FVM,FEA.

June 24, 2005, 09:49

Finite Element Analysis Finite Volume Method

Can someone explain why FEA is not often used (in comparison to FVM) in Fluid Mechanics? What are its advantages and disadvantages?

June 24, 2005, 10:21

The main reason why the FVM is superior to the FEM for flow calculations is that the FVM ensures conservation on a control volume level which automatically ensures conservation for your entire mesh. The same can unfortunately not be said for the FEM which only ensures global conservation for your domain. This is in my humble opinion the reason why most commercial codes uses FVM. Having said that the FEM still handles complex meshes much better than FVM, but this is changing with technologies such as polyhedral meshing that is starting to emerge for the FVM.

With conservation on a control volume level I mean that your conservation equation is satified for each cell in your mesh.

Happy modelling!

June 24, 2005, 09:49	FVM,FEA.	#1
Question. Guest Posts: n/a	Finite Element Analysis Finite Volume Method Can someone explain why FEA is not often used (in comparison to FVM) in Fluid Mechanics? What are its advantages and disadvantages?

June 24, 2005, 10:21	Re: FVM,FEA.	#2
Jonno Guest Posts: n/a	The main reason why the FVM is superior to the FEM for flow calculations is that the FVM ensures conservation on a control volume level which automatically ensures conservation for your entire mesh. The same can unfortunately not be said for the FEM which only ensures global conservation for your domain. This is in my humble opinion the reason why most commercial codes uses FVM. Having said that the FEM still handles complex meshes much better than FVM, but this is changing with technologies such as polyhedral meshing that is starting to emerge for the FVM. With conservation on a control volume level I mean that your conservation equation is satified for each cell in your mesh. Happy modelling!