A block-coupled Finite Volume methodology for linear elasticity and unstructured meshes

The current article presents a fully coupled cell-centred Finite Volume solution methodology for linear elasticity and unstructured meshes. Details are given of the novel implicit discretisation and block coupled solution procedure, including use of a Finite Area method for face tangential gradient calculations and coupled treatment of non-orthogonal corrections. A number of 2-D and 3-D linear-elastic benchmark test cases are examined using hexahedral, tetrahedral and general polyhedral meshes; solution accuracy and efficiency are compared with that of a segregated procedure and a commercial Finite Element software, where the new method is shown to be faster in all cases.