Applications of discontinuous Galerkin finite element method in thermomechanical coupling problems with imperfect thermal contact

Abstract

Thermomechanical coupling problems with imperfect thermal contact are analyzed in the present paper with discontinuous Galerkin finite element method. The imperfect thermal contact condition is characterized by thermal contact resistance. The whole thermomechanical coupling problem is solved alternatively with the thermal subproblem and mechanical subproblem. Thermal contact resistance is introduced directly with the interface numerical flux of the present discontinuous Galerkin finite element method without using interface element as traditional continuous Galerkin finite element method does. Numerical results show the accuracy and feasibility of the present discontinuous Galerkin finite element method in solving thermomechanical coupling problems with imperfect thermal contact. © 2013 Donghuan Liu and Yinghua Liu.