This paper presents a discontinuous finite element method for the numerical solution of internal thermal radiation problems in three-dimensional (3D) geometries using an unstructured mesh of mixed elements. Mathematical formulation, numerical implementation, and computational details are given. The different domain discretization methods are presented, and a new angular space discretization is also given. Numerical examples are presented for 3D radiative transfer in emitting, absorbing, and scattering media. Computed results compare well with analytical solutions whenever available. The localized formulation intrinsic in discontinuous finite elements is considered particularly useful for computational radiation heat transfer in participating media.

Issue Section:
Radiative Heat Transfer
Keywords:
finite element analysis, radiative transfer, heat radiation, radiation, radiative, absorbing, emitting, scattering, medium, unstructured, discontinuous finite element, DFE, Galerkin
Topics:
Electromagnetic scattering, Finite element analysis, Finite element methods, Radiation (Physics), Radiation scattering, Radiative heat transfer, Scattering (Physics), Thermal radiation, Heat flux
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 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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