A finite volume procedure to solve elastic solid mechanics problems in three dimensions on an unstructured mesh

Abstract

Abstract A Finite Volume (FV) procedure is described for solving the elastic solid mechanics equations in three dimensions on an unstructured mesh, for bodies undergoing thermal or mechanical loads. The FV procedure is developed in parallel with the conventional FE Galerkin procedure so that the differences in each approach may be clearly distinguished. The matrix form of the FV procedure is described, and is implemented in parallel with the FE procedure, both for two‐dimensional quadrilateral and three‐dimensional brick meshes. The FV and FE procedures are then compared against a range of benchmark problems that test the basic capability of the FV technique. It is shown to be approximately as accurate as the FE procedure on similar meshes, though its system matrix set‐up time is twice as long for a node by node set‐up procedure.