Glossary

Acronym for Finite Element Method.

This is a numerical technique for solving boundary-value problems. In a fluid flow application, the flow domain can be represented by finite elements, i.e. a geometrically similar model consists of several simplified discrete regions, which are linked. Flow governing equations (mass and momentum conservation, constitutive equations) are applied to each element, and a system of equations is constructed in terms of nodal unknowns. Techniques of linear algebra, combined with non-linear numerical schemes are subsequently invoked for solving the system.