On the accuracy of stiff-accurate diagonal implicit Runge-Kutta methods for finite volume based Navier-Stokes equations

The paper aims at developing low-storage implicit Runge-Kutta methods which are easy to implement and achieve higher-order of convergence for both the velocity and pressure in the finite volume formulation of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations on a static collocated grid. To this end, the effect of the momentum interpolation, a procedure required by the finite volume method for collocated grids, on the differential-algebraic nature of the spatially-discretized Navier-Stokes equations should be examined first. A new framework for the momentum interpolation is established, based on which the semi-discrete Navier-Stokes equations can be strictly viewed as a system of differential-algebraic equations of index 2. The accuracy and convergence of the proposed momentum interpolation framework is examined. We then propose a new method of applying implicit Runge-Kutta schemes to the time-marching of the index 2 system of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Compared to the standard method, the proposed one significantly reduces the numerical difficulties in momentum interpolations and delivers higher-order pressures without requiring additional computational effort. Applying stiff-accurate diagonal implicit Runge-Kutta (DIRK) schemes with the proposed method allows the schemes to attain the classical order of convergence for both the velocity and pressure. We also develop two families of low-storage stiff-accurate DIRK schemes to reduce the storage required by their implementations. Examining the two dimensional Taylor-Green vortex as an example, the spatial and temporal accuracy of the proposed methods in simulating incompressible flow is demonstrated.