1- Discretise the 1-D convection diffusion equation using Finite Volume method.
Explain about the schemes that are being used.
2- Differentiate between staggered and collocated grids.
Staggered Grids
Definition:
In a staggered grid arrangement, the velocity components are stored at the cell faces,
while the scalar quantities like pressure are stored at the cell centers.
Placement:
The u-velocity component is stored at the center of the vertical faces of the control
volume.
The v-velocity component is stored at the center of the horizontal faces of the control
volume.
Pressure and other scalar variables (e.g., temperature, density) are stored at the center
of the cell.
Advantages:
Avoids Checkerboard Pressure Oscillations: The staggered grid arrangement helps in
naturally avoiding the non-physical pressure oscillations (checker-boarding) that can
occur in collocated grids.
Better Momentum-Continuity Coupling: The coupling between momentum and
continuity equations is inherently stronger, leading to more stable numerical
solutions.
Conservation Properties: It inherently conserves mass and momentum due to the
staggered placement of velocity and pressure.
Disadvantages:
Implementation Complexity: It can be more complex to implement due to the need for
careful handling of boundary conditions and interpolation of velocities at cell faces.
Data Storage: It may require more complex data storage and access patterns,
potentially leading to inefficiencies in memory usage and computational speed.
Collocated Grids
Definition:
In a collocated grid arrangement, all variables (velocity components and scalar
quantities) are stored at the same grid points, typically at the cell centers.
Placement:
Both velocity components (u and v), as well as pressure and other scalar variables, are
stored at the center of the control volume.
Advantages:
Simpler Data Structure: Easier to implement and manage due to the simpler data
structure where all variables are stored at the same locations.
Flexibility: More flexible for complex geometries and adaptive mesh refinement since
the grid points do not have to be aligned in a specific staggered manner.
Disadvantages:
Pressure-Velocity Decoupling: Prone to non-physical oscillations in pressure fields
(checker-boarding) because pressure and velocity are collocated. Special techniques,
like Rhie-Chow interpolation, are often needed to prevent these oscillations.
Stability Issues: May require more sophisticated algorithms to maintain stability and
accuracy in the numerical solution.
3- Explain the disadvantages of collocated grids and how it is removed.
Collocated Grids
Definition:
In a collocated grid arrangement, all variables (velocity components and scalar
quantities) are stored at the same grid points, typically at the cell centers.
Disadvantages:
Pressure-Velocity Decoupling: Prone to non-physical oscillations in pressure fields
(checker-boarding) because pressure and velocity are collocated. Special techniques,
like Rhie-Chow interpolation, are often needed to prevent these oscillations.
Stability Issues: May require more sophisticated algorithms to maintain stability and
accuracy in the numerical solution.
This disadvantage can be overcome by using staggered grid arrangement.
4- Write short note on Direct Numerical Simulation.
Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) in CFD
Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) is a highly accurate computational technique
used in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to solve the Navier-Stokes equations
without any turbulence modeling. This approach aims to capture all the scales of
turbulence by resolving the flow at very fine spatial and temporal resolutions. Here
are the key points about DNS:
Key Characteristics
Full Resolution of All Scales:
DNS resolves the entire range of turbulent scales, from the largest energy-containing
eddies down to the smallest dissipative scales (Kolmogorov scales). This requires
very fine computational grids and small time steps.
No Turbulence Modeling:
Unlike other CFD approaches (e.g., RANS or LES), DNS does not use turbulence
models. The flow physics are directly computed from the fundamental equations,
providing very detailed and accurate data.
High Computational Cost:
The main drawback of DNS is its extremely high computational cost. It increases with
increase in Reynolds number. This makes DNS feasible only for low to moderate
Reynolds number flows or for very simplified geometries.
Applications
Fundamental Research:
DNS is primarily used in academic and research settings to study the fundamental
aspects of turbulent flows. It provides detailed insights into turbulence mechanisms,
flow structures, and the interaction between different scales.
Benchmarking and Validation:
DNS results are often used as benchmark solutions to validate and improve other
turbulence modeling approaches, such as Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and
Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models.
Flow Physics Exploration:
It is used to explore complex flow phenomena, such as transition to turbulence,
turbulence-induced noise, and fine-scale turbulence dynamics, which are difficult to
capture with less detailed models.
Advantages
Accuracy:
DNS provides highly accurate and detailed flow field data since it solves the Navier-
Stokes equations without any empirical models.
Detailed Flow Structures:
It reveals the detailed structure of turbulent flows, providing insights that are not
accessible through experimental techniques or lower-fidelity simulations.
Disadvantages
High Computational Demand:
DNS requires vast computational resources, limiting its application to simple
geometries and low Reynolds numbers.
Scalability:
As the Reynolds number increases, the computational cost becomes prohibitively
expensive, making DNS impractical for many engineering applications.
5- Discuss SIMPLE algorithm and prepare a flowchart for the solution.
The SIMPLE (Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equations) algorithm is a
widely used numerical method in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for solving
the Navier-Stokes equations, particularly for incompressible flows. Developed by
Patankar and Spalding in the early 1970s, it is an iterative method used to solve the
coupled pressure-velocity equations on a collocated or staggered grid. Here’s a
detailed discussion of the SIMPLE algorithm along with a flowchart illustrating the
solution procedure.
Key Steps in the SIMPLE Algorithm
Initialization:
Initialize the pressure and velocity fields.
Guessing the Pressure Field:
Start with an initial guess for the pressure field
Solve Momentum Equations:
Solve the discretized momentum equations (Navier-Stokes equations) using the
guessed pressure field to obtain intermediate velocity fields.
Pressure Correction Equation:
Formulate the pressure correction equation based on the continuity equation and the
intermediate velocity fields. The pressure correction is used to correct the guessed
pressure field.
Correct Velocities and Pressure:
Correct the velocity fields using the pressure correction. Update the pressure field
p using p’.
Update Boundary Conditions:
Update the boundary conditions for pressure and velocity.
Check Convergence:
Check for convergence by comparing the corrected pressure and velocity fields with
the previous iteration. If the convergence criteria are met, stop the iterations.
Otherwise, repeat the process starting from solving the momentum equations.
6- Discuss SIMPLER algorithm and prepare a flowchart for the solution.
The SIMPLER (Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equations Revised)
algorithm is an enhancement of the SIMPLE (Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure
Linked Equations) algorithm used in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for
solving the Navier-Stokes equations, particularly for incompressible flows. The
SIMPLER algorithm addresses some of the deficiencies of SIMPLE by improving the
pressure-velocity coupling and providing a more robust convergence.
Key Steps in the SIMPLER Algorithm
Initialization:
Initialize the pressure, velocity, and other flow variables.
Solve Momentum Equations:
Solve the discretized momentum equations to obtain the preliminary velocity field by
using an initial guess for the pressure field.
Solve Pressure Equation:
Solve the discretized pressure equation derived from the continuity equation to get a
more accurate pressure field.
Correct Velocities:
Use the updated pressure field to correct the preliminary velocity field.
Solve Pressure Correction Equation:
Formulate and solve the pressure correction equation to obtain the pressure correction.
Update Pressure and Velocities:
Update the pressure field and velocity fields using the pressure correction.
Update Boundary Conditions:
Update the boundary conditions for pressure and velocity.
Check Convergence:
Check for convergence by comparing the updated pressure and velocity fields with
the previous iteration. If the convergence criteria are met, stop the iterations.
Otherwise, repeat the process starting from solving the momentum equations.
Start
Initialize pressure, velocity, and other variables
Solve momentum equations to obtain preliminary velocities (u*, v*)
Solve pressure equation to get updated pressure field (p)
Correct velocities using the updated pressure field (u, v)
Formulate and solve pressure correction equation to get p'
Update pressure field (p = p + p')
Update velocities (u = u + correction, v = v + correction)
Update boundary conditions
Check for convergence
Yes (converged) No (not converged)
Stop Iterate from solving momentum equations
7- Explain the RANS method for solving the turbulent conditions and
the different models used for RANS.
Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) Method in CFD
The Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method is a widely used approach in
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to model turbulent flows. The primary idea
behind the RANS method is to decompose the instantaneous quantities into their
mean and fluctuating components and then average the Navier-Stokes equations over
time to derive equations that describe the mean flow field. This averaging process
results in additional terms known as Reynolds stresses, which represent the effects of
turbulence and need to be modeled.
RANS Equations
The RANS equations are derived from the instantaneous Navier-Stokes equations by
decomposing the velocity and pressure fields into mean and fluctuating components:
Where:
After substituting these into the Navier-Stokes equations and averaging, the RANS
equations for incompressible flow become:
Turbulence Models for RANS
Several turbulence models have been developed to approximate the Reynolds stresses.
The most common models are:
1. Eddy Viscosity Models (EVM)
These models assume that the Reynolds stresses can be related to the mean velocity
gradients through an eddy viscosity νT .
a. Prandtl’s Mixing Length Model:
Simplest model where eddy viscosity is proportional to the product of a
characteristic length scale and the velocity gradient.
b. One-Equation Models:
Spalart-Allmaras Model: Solves a transport equation for the turbulent
viscosity directly.
c. Two-Equation Models:
k-ε Model: Solves two transport equations, one for the turbulent kinetic energy
(k) and one for the rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy (ε).
k-ω Model: Solves two transport equations, one for the turbulent kinetic
energy (k) and one for the specific dissipation rate (ω).
2. Reynolds Stress Models (RSM)
These models do not use the eddy viscosity hypothesis. Instead, they solve transport
equations for each of the Reynolds stresses and the dissipation rate. This approach
provides a more accurate representation of the anisotropy of turbulence but is
computationally more expensive.
3. Hybrid Models
These models combine different turbulence modeling approaches to leverage the
advantages of each. Examples include:
Detached Eddy Simulation (DES): Combines RANS near the walls and Large
Eddy Simulation (LES) in the free stream.
Scale-Adaptive Simulation (SAS): Adjusts the turbulence model based on the
local flow scales.
7- Explain the LES method for solving the turbulent conditions.
Large Eddy Simulation (LES) in CFD
Large Eddy Simulation (LES) is a computational technique used in Computational
Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to model turbulent flows by resolving the large-scale eddies
directly while modeling the smaller scales. The idea is that the larger eddies are
highly anisotropic and contain most of the turbulent kinetic energy, while the smaller
scales are more isotropic and can be approximated using subgrid-scale (SGS) models.
Key Concepts of LES
Filtering:
In LES, the governing equations (Navier-Stokes equations) are spatially filtered to
separate the large eddies from the small eddies. This filtering operation results in a set
of filtered equations that describe the motion of the large eddies.
Subgrid-Scale (SGS) Models:
The effect of the small, unresolved scales on the resolved scales is modeled using
SGS models. These models provide a closure for the filtered Navier-Stokes equations
by approximating the SGS stresses.
Governing Equations in LES
The filtered Navier-Stokes equations for incompressible flow are:
Common Subgrid-Scale (SGS) Models
Smagorinsky Model:
This is one of the most commonly used SGS models. It assumes that the SGS stresses
are proportional to the strain rate of the resolved scales:
Dynamic Smagorinsky Model:
An improvement over the standard Smagorinsky model, the dynamic Smagorinsky
model calculates the Smagorinsky constant dynamically based on the local flow
conditions using the Germano identity.
Wall-Adapting Local Eddy-Viscosity (WALE) Model:
This model is designed to provide better predictions in the near-wall region by
adapting the eddy viscosity based on the local velocity gradients.
Advantages of LES
Accuracy:LES provides a more accurate representation of turbulence compared to
RANS, especially for flows with significant large-scale unsteady features.
Captures Large-Scale Structures:LES resolves the large, energy-containing eddies
directly, which are crucial for capturing the correct physics of turbulent flows.
Improved Predictive Capability:LES can provide more accurate predictions for
complex flows, such as those involving separation, recirculation, and transient
phenomena.
Disadvantages of LES:
High Computational Cost: LES requires significantly finer grids and smaller time
steps compared to RANS, leading to higher computational demands.
Complexity:Implementing LES can be more complex due to the need for advanced
SGS models and careful consideration of boundary conditions and numerical
schemes.
9- Describe the importance of pressure, velocity and density coupling for
the compressible flows.
In Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), solving compressible flow problems
accurately requires a careful coupling of pressure, velocity, and density. This coupling
is crucial because, in compressible flows, variations in pressure and temperature lead
to significant changes in density, which in turn affect the flow field and the overall
behavior of the fluid. Here’s an in-depth look at the importance of this coupling:
Key Concepts
Compressible Flow Characteristics:
In compressible flows, the fluid density can vary significantly due to changes in
pressure and temperature. This is in contrast to incompressible flows, where density is
assumed constant.
Common examples include high-speed aerodynamics (e.g., flow over aircraft,
rockets) and internal flows in gas turbines and supersonic nozzles.
Governing Equations:
The governing equations for compressible flows are the continuity equation,
momentum equations, and energy equation, along with an equation of state that
relates pressure, density, and temperature (typically the ideal gas law for gases).
Importance of Coupling
Accuracy and Stability:
Accurate coupling ensures that the interdependence of pressure, velocity, and density
is correctly represented. This is crucial for capturing shock waves, expansion fans,
and other compressible phenomena.
Proper coupling helps maintain numerical stability, preventing issues like spurious
pressure oscillations or non-physical density variations.
Conservation Laws:
In compressible flow simulations, it's essential to satisfy the conservation of mass,
momentum, and energy simultaneously. Coupling ensures that changes in pressure
and temperature are correctly reflected in the density field, preserving these
conservation laws.
Shock Wave Capturing:
Compressible flows often involve shock waves, where there are abrupt changes in
pressure, density, and velocity. Accurate coupling is necessary to resolve these shocks
correctly without introducing numerical artifacts.
Thermodynamic Consistency:
For realistic simulations, the relationship between pressure, temperature, and density
must follow the thermodynamic principles. This ensures that the fluid behavior under
various conditions is physically accurate.
Methods for Coupling
Several numerical schemes and algorithms are used to ensure proper coupling in
compressible flow simulations:
Density-Based Solvers:
These solvers primarily use the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy to solve
for density, velocity, and pressure.They are particularly effective for high-speed flows
where density variations are significant.
Pressure-Based Solvers:
These solvers extend the methods used for incompressible flows to handle
compressible effects, typically using equations of state to link pressure, density, and
temperature.Algorithms like SIMPLE, PISO, and their variants can be adapted for
compressible flows.
Flux-Vector Splitting and Upwind Schemes:
These methods are used to handle the convective terms in the governing equations.
They ensure that information propagates in the correct physical direction, which is
crucial for capturing shocks and discontinuities accurately.
Coupled Solvers:
In coupled solvers, all the governing equations are solved simultaneously in a fully
coupled manner, ensuring strong coupling between pressure, velocity, and density.
This approach can be more robust and accurate but is computationally intensive.
Practical Applications
Aerodynamics:
Accurate coupling is essential for predicting lift, drag, and flow separation on aircraft
surfaces, especially at high speeds where compressibility effects are pronounced.
Rocket and Jet Engines:
In propulsion systems, compressible flow simulations are critical for designing
nozzles, combustion chambers, and exhaust systems to maximize efficiency and
performance.
Supersonic and Hypersonic Flows:
For vehicles traveling at supersonic and hypersonic speeds, precise coupling is
necessary to predict shock wave interactions, heat transfer, and aerodynamic heating.