The utility of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for solving problems of engineering interest has experienced rapid growth due to the improvements in both memory capacity and processing speed of computers. While the capability now exists for the solution of the Navier-Stokes equations about complex and complete aircraft configurations, the bottleneck within the process is the time consuming task of properly generating a mesh that can accurately solve the governing partial differential equations (PDEs). This thesis explored two numerical techniques that attempt to circumvent the difficulty associated with the meshing process by solving a simplified form of the continuity equation within a meshless framework. The continuity equation reduces to the full potential equation by assuming irrotational flow. It is a nonlinear PDE that can describe flows for a wide spectrum of Mach numbers that do not exhibit discontinuities. It may not be an adequate model for the detailed analysis of a complex flowfield since viscous effects are not captured by this equation, but it is an appealing alternative for the aircraft designer because it can provide a quick and simple to implement estimate of the aerodynamic characteristics during the conceptual design phase. The two meshless methods explored in this thesis are the Dual Reciprocity Method (DRM) and the Generalized Finite Difference Method (GFD). The Dual Reciprocity Method was shown to have the capability to solve for the two-dimensional subcritical compressible flow over a Circular Cylinder and the non-lifting flow for a NACA 0012 airfoil. Unfortunately these solutions were obtained with the requirement of a priori knowledge of the solution to tune a parameter necessary for proper convergence of the algorithm. Due to the shortcomings of applying the Dual Reciprocity Method, the Generalized Finite Difference Method was also investigated. The GFD method solves a PDE in differential form and can be thought of as a meshless form of a standard finite difference scheme. This method proved to be an accurate and general technique for solving the previously mentioned cases along with the lifting flow about a NACA 0012 airfoil. It was also demonstrated that the GFD method could be formulated to discretize the full potential equation with second order accuracy. Both solution methods offer their own set of unique advantages and challenges, but it was determined that the GFD Method possessed the flexibility necessary for a meshless technique to become a viable aerodynamic design tool.

In this research project, the Boundary Element Method (BEM) is developed and formulated for the solution of two-dimensional convection-diffusion-reaction problems. A combined approach with the dual reciprocity boundary element method (DRBEM) has been applied to solve steady-state problems with variable velocity and transient problems with constant and variable velocity fields. Further, the radial integration boundary element method (RIBEM) is utilised to handle non-homogeneous problems with variable source term. For all cases, a boundary-only formulation is produced. Initially, the steady-state case with constant velocity is considered, by employing constant boundary elements and a fundamental solution of the adjoint equation. This fundamental solution leads to a singular integral equation. The conservation laws, usually applied to avoid this integration, do not hold when a chemical reaction is taking place. Then, the integrals are successfully computed using Telles' technique. The application of the BEM for this particular equation is discussed in detail in this work. Next, the steady-state problem for variable velocity fields is presented and investigated. The velocity field is divided into an average value plus a perturbation. The perturbation is taken to the right-hand-side of the equation generating a non-homogeneous term. This nonhomogeneous equation is treated by utilising the DRM approach resulting in a boundary-only equation. Then, an integral equation formulation for the transient problem with constant velocity is derived, based on the DRM approach utilising the fundamental solution of the steady-state case. Therefore, the convective terms will be encompassed by the fundamental solution and lie within the boundary integral after application of Greens's second identity, leaving on the right-hand-side of the equation a domain integral involving the time-derivative only. The proposed DRM method needs the time-derivative to be expanded as a series of functions that will allow the domain integral to be moved to the boundary. The expansion required by the DRM uses functions which take into account the geometry and physics of the problem, if velocity-dependent terms are used. After that, a novel DRBEM model for transient convection-diffusion-reaction problems with variable velocity field is investigated and validated. The fundamental solution for the corresponding steady-state problem is adopted in this formulation. The variable velocity is decomposed into an average which is included into the fundamental solution of the corresponding equation with constant coefficients, and a perturbation which is treated using the DRM approximation. The mathematical formulation permits the numerical solution to be represented in terms of boundary-only integrals. Finally, a new formulation for non-homogeneous convection-diffusion-reaction problems with variable source term is achieved using RIBEM. The RIM is adopted to convert the domain integrals into boundary-only integrals. The proposed technique shows very good solution behaviour and accuracy in all cases studied. The convergence of the methods has been examined by implementing different error norm indicators and increasing the number of boundary elements in all cases. Numerical test cases are presented throughout this research work. Their results are sufficiently encouraging to recommend the use of the techniques developed for solution of general convection-diffusion-reaction problems. All the simulated solutions for several examples showed very good agreement with available analytical solutions, with no numerical problems of oscillation and damping of sharp fronts.

O presente trabalho desenvolve uma formulação do Método dos Elementos de Contorno para análise de problemas tridimensionais de fraturamento no regime transiente. Utilizam-se as soluções fundamentais da elastostática para obter a matriz de massa, empregando-se o Método da Reciprocidade Dual e a discretização do domínio por células tridimensionais. Para a integração no tempo são utilizados os algoritmos de Newmark e Houbolt. O fenômeno do fraturamento é abordado através da consideração de um campo de tensões iniciais, introduzindo-se o conceito de dipolos de tensão. Os tensores desenvolvidos que se relacionam aos dipolos, derivados das soluções fundamentais, são também apresentados. É utilizado o modelo de fratura coesiva. O contorno é discretizado utilizando-se elementos triangulares planos com aproximação linear, e elementos constantes para a superfície fictícia de fraturamento. São feitas várias aplicações cujos resultados obtidos confirmam a importância e a adequação da formulação apresentada para os problemas propostos. / This work presents a Boundary Element Method (BEM) formulation for analysis of three-dimensional fracture mechanics transient problems. Elastostatics fundamental solutions are considered in order to obtain the mass matrix, using both Dual Reciprocity Method and three-dimensional cell discretization. Newmark and Houbolt algorithms are employed to evaluate the time integrals. The fracture effects are captured by using dipoles of stresses, derived from an initial stress field. The tensors related to those dipoles, developed in the present work, are presented. The cohesive crack is the adopted model. Body boundary is discretized though linear flat triangular elements and the fracture surfaces are approximated by constant flat triangular elements. Some applications are processed to show the efficiency of presented BEM formulations.

O presente trabalho desenvolve uma formulação do Método dos Elementos de Contorno para análise de problemas tridimensionais de fraturamento no regime transiente. Utilizam-se as soluções fundamentais da elastostática para obter a matriz de massa, empregando-se o Método da Reciprocidade Dual e a discretização do domínio por células tridimensionais. Para a integração no tempo são utilizados os algoritmos de Newmark e Houbolt. O fenômeno do fraturamento é abordado através da consideração de um campo de tensões iniciais, introduzindo-se o conceito de dipolos de tensão. Os tensores desenvolvidos que se relacionam aos dipolos, derivados das soluções fundamentais, são também apresentados. É utilizado o modelo de fratura coesiva. O contorno é discretizado utilizando-se elementos triangulares planos com aproximação linear, e elementos constantes para a superfície fictícia de fraturamento. São feitas várias aplicações cujos resultados obtidos confirmam a importância e a adequação da formulação apresentada para os problemas propostos. / This work presents a Boundary Element Method (BEM) formulation for analysis of three-dimensional fracture mechanics transient problems. Elastostatics fundamental solutions are considered in order to obtain the mass matrix, using both Dual Reciprocity Method and three-dimensional cell discretization. Newmark and Houbolt algorithms are employed to evaluate the time integrals. The fracture effects are captured by using dipoles of stresses, derived from an initial stress field. The tensors related to those dipoles, developed in the present work, are presented. The cohesive crack is the adopted model. Body boundary is discretized though linear flat triangular elements and the fracture surfaces are approximated by constant flat triangular elements. Some applications are processed to show the efficiency of presented BEM formulations.