Swirl Around a Rotating Disk

Author
Libby Cohen
Date
Sep 29, 2015 3:31:56 PM
Company
UH
Version
5.0

Summary
This model demonstrates the flow in a tank with a rotating disk. The flow is
described using the Navier-Stokes equations, and the model makes use of
symmetrical and sliding wall boundary conditions.

CONTENTS
i.
1
2

Table of Figures.................................................................................................... 3
Global.................................................................................................................. 4
Component 1....................................................................................................... 5
2.1
Geometry 1................................................................................................. 5
2.2
Laminar Flow.............................................................................................. 5
3
Results................................................................................................................. 8
3.1
Plot Groups................................................................................................. 8
4
Conclusion......................................................................................................... 11

i.

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: 2D geometry of the 3D tank with rotating disk. A 2D model is possible

because the original geometry is rotationally symmetric....................................5
Figure 2: The whole 2D geometric model is used to calculate Laminar Flow..........6
Figure 3: Results for angular velocity (left to right and top to bottom) = 0.25,
0.5 , 2 , and 4 rad/s. The surface plot shows the magnitude of the velocity, and
the white lines are streamlines of the velocity field...........................................8
Figure 4: Contour map of pressure present in the model..................................9
Figure 5: Surface velocity magnitude. This figure is rendered 3D to further
demonstrate the velocity results...................................................................9
Figure 6: Magnitude of the velocity field (surface) and isocontours for the
azimuthal velocity component for angular velocities (left to right and top to bottom)
= 0.25, 0.5, 2, and 4 rad/s......................................................................10

1 Global
Date

Sep 29, 2015 3:31:56 PM

Global settings

Name

Untitled.mph

Program

COMSOL 5.0 (Build: 276)

2 Component 1
2.1 Geometry 1

Figure 1: 2D geometry of the 3D tank with rotating disk. A 2D model is possible because
the original geometry is rotationally symmetric.

Units

Length unit

Angular unit

deg

2.2 Laminar Flow

Figure 2: The whole 2D geometric model is used to calculate Laminar Flow.

Equations

Features

Fluid Properties 1
Axial Symmetry 1
Wall 1
Initial Values 1
Wall 2
Symmetry 1
Pressure Point Constraint 1
2.2.1 Fluid Properties 1
Equations

2.2.2 Axial Symmetry 1

Figure 2: The whole 2D geometric model is used to calculate Laminar Flow.

2.2.3 Wall 1
Figure 2: The whole 2D geometric model is used to calculate Laminar Flow.
Equations

2.2.4 Initial Values 1

Figure 2: The whole 2D geometric model is used to calculate Laminar Flow.
2.2.5 Wall 2
Figure 2: The whole 2D geometric model is used to calculate Laminar Flow.
Equations

2.2.6 Symmetry 1
Figure 2: The whole 2D geometric model is used to calculate Laminar Flow.
Equations

2.2.7 Pressure Point Constraint 1

Figure 2: The whole 2D geometric model is used to calculate Laminar Flow.

3 Results
3.1 Plot Groups
3.1.1 Velocity (spf)

Figure 3: Results for angular velocity (left to right and top to bottom) = 0.25, 0.5 , 2
, and 4 rad/s. The surface plot shows the magnitude of the velocity, and the white lines
are streamlines of the velocity field.

3.1.2 Pressure (spf)

Figure 4: Contour map of pressure present in the model.

3.1.3 Velocity (spf) 1

Figure 5: Surface velocity magnitude. This figure is rendered 3D to further demonstrate the
velocity results.

3.1.4 2D Plot Group 7

Figure 6: Magnitude of the velocity field (surface) and isocontours for the azimuthal
velocity component for angular velocities (left to right and top to bottom) = 0.25, 0.5, 2,
and 4 rad/s.

10

4 Conclusion
The purpose of the model was to demonstrate flow in a tank with a rotating disk
using the Navier-Stokes equation. This equation creates a two-dimensional swirling
flow despite the three velocity components included in the model. These velocities
are specified by the sliding wall boundary condition. The symmetry condition allows
for flow in the axial and rotational directions only. These boundary conditions
prevent any outflow boundaries, so the pressure is set to zero in the top right corner
(Point 8). In conclusion, the models solve for four different angular velocities and
succeed in presenting the swirl flow created around a rotating disk.

11