An overview on smoothed particle hydrodynamics

Abstract

This paper presents an overview on smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), which is a meshfree, particle method of Lagrangian nature. In theory, the interpolation and approximations of the SPH method and the corresponding numerical errors are analyzed. The inherent particle inconsistency has been discussed in detail. It has been demonstrated that the particle inconsistency originates from the discrete particle approximation process and is the fundamental cause for poor approximation accuracy. Some particle consistency restoring approaches have been reviewed. In application, SPH modeling of general fluid dynamics and hyperdynamics with material strength have been reviewed with emphases on (1) microfluidics and microdrop dynamics, (2) coast hydrodynamics and offshore engineering, (3) environmental and geophysical flows, (4) high-explosive detonation and explosions, (5) underwater explosions, and (6) hydrodynamics with material strength including hypervelocity impact and penetration. © 2008 World Scientific Publishing Company.