The Vanka node (

) handles settings for the Vanka iterative method. Formally, this method applies to saddle-point problems (that is, problems where the equilibrium solution is neither a maximum nor a minimum) as a preconditioner/smoother. The corresponding linear system matrix is indefinite and its diagonal often contains zeros. A typical example is the Navier-Stokes equations. Problems formulated with weak constraints are also of this type. In short, the method can be described as a block SOR method. Local coupling of certain degrees of freedom (typically the Lagrange multiplier degrees of freedom) determines the blocks. Ordinary SSOR iterations are performed for degrees of freedom not involved in the block method. This attribute node can be used together with the
Iterative,
Krylov Preconditioner,
Presmoother,
Postsmoother, and
Coarse Solver attribute node.
Use the Variables list to specify variables to include in a Vanka block approach.
Use the Block solver list to specify how to solve the Vanka block linear systems:
When GMRES has been selected in the
Block solver list, the following options become available. Use the
Tolerance field to specify the termination tolerance of GMRES (default: 0.02). Use the
Number of iterations before restart field to specify how many iterations the solver should take between each restart (default: 100).
Use the Relaxation factor field to specify a scalar relaxation factor
ω. The allowed values of this factor are between 0 and 2 (default: 0.8). See
About the Relaxation Factor for more information.
Select the Blocked version check box (selected by default) to use a version of the Vanka method that is optimized for parallel computations.
Use the Number of secondary iterations field to specify the number of SSOR iterations to perform for degrees of freedom not involved in the Vanka blocks.
Use the Relaxation factor field to specify a scalar relaxation factor for the iterations specified in the
Number of secondary iterations field (default: 1). The allowed values of this factor are between 0 and 2 (default: 1). See
About the Relaxation Factor for more information.