Computational Fluid Dynamics

Concepts
What is CFD

• Computational + Fluid Dynamics

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Evolution of CFD

Experimental As old as recorded history

Analytical Greeks ?

Numerical 19th Century

Computational Mid-20th Century

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CFD Methods

• Navier-Stokes based CFD

• Direct Numerical Simulation
• RANS
• LES / DES
• Non-NS CFD
• Panel Method
• Inviscid
• Incompressible
• Steady
• Physics Based
• Analogy based
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Fluid Physics

• Viscosity
• Inviscid
• Viscous
• Compressibility
• Incompressible
• Compressible
• Phase
• Single phase
• Multi-Phase
• Thermal / Energy

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Fluid Physics

• Strain Rate
• Newtonian
• Non-Newtonian
• Reactivity
• Chemically inert
• Chemically Reactive
• Source / Sink
• Magnetic / Non-Magnetic

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Navier - Stokes

Claude-Louis Navier George Gabriel Stokes

• C.L. M. H. Navier, Memoire sur les Lois du Mouvements des Fluides, Mem. de l’Acad. d. Sci.,6, 398 (1822)
• C.G. Stokes, On the Theories of the Internal Friction of Fluids in Motion, Trans. Cambridge Phys. Soc., 8, (1845)

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Anatomy of a CFD Problem

• Initial – Boundary Value Problem

• Requires an initial condition for all parameters
• Requires boundaries to be defined

• Non-linear PDE’s
• Can be solved analytically for simple problems
• Un-solved in general form

• Discretization
• Problem domain needs to be broken into discrete ‘cells’

• Solution Process
• Direct / Iterative

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Flow Scales
• Eddies
• Coherent patterns of flow velocity, vorticity and
pressure
• Turbulent flows are made of an hierarchy of eddies over
a wide range of length scales
• Kolmogorov length scale
• Smallest scales in turbulent flow, where viscosity
dominates and the turbulent kinetic energy is dissipated
into heat
• Scale at which Re = 1
• Y+
• Non-dimensional distance from wall
• Ratio of laminar to turbulent influences in cell
• Defines sub-layers of the Boundary Layer
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Flow Scales

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Turbulence

• Laminar vs Turbulent
• Walls / Surfaces are source of turbulence
• Features of Turbulence
• Irregular / Chaotic
• Rotational (non-zero 3D vorticity)
• Diffusive

• Turbulence Energy
• Cascade : Inertial transfer to smaller flow structure
• Dissipation : Viscous transfer / conversion to heat

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Handling Turbulence
• DNS / LES / RANS
• DNS resolves all flow scales
• Extreme mesh requirements
• Prohibitively computationally expensive
• Most accurate CFD methodology
• LES resolves the large eddies and models the sub-grid
scales
• Y+ ~ 1
• Stringent mesh reqt so computationally intensive
• Modeling only for part of flow, making it more accurate
• RANS utilizes turbulence modeling to calculate the
turbulence parameters
• Y+ ~ 1 – 300 (?)
• Relaxed mesh reqt, so less computationally intensive
• Models all turbulence, making it less accurate
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Turbulence Modeling
• RANS formulation introduces segregated
turbulence terms
• Turbulence models are mathematical formulations
to replace these terms and make computation
quicker
• Classified into ‘Eddy Viscosity’ and ‘Reynolds
Stress’ models
• Zero Equation – Five equation models
• SA, ke, kw are Eddy Viscosity models
• Reynolds Stress Transport model directly calculates the
Reynolds stresses
• Each model has specific applications, benefits and costs

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Near Wall Formulations
• Flow near the wall / surface has unique behavior due to vastly
varying viscous effects
• Turbulence models utilize ‘Wall Functions’ to model near-wall
behaviour
• To account for viscous effects at the wall
• To resolve the rapid variation of flow variables within this region,
without using a very fine computational mesh
• Connect the wall conditions to the near-wall grid node which
is presumed to lie in fully-turbulent fluid
• Wall functions should be applied to a point whose Y+ value is
in the range 30 < Y+ < 130
• Removes the need to extend the computations to the wall
• Avoids the need to account for viscous effects in the
turbulence model

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Some Mesh Guidelines
• Grid generation has a strong impact on model accuracy
• Many considerations that have to be followed
• Shear layers should be covered by ~10 cells normal to the layer
• A structured mesh in wall-normal direction is highly
recommended
• Structured portion of the mesh should cover the entire
boundary layer and extend beyond the BL thickness to avoid
restricting the growth of the BL
• Turbulence models offer y+-insensitive wall functions which can
be used with relaxed near-wall mesh (Y+ > 30)
• Y+ ~ 1 should be used for accurate capturing of near-wall
phenomena if problem requires such resolution

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Fluid – Structure Interaction
• Modern CFD cannot ignore interaction of fluid with the body
immersed in it
• A two-way loops occurs in real flows
• Failing to consider the effects of oscillatory interactions can be
catastrophic, especially in structures susceptible to fatigue
• Monolithic approach: equations for the flow and the structure
are solved simultaneously, with a single solver
• Partitioned approach: equations for the flow and the structure
are solved separately, with two distinct solvers
• Computationally expensive
• Use only where
• Structure is significantly oscillatory
• Problem calls for ascertaining structure behavior / life

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Computational Fluid Dynamics

THE END