A review of applications for which the virtual element method is particularly useful

Resumo

This work presents an overview of some applications for which the virtual element method is shown to be remarkably useful, and what features of the method contribute to its success.The virtual element method (VEM) originated from a reformulation of the mimetic differences method to fit the framework of finite element method (FEM), and can be concisely described as a polytopal generalization of the FEM.Naturally, the question of when to prefer one method over the other arises, which comprises the motivation for this work.A review of the VEM literature is conducted focusing on works that showcase notable applications of the method.These are then grouped by which unique feature of the method has set it apart.An overview of these applications and characteristics is then synthesized to present the findings.Some of those applications include discrete fracture networks, topology optimization, multiscale polycrystal plasticity, particle simulations, contact problems, crack propagation, among others.