The coupling of bem and fem for the two-dimensional viscous flow problem

Abstract

In this paper we propose a numerical scheme for treating the problem of sJow viscous flow past an obstacle in the plane. This scheme is a combination of boundary element and finite element methods. By introducing an auxiliary boundary curve, we divide the region under consideration into two subregions, an inner and an outer region. In the inner region, we employ a finite element method (FEM) for solving a system of simplified field equations with proper natural boundary conditions. In the outer region, the solution is expressed in the form of a simple-layer potential with density function satisfying a system of modified integral equations of the first kind. The latter are solved by a boundary element method (BEM). Both solutions are matched on the common auxiliary boundary curve. Error estimates in suitable function spaces are derived in terms of the mesh widths as well as the small parameters, the Reynolds numbers

Keywords:

• BEM
• FEM
• viscous flow

AMS(MOS):

• 35A15
• 45N05
• 76D30