Efficient and Higher-Order Accurate Split-Step Methods for Generalised Newtonian Fluid Flow

Abstract

[EN] In numerous engineering applications, such as polymer or blood flow, the dependence of fluid viscosity on the local shear rate plays an important role. Standard techniques using inf-sup stable finite elements lead to saddle-point systems posing a challenge even for state-ofthe-art solvers and preconditioners. Alternatively, projection schemes or time-splitting methods decouple equations for velocity and pressure, resulting in easier to solve linear systems. Although pressure and velocity correction schemes of high-order accuracy are available for Newtonian fluids, the extension to generalised Newtonian fluids is not a trivial task. Herein, we present a split-step scheme based on an explicit-implicit treatment of pressure, viscosity and convection terms, combined with a pressure Poisson equation with fully consistent boundary conditions. Then, using standard equal-order finite elements becomes possible. Stability, flexibility and efficiency of the splitting scheme is showcased in two challenging applications involving aortic aneurysm flow and human phonation.