In order to discretise the Stokes equations in the case of variable viscosity, conservative
finite differences should be used. Such finite differences provide conservation
of stresses between nodal points and thus allowa correct numerical solution. Below,
examples of non-conservative and conservative finite differences for the 1D incompressible
Stokes equation (
∂σ
xx
∂x
− ∂P
∂x
= 0, where σ
xx
= 2η
∂vx
∂x
) are compared
for 1D staggered grid (Fig. 7.10).
An erroneous non-conservative FD formulation of Stokes equation for two
basic nodes 2 and 3 can be constructed, for example, (we can ‘arrive’ at this
formula assuming erroneously that all we need to do is to use Eq. 5.24 and use a