A posteriori analysis for dynamic model adaptation in convection-dominated problems

In this work, we present an a posteriori error indicator for approximation schemes of Runge–Kutta–discontinuous–Galerkin type arising in applications of compressible fluid flows. The purpose of this indicator is not only for mesh adaptivity, we also make use of this to drive model adaptivity. This is perhaps where a costly complex model and a cheaper simple model are solved over different parts of the domain. The a posteriori bound we derive indicates the regions where the complex model can be relatively well approximated with the cheaper one. One such example which we choose to highlight is that of the Navier–Stokes–Fourier equations approximated by Euler’s equations.