Symmetric forms for finite element analysis of the Navier-Stokes problem (Q1091197)

The nonlinear convective part of the Navier-Stokes equation is cast into a symmetric form. It is shown that in the discrete case, if applied to an iterative finite element procedure, the proposed form is unique and fully capable to reproduce the properties of an incompressible Newtonian fluid. A simple direct approach is demonstrated in the case of a two-dimensional flow. A more general idea of generating symmetric forms (applicable to three dimensional situations), through transformation from a special orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system containing the streamlines, is also presented in the Appendix.