A high-order discontinuous Galerkin method for simulating incompressible fluid-thermal-structural interaction problems

This paper presents a framework for the application of the discontinuous Galerkin(DG) finite element method to the multi-physics simulation of the solid thermal deformation interacting with incompressible flow problems in two-dimensions. Recent applications of the DG method are primarily for thermoelastic problems in a solid domain or fluid-structure interaction problems without heat transfer. Based on a recently published conjugate heat transfer solver, the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation, the fluid advection-diffusion equation, the Boussinesq term, the solid heat equation and the solid linear elastic equation are solved using an explicit DG formulation. A Dirichlet-Neumann partitioning strategy has been implemented to achieve the data exchange process via the numerical flux computed at interface quadrature points in the fluid-solid interface. Formal hp convergence studies employing the method of manufactured solutions demonstrate that the expected order of accuracy is achieved for each solver. The algorithm is then further validated against several existing benchmark cases including the in-plane loaded square, the Timoshenko Beam, the laminated beam subject to thermal-loads and the lid-driven cavity with a flexible bottom wall. The computational effort demonstrates that for all cases the highest order accurate algorithm has several magnitudes lower error than the second-order schemes for a given computational effort. It is a strong justification for the development of such high order discretisations. The solver can be employed to predict thermal deformation of a structure due to convective and conductive heat transfer at low Mach, such as chip deformation on a printed circuit board, wave-guide structure optimization, thermoelectric cooler simulation, and optics mounting method verification.