Combining the complex variable reproducing kernel particle method and the finite element method for solving transient heat conduction problems

In this paper, the complex variable reproducing kernel particle (CVRKP) method and the finite element (FE) method are combined as the CVRKP—FE method to solve transient heat conduction problems. The CVRKP—FE method not only conveniently imposes the essential boundary conditions, but also exploits the advantages of the individual methods while avoiding their disadvantages, then the computational efficiency is higher. A hybrid approximation function is applied to combine the CVRKP method with the FE method, and the traditional difference method for two-point boundary value problems is selected as the time discretization scheme. The corresponding formulations of the CVRKP—FE method are presented in detail. Several selected numerical examples of the transient heat conduction problems are presented to illustrate the performance of the CVRKP—FE method. (general)