An arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian finite element method for solving three-dimensional free surface flows Original Research Article

This paper discusses numerical solution of unsteady three-dimensional free surface flows. The governing equilibrium equations are written in the framework of the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian kinematic description. The corresponding variational formulation is established afterwards. Since the variational problems are nonlinear with respect to the moving coordinates, a second-order approximate variational problem is derived after a consistent linearization of the referential motion. Stability of the discrete formulations is ensured with the help of a new stabilization method. A robust preconditioned GMRES algorithm is then used to solve the resulting set of nonlinear equations. Finally, the computational algorithms are assessed through numerical studies of various problems: a large sloshing flow in a three-dimensional reservoir, a discharge flow from a reservoir, simulation of a liquid vortex produced inside a cylindrical container with a disk rotating at the bottom and a three-dimensional practical hydraulic problem.