An integro-differential formulation for magnetic induction in bounded domains:
Boundary Element--Finite Volume method

Alexey Iskakova, Stephane Descombesb, Emmanuel Dormya,c

a IPGP, 4 place Jussieu, F-75252, Paris, France
b U.M.P.A., E.N.S. Lyon, 46 allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
c C.N.R.S., France.

Journal of Computational Physics, 197, 540-554 (2004)

Abstract. Simulations of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows in bounded domains using spectral methods suffer from a number of serious limitations. Alternative methods based on local discretisation raise the problem of how to implement non-local boundary conditions for the magnetic field. We have developed a new strategy for the numerical solution of MHD problems in bounded domains, which combines the flexibility of a local discretisation with a rigorous formulation of magnetic boundary conditions next to an insulator in arbitrary geometries. In accordance with the character of underlying equations we apply a global integral approach at the boundary and a differential approach inside the conducting domain. The formulation of the boundary problem in terms of primitive variables allows us to combine these approaches and propose a mixed finite volume and boundary element method. We illustrate its efficiency on magnetic diffusion problems in a sphere and in a finite cylinder.

Key Words: Magnetohydrodynamics and electrohydrodynamics, Hydrodynamic and hydromagnetic problems, Boundary element methods.