Numerical Solvers of the p-Stokes Equations with Applications in Ice-Sheet Dynamics

In glacier dynamics – i.e. the field of research concerning the movement of ice – intricate mathematical models are used to describe its motion. Ice can be considered as a highly viscous, non-Newtonian fluid, obeying a set of equations closely related to the well-known Navier-Stokes equations descri...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Myrbäck, Sebastian, Risberg, Jonatan
Format: Bachelor Thesis
Language:English
Published: KTH, Skolan för teknikvetenskap (SCI) 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-276235
Description
Summary:In glacier dynamics – i.e. the field of research concerning the movement of ice – intricate mathematical models are used to describe its motion. Ice can be considered as a highly viscous, non-Newtonian fluid, obeying a set of equations closely related to the well-known Navier-Stokes equations describing classical fluid mechanics. These equations are called the p-Stokes equations and is to date the most precise mathematical description of the flow of ice. Using the finite element method, the non-linear p-Stokes equations are most efficiently solved numerically by a Newton solver in combination with preconditioned iterative solvers. This thesis investigate the use of such solvers when applied to glacier dynamics. To avoid singularities, the non-linear shear dependent viscosity that arise in the p-Stokes equations is modeled with a regularization term to avoid singularities. Inorder to facilitate fast convergence for glacier simulations we implement and discuss the use of an optimal expression of this regularization. The regularization term is tested fora simplified flow configuration, for well-known glaciological benchmark experiments and lastly, an Antarctic glacial geometry. We come to the conclusion that the regularization parameter implemented increase the efficiency of the numerical methods used, generally without the introduction of significant errors to the model. Inom isdynamik – forskningsområdet som behandlar rörelsen av is – konstrueras numeriska modeller för att beskriva flödet av stora ismassor som glaciärer och istäcken. Is kan beskrivas som en mycket viskös fluid som lyder under ett system av partiella differentialekvationer nära besläktade med Navier-Stokes ekvationer. Dessa ekvationer kallas för p-Stokes ekvationer och är den mest noggranna beskrivningen av isflöden som existerar idag. Genom att använda finita elementmetoden löses de icke-linjära p-Stokes ekvationerna effektivast med hjälp av en Newton-lösare i kombination med iterativa lösare med prekonditionerare. Denna rapport undersöker hur ...