Solution of moving-boundary problems by the spectral element method

This paper describes a novel numerical model aiming at solving moving-boundary problems such as free-surface flows or fluid-structure interaction. This model uses a moving-grid technique to solve the Navier-Stokes equations expressed in the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian kinematics. The discretization in space is based on the spectral element method. The coupling of the fluid equations and the moving-grid equations is essentially done through the conditions on the moving boundaries. Two- and three-dimensional simulations are presented: translation and rotation of a cylinder in a fluid, and large-amplitude sloshing in a rectangular tank. The accuracy and robustness of the present numerical model is studied and discussed. (C) 2007 IMACS. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.