What is CFD
• CFD is the science of predicting fluid flow, heat and mass transfer,
chemical reactions and related phenomenon by solving numerically
the set of governing mathematical equations
• Conservation of mass, momentum, energy, species….
• The results of CFD analysis are relevant in:
• conceptual studies of new designs
• detailed product development
• troubleshooting
• redesign
• CFD analysis complements testing and experimentation
• Reduces the total effort required in the experiment design
and data acquisition
FLUENT 6.3
Applications
• External/Internal automotive flows and
in-cylinder flows
• High speed aerodynamics
• Rocket Flows
• Turbo machinery
• Reactor Vessels
Surface pressure distribution in an
• Cyclones automotive engine cooling jacket
• Mixing Tanks
• Flow-induced noise prediction
Pre-processor: GAMBIT
• A single integrated pre-processor for
CFD analysis
• Geometry creation
• Mesh generation
• Mesh quality examination
• Boundary zone assignment
Introduction to CFD Analysis
How Does CFD work ?
• FLUENT solvers are based on the finite volume method
• Domain is discretized into a finite set of controls volumes
• General conservation (transport) equation for mass,
momentum, energy, etc: Continuous Domain
t V
dV V .dA .dA S dV
A A V
Unsteady convection diffusion Generation
•Partial differential equations are discretized into a system
Discretized Domain
of algebraic equations.
•All algebraic equations are then solved numerically to
render the solution field.
Equation Ф Illustration of Cells
Continuity 1
x-mom. u
y-mom. v
Energy h
CFD Modeling Overview
Equations solved on mesh
• Transport Equations • Physical Models
• mass • Turbulence
Pre-Processing
• species mass fraction • Combustion
• Solid • Mesh • phasic volume fraction • Radiation
Modeler Generator • momentum
• Multiphase
• energy
• Phase Change
• Equation of State
• Moving Zones
• Solver • Supporting Physical Models • Moving Mesh
Settings
• Material Properties
• Boundary Conditions
• Post- Processing
• Initial Conditions
CFD Analysis: Basic Steps
• Problem Identification and Pre-Processing
1. Define your modeling goals.
2. Identify the domain you will model.
3. Design and create the grid.
• Solver Execution
4. Set up the numerical model.
5. Compute and monitor the solution.
• Post Processing
6. Examine the results.
7. Consider revisions to the model.
Define Your Modeling Goals
• Problem Identification and Pre-Processing
1. Define your modeling goals.
2. Identify the domain you will
model.
3. Design and create the grid.
• What results are you looking for, and how will they be used
• What are your modeling options?
• What physical models will need to be included in your
analysis
• What simplifying assumptions do you have to make?
• What simplifying assumptions do can you make?
• Do you require a unique modeling capability?
• UDF’s
• What degree of accuracy is required?
• How quickly do you need the results?
Identify the Domain You Will Model
• Problem Identification and Pre-Processing
1. Define your modeling goals.
2. Identify the domain you will
model.
3. Design and create the grid.
• How will you isolate a piece of the complete physical system?
• Where will the computational domain begin and end?
• Do you have boundary condition information at these boundaries?
• Can the boundary condition types accommodate that information?
• Can you extend the domain to a point where reasonable data exists
•What degree of accuracy is required?
• Can it be simplified or approximated as a 2D of axisymmetric problem?
Design and Create the Grid
• Problem Identification and Pre-Processing
1. Define your modeling goals.
2. Identify the domain you will
model.
3. Design and create the grid.
• Can you benefit from Mixsim, Icepak or Airpak
• Can you use a quad/hex grid or should you use a tri / tet grid
or hybrid grid
• How complex is the geometry and flow?
• Will you need a non-conformal interface?
• What degree of grid resolution is required in each region of
the domain?
• Is the resolution sufficient for the geometry?
• Can you predict regions with high gradients?
• Will you use adaption to add resolution?
• Do you have sufficient computer memory?
• How many cells are required?
• How many models will be used?
Tri/Tet vs. Quad/Hex Meshes
• For simple geometries, quad/hex
meshes can provide higher quality
solutions with fewer cells than a
comparable tri/tet mesh.
• For complex geometries, quad/hex
meshes show no numerical
advantage, and you can save meshing
effort by using a tri/tet mesh
Hybrid Mesh Example
• Valve port grid Tet Mesh
• Specific regions can be meshed
with different cell types
• Both efficiency and accuracy are
enhanced relative to a hexahedral
or tetrahedral mesh alone
Hex Mesh
• Tools for hybrid mesh
generation are available in
GAMBIT and TGrid.
Hybrid mesh for an IC Engine
Non-Conformal Mesh Example
• Nonconformal mesh: Mesh in which grid
nodes do not match up along an interface
• Useful for parts swapping for
design study, etc.
• Helpful for meshing complex
geometries.
• Example:
• 3D film cooling problem
• Coolant is injected into a Plenum part can be replaced with
duct from plenum new geometry with reduced
meshing effort
Set Up the Numerical Model
• Solver Execution • For a given problem, you will need to:
4. Set up the numerical
model.
5. Compute and monitor
• Select appropriate physical models.
the solution.
• Turbulence, combustion, multiphase, etc.
• Define material properties
• Fluid
• Solid
• Mixture
• Prescribe operating conditions.
• Prescribe boundary conditions at all boundary
Solving initially in 2D will
provide valuable experience
zones.
with the models and solver • Provide an initial solution.
settings for your problem in a
short amount of time • Set up solver controls.
• Set up convergence monitors.
Compute the Solution
• The discretized conservation equations are
• Solver Execution
4. Set up the numerical
solved iteratively :
model.
5. Compute and monitor • A number of iterations are usually required
the solution.
to reach a converged solution
• Convergence is reached when:
• Changes in solution variables from one
iteration to the next is negligible.
• Residuals provide a mechanism to help
monitor this trend.
• Overall Property conservation is achieved.
A converged and grid- • The accuracy of a converged solution is
independent solution on a dependent upon:
well-posed problem will
provide useful engineering • Appropriateness and accuracy of physical
results models.
• Grid resolution and independence.
• Problem setup.
Examine the Results
• Examine the results to review solution and
• Post Processing extract useful data.
6. Examine the results.
7. Consider revisions to
the model.
• Visualization Tools can be used to answer
such questions as:
• What is the overall flow pattern?
• Is there separation?
• Where do shocks, shear layers, etc.
form?
• Are key flow features being resolved?
• Numerically Reporting Tools can be used to
Examine results to ensure calculate quantitative results:
property conservation and
correct physical behavior.
• Forces and Momentums
High residuals may be
attributable to only a few cells
• Average heat transfer coefficients
of poor quality.
• Surface and Volume integrated quantities
• Flux Balances.
Consider Revisions to the Model
• Are physical models appropriate?
• Post Processing
6. Examine the results.
• Is flow turbulent?
7. Consider revisions to
the model. • Is flow unsteady?
• Are there compressibility effects?
• Are there 3D effects?
• Are boundary conditions correct?
• Is the computational domain large enough?
• Are boundary conditions appropriate?
• Are boundary values reasonable?
• Is grid adequate?
• Can grid be adequate to improve results?
• Does solution change significantly with
adaption, or is the solution grid independent?
• Does boundary resolution need to be
improved?
Operating Pressure
• Specification of Operating Pressure affects calculation in different ways
for different flow regimes
• OP is significant for Incompressible flows because it determines
density.
•
• For low mach compressible flows, OP avoids numerical round off
error.
• Since pressure drop is very small.
• are related to dynamic head,
• This gives simple relation , so that as
• FLUENT avoids round off error by subtracting operating
pressure (generally a large pressure roughly equal to avg. abs
pressure in the flow) from the absolute pressure, and using the
result (termed gauge pressure).
• OP is less significant for higher Mach-number compressible flows,
since pressure drops are very high. Hence there is no problem of
round off errors.
• In fact it is common convention to use absolute pressure in
such calculations.
• Since FLUENT always uses gauge pressure, therefore the OP
is simply set to zero.
