The Cell Method: An Overview on the Main Features

Abstract

The Cell Method (CM) is a computational tool that maintains critical multi-dimensional attributes of physical phenomena in analysis. This information is neglected in the differential formulations of the classical approaches of finite element, boundary element, finite volume, and finite difference analysis, often leading to numerical instabilities and spurious results. This paper highlights the central theoretical concepts of the CM that preserve a more accurate and precise representation of the geometric and topological features of variables for practical problem solving. Important applications occur in fields such as electromagnetics, electrodynamics, solid mechanics and fluids. CM addresses non-locality in continuum mechanics, an especially important circumstance in modelling heterogeneous materials.