Grid-free methods

Fraunhofer ITWM

The Finite Pointset Method (FPM), which has been developed in the department, is an individual, independent basic software for simulation tasks in a wide area of flow and continuum mechanical problems. FPM is a particle method, i. e. a grid-free method which, in contrast to classical numerical methods, such as Finite Elements or Finite Volumes, does not require a grid or mesh. Thus, it can excellently be applied in the case of all time-dependent problems, where grid-based methods reach their limits due to the necessary remeshing. Examples are fluid dynamical problems with free surfaces, multiphase flows, fluid-structure interactions with a strong change of the computing domain, or structure mechanical problems with substantial structure changes.

Projects

  • Refueling of motor vehicles

    Over a period of three years, we have worked on the development of a simulation tool for the refueling processes of motor vehicles based on the finite pointset method (FPM). The research was supported in the framework of a BMBF (Federal Ministry for Education and Research) program in cooperation with Volkswagen AG.

  • Simulation of a gob feeder

    One example of an instationary flow problem with free surfaces is a gob feeder (TC-25), as it is used during the production of traditional tube screens. The example of the TC-25 demonstrates the manifold possibilities provided by the Finite Pointset Method (FPM) developed at the ITWM.

  • Airbag deployment

    The deployment of an airbag is a very complex physical process. In cooperation with the company ESI, we develop a software tool for the producers of automobiles and airbags, which is able to simulate the deployment process of an airbag very well, even if the airbag is folded in a very complex manner.

Products

  • FPM - Finite Pointset Method

    FPM (Finite Pointset Method) is a grid-free software tool for the numerical simulation of continuum mechanical and especially fluid dynamical problems.