Common Mistakes in CFD Simulation

Work
W. Abdelmaksoud

Confidential IBM GDC: Progress Meeting 08/13/09 - 1

Grid Generation

Structured or unstructured grid generation?

The structured grid is used for model that has uniform structures (e.g.
cubes,..) while the unstructured grid is used for model that has non-
uniform structures (e.g. human body,..).
The model may have both structured and unstructured grids.

How many grid points per jet inlet are suitable?

10 cells per jet diameter is required to capture the jet potential core
correctly.

Confidential IBM GDC: Progress Meeting 08/13/09 - 2

2-D Free Jet CFD Modeling
A 2-D study on jet flow application to examine the grid generation effect on
the CFD results.

Pressure Outlet

Pressure Outlet
Pressure Outlet
8.5 DJ

Wall
Axisymmetric
Jet
DJ / 2

17.0 DJ

Model Boundary Conditions

Confidential IBM GDC: Progress Meeting 08/13/09 - 3
Typical Jet Potential Core Length
A. A. Abdel-Rahman , S. F. Al-Fahed and W. Chakroun, THE NEAR-FIELD CHARACTERISTICS OF
CIRCULAR JETS AT LOW REYNOLDS NUMBERS, Mechanics Research Communications, Vol. 23,
No. 3, pp. 313-324, 1996

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Typical Jet Potential Core Length
As the Re number increases, the potential core length increases.

X/D 5

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Grid Configuration A (7,560 cells)

Incorrect grid
transitions.

Confidential IBM GDC: Progress Meeting 08/13/09 - 6

Grid Configuration A Result

Incorrect jet potential core

9.0 DJ
Confidential IBM GDC: Progress Meeting 08/13/09 - 7
Grid Configuration B (40,000 cells)

Sudden grid size

change in the vertical
direction.

Confidential IBM GDC: Progress Meeting 08/13/09 - 8

Grid Configuration B Result

Incorrect jet potential core

11.0 DJ

Confidential IBM GDC: Progress Meeting 08/13/09 - 9

Grid Configuration C (8650 cells)

Incorrect grid
transitions.
Unstructured grid is
not suitable.

Confidential IBM GDC: Progress Meeting 08/13/09 - 10

Grid Configuration C Result

Non-smooth contours

4.7 DJ

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Grid Configuration D (3680 cells)

Too coarse grid.

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Grid Configuration D Result

Incorrect jet potential core

2.6 DJ

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Recommended Structured Grid (43,700 cells )
The recommended Grid Stretching Ratio () is: 1 < 1.2

Recommended grid
generation that saves the
computational time with
faster convergence and = 1.1
reasonable results.

Confidential IBM GDC: Progress Meeting 08/13/09 - 14

Recommended Structure Grid Result

Correct jet potential core

5.3 DJ

Confidential IBM GDC: Progress Meeting 08/13/09 - 15

Numerical Modeling
Computation accuracy scheme; is it 1st, or 2nd, or 3rd order scheme?
The higher order scheme is the more accurate results generated.

How to check the model convergence?

First: All of flow computation residuals should be below 10-3.

Example for a case with flow computation residuals < 10-3

Confidential IBM GDC: Progress Meeting 08/13/09 - 16
Numerical Modeling
How to check the model convergence (Continue)?
Second: Select a point that falls in an expected highly gradient flow region
and monitor its value during the computation until it reaches steady.

Example for a selected point velocity value during the computation.

Confidential IBM GDC: Progress Meeting 08/13/09 - 17