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The generalization of Margolus’s block cellular automaton on a hexagonal grid is formulated. Statistical analysis of the results of probabilistic cellular automation for vast variety of this scheme solving the test task of diffusion is done. It is shown that the choice of the hexagon blocks is 25% more efficient than Y-blocks. It is shown that the algorithms have polynomial complexity, and the polynom degree lies within 0.6÷0.8 for parallel computer, and in the range 1.5÷1.7 for serial computer. The effects of embedded into automaton’s field defective cells on the rate of convergence are studied also.

The second part of paper is devoted to final study of three classic partial differential equations (Laplace, Diffusion and Wave) solution using simple numerical methods in terms of Cellular Automata. Specificity of this solution has been shown by different examples, which are related to the hexagonal grid. Also the next statements that are mentioned in the first part have been proved: the matter conservation law and the offensive effect of excessive hexagonal symmetry.

From the point of CA view diffusion equation is the most important. While solving of diffusion equation at the infinite time interval we can find solution of boundary value problem of Laplace equation and if we introduce vector-variable we will solve wave equation (at least, for scalar). The critical requirement for the sampling of the boundary conditions for CA-cells has been shown during the solving of problem of circular membrane vibrations with Neumann boundary conditions. CA-calculations using the simple scheme and Margolus rotary-block mechanism were compared for the quasione-dimensional problem “diffusion in the half-space”. During the solving of mixed task of circular membrane vibration with the fixed ends in a classical case it has been shown that the simultaneous application of the Crank–Nicholson method and taking into account of the second-order terms is allowed to avoid the effect of excessive hexagonal symmetry that was studied for a simple scheme.

By the example of the centrally symmetric Neumann problem a new method of spatial derivatives introducing into the postfix CA procedure, which is reflecting the time derivatives (on the base of the continuity equation) was demonstrated. The value of the constant that is related to these derivatives has been empirically found in the case of central symmetry. The low rate of convergence and accuracy that limited within the boundaries of the sample, in contrary to the formal precision of the method (4-th order), prevents the using of the CAmethods for such problems. We recommend using multigrid method. During the solving of the quasi-diffusion equations (two-dimensional CA) it was showing that the rotary-block mechanism of CA (Margolus mechanism) is more effective than simple CA.

The paper has methodical character; it is devoted to three classic partial differential equations (Laplace, Diffusion and Wave) solution using simple numerical methods in terms of Cellular Automata. Special attention was payed to the matter conservation law and the offensive effect of excessive hexagonal symmetry.

It has been shown that in contrary to finite-difference approach, in spite of terminological equivalence of CA local transition function to the pattern of computing double layer explicit method, CA approach contains the replacement of matrix technique by iterative ones (for instance, sweep method for three diagonal matrixes). This suggests that discretization of boundary conditions for CA-cells needs more rigid conditions.

The correct local transition function (LTF) of the boundary cells, which is valid at least for the boundaries of the rectangular and circular shapes have been firstly proposed and empirically given for the hexagonal grid and the conservative boundary conditions. The idea of LTF separation into «internal», «boundary» and «postfix» have been proposed. By the example of this problem the value of the Courant-Levy constant was re-evaluated as the CA convergence speed ratio to the solution, which is given at a fixed time, and to the rate of the solution change over time.

The influence of the process of initiating a rapid local heat release near surface streamlined by supersonic gas (air) flow on the separation region that occurs during a fast turn of the flow was investigated. This surface consists of two planes that form obtuse angle when crossing, so that when flowing around the formed surface, the supersonic gas flow turns by a positive angle, which forms an oblique shock wave that interacts with the boundary layer and causes flow separation. Rapid local heating of the gas above the streamlined surface simulates long spark discharge of submicrosecond duration that crosses the flow. The gas heated in the discharge zone interacts with the separation region. The flow can be considered two-dimensional, so the numerical simulation is carried out in a two-dimensional formulation. Numerical simulation was carried out for laminar regime of flow using the sonicFoam solver of the OpenFOAM software package.

The paper describes a method for constructing a two-dimensional computational grid using hexagonal cells. A study of grid convergence has been carried out. A technique is given for setting the initial profiles of the flow parameters at the entrance to the computational domain, which makes it possible to reduce the computation time by reducing the number of computational cells. A method for non-stationary simulation of the process of rapid local heating of a gas is described, which consists in superimposing additional fields of increased pressure and temperature values calculated from the amount of energy deposited in oncoming supersonic gas flow on the corresponding fields of values obtained in the stationary case. The parameters of the energy input into the flow corresponding to the parameters of the electric discharge process, as well as the parameters of the oncoming flow, are close to the experimental values.

During analyzing numerical simulation data it was found that the initiation of rapid local heating leads to the appearance of a gas-dynamic perturbation (a quasi-cylindrical shock wave and an unsteady swirling flow), which, when interacting with the separation region, leads to a displacement of the separation point downstream. The paper considers the question of the influence of the energy spent on local heating of the gas, and of the position on the streamlined surface of the place of heating relative to the separation point, on the value of its maximum displacement.