A stabilized finite element predictor-corrector scheme for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations using a nodal-based implementation

A finite element model to solve the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations based on the stabilization with orthogonal subscales, a predictor-corrector scheme to segregate the pressure and a nodal based implementation is presented in this paper. The stabilization consists of adding a least-squares form of the component orthogonal to the finite element space of the convective and pressure gradient terms, which allows to deal with convection-dominated flows and to use equal velocity-pressure interpolation. The pressure segregation is inspired in fractional step schemes, although the converged solution corresponds to that of a monolithic time integration. Finally, the nodal-based implementation is based on an a priori calculation of the integrals appearing in the formulation and then the construction of the matrix and right-hand side vector of the final algebraic system to be solved. After appropriate approximations, this matrix and this vector can be constructed directly for each nodal point, without the need to loop over the elements and thus making the calculations much faster. Some issues related to this implementation for fractional step and our predictor-corrector scheme, which is the main contribution of this paper, are discussed. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.