An eXtreme Mesh deformation method to follow sharp physical interfaces

This project will develop an innovative approach, X-MESH, to overcome a major difficulty associated with engineeringanalysis: we aim to provide a revolutionary way to track physicalinterfaces in finite element simulations using extreme deformation ofthe meshes.Unprecedented low computational cost, high robustness andaccuracy are expected as the proposed approach is designed to avoidthe pitfalls of the current methods, especially for topological changes. The key idea of the projecthas emerged in a synergistic brainstorming between J.-F. Remacle(meshing methods) and N. Moës (computational methods). This key ideais to allow elements to deform up to zero measure. For example, atriangle can deform to an edge or even a point. This idea is ratherextreme and totally revisits the interaction between the meshingcommunity and the computational community who, for decades, havestriven to interact through beautiful meshes. Six areas in fluid and solid mechanics as well as heattransfer are targeted. Interfaces will be either (i) material,i.e. attached to particles of matter (the interface between twoimmiscible fluids or the dry interface in a wetting and drying model)(ii) immaterial, i.e. migrating through the material (asolidification front, contact front, yield front in yield stress fluidflow or a crack front). Successes brought by X-MESH are expected in the following engineeringareas: safety design and maintenance, manufacturing processes, coastalengineering, energy efficiency, ocean modeling to cite a few. Theproject takes place in a stimulating environment mixing senior staffwith PhDs and Post-docs to produce and disseminate publications withopen source pieces of software. It also intends to create a synergy atlarge with the computational communities dealing with interfaces andfronts in all fields of science: topology optimization,superconductivity, tissue growth, hydrogel swelling, crystal growth,ferroelectric crystal etc.