a central role in this respect when it is non-linear. For example, in radiation heat transfer, the source term in energy equation is expressed as fourth powers in the temperature.
When the source is constant and independent of the conserved scalar, the finite volume method assumes that the value of S prevails of the control volume and thus can be easily integrated. For a given control volume P, we obtain
$\int_{\Omega} S d\Omega = S\Omega \,$

## Picard's Method

Picard's method is the most popular method used in conjunction with the finite volume method. For a given control volume P, we start by writing the source term as
$S = S_C + S_PT_P \,$
where $S_C$ denotes the constant part of S and $S_P$ denotes the coefficient of $\phi_P$ (not the value of S at P). This allows ups to account for $\S_P$ in the coefficients for $\phi_P$.

Let $\phi_P^*$ denote the value of $\phi_P$at the current itertaion. We now write a Taylor series expansion of S about $\phi_P^*$ as
$S = S^* + \left ( \frac {\partial S}{\partial \phi} \right ) ^* \left ( \phi_P - \phi_P^* \right )$
therefore
$S_C = S^* - \left ( \frac {\partial S}{\partial \phi} \right ) ^* \phi_P^*$
$S_P = \left( \frac {\partial S}{\partial \phi} \right ) ^*$
where $\left ( \frac {\partial S}{\partial \phi} \right ) ^*$ is the gradient of S evaluated at $\phi_P^*$.

As an illustrative example, consider $S = -T^3 + 10 \,$. Following Picard's method, we have
$\left( \frac {\partial S}{\partial \phi} \right ) = -3T^2$
$S_C = -T_P^{*3} +10 + 3T_P^{*2}T_P^* = 2T_P^{*3} +10$
$S_P = -3T_P^{*2}$