Structured and unstructured grid adaptation schemes for numerical modeling of field problems (Q1330498)

The use of grid adaptation procedures for compressible flows and heat transfer is presented. Grid adaptation schemes are presented for structured and unstructured grids in the context of finite-difference and finite-element methods. An unstructured mesh adaptation scheme with refinement and coarsening based on refinement indicators is used to describe inviscid and viscous flow features. This adaptation scheme uses quadrilateral and triangular elements to add grid density to regions of high gradients and remove elements where these gradients are low. Modifications of the mesh adaptation procedure enables its utilization in the analyses of heat transfer problems commonly associated with hypervelocity flows. The strategies used for mesh adaptation, computing refinement indicators, and time marching are described.