Solution of Incompressible Steady Flow Problems in Closed Conduits Using Finite Elements and a Structural Analogy

A problem that arises very frequently in many industrial applications is the study of steady incompressible flows in a network of pipes. This paper introduces a structural analogy that allows the problem to be treated with a certain class of non-linear finite elements. The advantage of this formulation is that it falls within the range of capabilities offered by most structural analysis codes available in the market.