Isogeometric discrete differential forms: Non-uniform degrees, Bezier extraction, polar splines and flows on surfaces: Non-uniform degrees, Bézier extraction, polar splines and flows on surfaces

Deepesh Toshniwal, Thomas J.R. Hughes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)
67 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Spaces of discrete differential forms can be applied to numerically solve the partial differential equations that govern phenomena such as electromagnetics and fluid mechanics. Robustness of the resulting numerical methods is complemented by pointwise satisfaction of conservation laws (e.g., mass conservation) in the discrete setting. Here we present the construction of isogeometric discrete differential forms, i.e., differential form spaces built using smooth splines. We first present an algorithm for computing Bézier extraction operators for univariate spline differential forms that allow local degree elevation. Then, using tensor-products of the univariate splines, a complex of discrete differential forms is built on meshes that contain polar singularities, i.e., edges that are singularly mapped onto points. We prove that the spline complexes share the same cohomological structure as the de Rham complex. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed methodology. In particular, the splines spaces derived are used to simulate generalized Stokes flow on arbitrarily curved smooth surfaces and to numerically demonstrate (a) optimal approximation and inf–sup stability of the spline spaces; (b) pointwise incompressible flows; and (c) flows on deforming surfaces.
Original languageEnglish
Article number113576
Pages (from-to)1-44
Number of pages44
JournalComputer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering
Volume376
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Optimal approximation
  • Pointwise incompressibility
  • Singularly parametrized surfaces
  • Smooth splines
  • Surface flows
  • The de Rham complex

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