Least Square Finite Element Method for Viscous Splitting of Unsteady Incompressible Navier–Stokes Equations

In order to solve unsteady incompressible Navier–Stokes (N–S) equations, a new stabilized finite element method, called the viscous-splitting least square FEM, is proposed. In the model, the N–S equations are split into diffusive and convective parts in each time step. The diffusive part is discretized by the backward difference method in time and discretized by the standard Galerkin method in space. The convective part is a first-order nonlinear equation. After the linearization of the nonlinear part by Newton’s method, the convective part is also discretized by the backward difference method in time and discretized by least square scheme in space. C0-type element can be used for interpolation of the velocity and pressure in the present model. Driven cavity flow and flow past a circular cylinder are conducted to validate the present model. Numerical results agree with previous numerical results, and the model has high accuracy and can be used to simulate problems with complex geometry.