A new positivity-preserving technique for high-order schemes to solve extreme problems of Euler equations on structured meshes (Q6131528)

The paper presents a significant advancement in computational fluid dynamics, specifically addressing challenges in solving extreme problems of compressible Euler equations using high-order schemes. The primary contribution of this paper is the introduction of a new positivity-preserving (new PP) technique that is applied to fifth-order finite volume unequal-sized Weighted Essentially Non-Oscillatory (WENO) schemes on structured meshes. This technique significantly enhances the computation of problems involving low density or pressure, which are common in fields such as aerospace, meteorology, and oceanography. The classical problem addressed in this paper revolves around the numerical difficulties encountered in solving the Euler equations for compressible fluids, especially under extreme conditions such as high Mach numbers. Traditional high-order numerical schemes often fail in these scenarios due to the emergence of negative density or pressure, which undermines the physical realism and stability of the simulations. To address this challenge, the authors develop a new PP technique that ensures the positivity of density and pressure across the computational domain, thereby preserving the physical integrity of the simulation. The methodology employed involves a sophisticated detective process during the spatial reconstruction phase of the time-marching algorithm. This process involves examining the positivity of density and pressure at specific checking points within each cell of the mesh. If negative values are detected, a novel compression limiter is activated to modify the polynomial representations of density and pressure, ensuring their positivity throughout the target cell. This approach is distinct from previous techniques due to its ability to overestimate the minimum and maximum values of the polynomials without extensive scanning, thereby improving computational efficiency and robustness. The manuscript provides detailed algorithmic descriptions for implementing the new PP technique in both one and two-dimensional contexts, along with theoretical discussions to underpin its validity. Extensive numerical experiments demonstrate the superiority of the new technique over classical PP methods, particularly in terms of computational efficiency and the ability to handle extreme problems without sacrificing accuracy or stability. The significance of this research lies in its potential to expand the applicability of high-order numerical schemes to a wider range of challenging fluid dynamics problems. By ensuring the positivity of essential physical quantities, the new PP technique facilitates more accurate and stable simulations under conditions that were previously intractable. This advancement not only has implications for the development of more reliable computational tools in fluid dynamics but also opens new avenues for exploration in various applied sciences where extreme fluid behaviour is of interest. In conclusion, the paper by Tan, Zhang, and Zhu makes a substantial contribution to the field of computational fluid dynamics by addressing a longstanding challenge in the numerical simulation of compressible flows. The new positivity-preserving technique introduced in this study represents a significant step forward in the development of high-order schemes capable of tackling extreme problems with improved reliability and efficiency. This work not only enhances our computational capabilities but also broadens our understanding of fluid behaviour under extreme conditions, with potential applications across a range of scientific and engineering disciplines.