Convergence analysis of Euler and BDF2 grad-div stabilization methods for the time-dependent penetrative convection model

Abstract

Based on the grad-div stabilization method, the first-order backward Euler and second-order BDF2 finite element schemes were studied for the approximations of the time-dependent penetrative convection equations. The proposed schemes are both unconditionally stable. We proved the error bounds of the velocity and temperature in which the constants are independent of inverse powers of the viscosity and thermal conductivity coefficients when the Taylor-Hood element and $ P_2 $ element are used in finite element discretizations. Finally, numerical experiments with high Reynolds numbers were shown to confirm the theoretical results.

Keywords

• grad-div method
• penetrative convection
• backward euler scheme
• two-step backward differentiation scheme
• finite element method
• error analysis