The generalized shifted boundary method for geometry-parametric PDEs and time-dependent domains

Abstract

Many engineering and scientific problems require the solution of partial differential equations in complex geometries. Often, these problems involve parametrized geometries, e.g. design optimization, or moving domains, e.g. fluid-structure interaction problems. For such cases, traditional methods based on body-fitted grids require time-consuming mesh generation or re-meshing techniques. Unfitted finite element methods, e.g. CutFEM of AgFEM, are appealing techniques that address these challenges. However, they require ad-hoc integration methods and stabilization techniques to prevent instabilities for small cut cells. Recently, the Shifted Boundary Method (SBM), was introduced to prevent integration over cut cells and small cut-cell instabilities. An extension of the SBM was recently introduced, the Weighted Shifted Boundary Method (WSBM), where the variational form is weighted by the elemental active volume fraction, improving discrete mass/momentum conservation properties in simulations with moving domains. In this work we introduce the Generalized Shifted Boundary Method (GSBM), a geometry-agnostic generalization of the SBM and WSBM formulations that avoids the need of redefinition of integration domains and finite element spaces. The GSBM enables a unified formulation for problems with evolving geometries, supports gradient-based optimization of problems with varying geometries including topological changes, and unifies SBM, WSBM, and optimal-surrogate variants within a single framework. In this work we describe the formulation, and corresponding tests, for three model problems, namely: the Poisson problem, linear elasticity and transient Stokes flow.