ME40045 – Computational Fluid

Dynamics

Practical Session 1 – CFD and geometry preparation

Dr Nathaniel Kelly
 Lecture plan

1. Course structure
2. Introduction to CFD
3. Introduction to ANSYS and Geometry preparation
4. Practical workshops using DesignModeler
 Learning outcomes

By the end of the session:

• Explain what CFD is and its uses in industry and research
• Explain the basic CFD process
• Identify the importance of Geometry preparation in CFD
• Create geometries using DesignModeler from 2D sketches
• Repair, edit and parameterise CAD models using DesignModeler
 Practical CFD course structure

Week 2 Week 3 Week 4

Week 1
(09/10/24) (16/10/24) (23/10/24)
(02/10/24)
Practical Session 3: Practical Session 4:
Practical Session 1: Practical Session 2:
Setup and solve Postprocessing
Geometry Meshing
 Governing Equations in CFD: Navier-Stokes
Equations

The Navier-Stokes equations describe the motion of fluids and form the foundation of CFD

These equations are typically nonlinear and require numerical methods for solutions.
 What is CFD?

Computational Fluid Dynamics is the use of numerical methods and algorithms to solve
and analyse problems involving fluid flows.
 Why use CFD?
Computational Fluid Dynamics is the use of numerical methods and algorithms to solve
and analyse problems involving fluid flows.

Allows comparison with experiments

Li, H., Ma, X., & Zhao, X. (2016). Chinese Journal of Aeronautics, 29(2), 476–486.
 Why use CFD?

Computational Fluid Dynamics is the use of numerical methods and algorithms to solve
and analyse problems involving fluid flows.

Allows comparison with experiments

Provides insight into complex fluid behaviour that is

hard to visualise or measure experimentally

Chnafa C., Mendez S. & Nicoud, F., Image-based large-eddy

simulation in a realistic left heart , Comp. Fluids, Vol. 94, pages
173-187, 2014.
 Why use CFD?

Computational Fluid Dynamics is the use of numerical methods and algorithms to solve
and analyse problems involving fluid flows.

Allows comparison with experiments

Provides insight into complex fluid behaviour that is

hard to visualise or measure experimentally

Can be run quickly, rapid iteration and optimisation

of designs without the need for physical prototypes.
 Why use CFD?

Computational Fluid Dynamics is the use of numerical methods and algorithms to solve
and analyse problems involving fluid flows.

Cool cow videos!

CFD = Colourful Fluid Dynamics!

 CFD method (in a nutshell)

In the finite volume method…

1. A flow geometry is defined

2. The flow domain is decomposed into a set of control volumes or

cells called a computational mesh or grid

3. The control-volume equations are discretised i.e. approximated in

terms of values at the nodes – to form a set of algebraic equations

4. The discretised equations are solved numerically.

CFD Process

Pre-processing

CFD Solving

Postprocessing
 Preprocessing
Formulate the flow problem Model the geometry and flow domain

• Objective? • Dimensionality? (1D, 2D, quasi-3D,

axisymmetric, 3D)
• Freestream and/or operating conditions?
• Manual creation or CAD import?
• What should the flow domain look like?
• Watertight and error free (no gaps, missing
or overlapping faces, unclosed geometries)
 Preprocessing

Generate the mesh Establish the simulation strategy

• Structured, unstructured, hybrid mesh • Physical and chemical phenomena

(incompressible, compressible, natural
• Mesh refinement for flow features convection, etc.).

• Boundary layer resolution • Turbulence modelling (U/RANS, LES, DNS)

• Mesh quality • Steady state or transient?

• Boundary conditions and initial conditions

(velocity, pressure, temperature)

• User defined functions

 Solving and postprocessing

Solving and convergence Visualise flow

• Discretisation • Vector plots

• Steady state or transient • Streamlines

• Stability • Contours

• Accuracy • Extract important data

• Computational demands
Validation and verification

• Compare with experiments/analytical

solutions
Applications of CFD

Biomedical engineering:
Predicting blood trauma in blood pumps

We want to predict if the shear stresses

that form cause damage to the cells

Haemolysis  anaemia
 Applications of CFD
Geometry Mesh generation
Flow problem:
Will the axial blood pump
cause haemolysis?

Setup and Solve: Postprocessing:

- Incompressible
- Newtonian
- Q:0.5 – 4 L/min
- Large eddy simulation
- Transient
 Practical CFD course structure

Week 2 Week 3 Week 4

Week 1
(09/10/24) (16/10/24) (23/10/24)
(02/10/24)
Practical Session 3: Practical Session 4:
Practical Session 1: Practical Session 2:
Setup and solve Postprocessing
Geometry Meshing
 Geometry preparation

1. ANSYS workbench
2. DesignModeler and geometry preparation
3. DM1:Pipe intersection
4. DM2:Automotive aero
 ANSYS workbench

For fluid simulations, components of interest

include:

• CFX
• Fluent
• TurboGrid
• BladeGen
• Polyflow
• ICEM CFD
 ANSYS workbench
Accessing Workbench:

Start  ANSYS 2024 R2 folder 

Workbench

Creating a new Project:

 ANSYS workbench
Accessing Workbench:

Start  ANSYS 2024 R2 folder 

Workbench

Creating a new Project:

Drag components from the left side to

the right Project the Schematic
 ANSYS workbench
Accessing Workbench:

Start  ANSYS 2024 R2 folder 

Workbench

Creating a new Project:

Drag components from the left side to

the right Project the Schematic

Connect components
 ANSYS workbench
Accessing Workbench:

Start  ANSYS 2024 R2 folder 

Workbench

Creating a new Fluid Flow Simulation:

 Geometry preparation
Two options for creating geometries:

Manual creation

For simple cases, the geometry

can be manually created within
the CFD software itself or
specialised geometry tools.

CAD Import

Geometry comes from Computer-

Aided Design (CAD) models.
 DesignModeler

The DesignModeler application is a

parametric feature-based modeler.

Manual creation:
Its modelling paradigm is to sketch 2D
profiles and use them to generate
features.

For CAD Import:

Repair (small CAD errors), simplify
(remove unnecessary artefacts for
meshing) and enclosure (define fluid
region)
 Download workshop material

Download workshop instructions and files from Moodle

Practical Workshops:

• Geometry Preparation Workshop 1

• Geometry Preparation Workshop 2
• Files for Geometry Preparation Workshops
 Practical time!

DM1: Pipe Intersection DM2: Automotive Aero