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(Intro To CAE) Fundamentals of CFD PDF
(Intro To CAE) Fundamentals of CFD PDF
Dynamics
SimScale
Title
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Design
Simulation Redesign Build
(CAD)
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Steps in the CFD Process
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Flow Inlet
Velocity (flow rate) = known
Pressure = ? or may be known
Flow Outlet
Friction Walls Velocity = ?
Velocity = 0 Pressure = Known static pressure
Pressure = ?
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How CFD works:
The Finite Volume Method
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● Most equations are derived by considering a very small fluid volume called
“Control Volume (CV)” and applying the conservation laws
● Since each CV has finite size, this method is called “Finite Volume Method” ( FVM)
● The entire continuous flow domain is discretized into these simple shaped
Control Volumes (CVs)
CV CV boundary
centroid
Step 5: Select Solvers and Interpolation Schemes for solution of equation system
Pressure (P) = ?
Velocity (V) = ?
Pressure (P) =
reference static value
Source:
https://web.stanford.edu/class/me469b/handouts/incompressible.pdf
u|∂Ω = 0 on ∂Ω
● Is a ‘fixed derivative condition’ for a flow variable on the boundary e.g velocity,
pressure
● It is used when the actual value is an unknown and a variable but the rate of
change is known.
∂u/∂ν |∂Ω = 0 on ∂Ω
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The Finite Volume Method: Boundary conditions
The Mixed/Robin condition:
● Experience and engineering judgement are the most important factors for
performing an accurate analysis.
● Correct implementation of the physics and modeling steps is critical for
accuracy
● Simulation results should be compared quantitatively with analytical data or
calculations
● It is always recommended to compare simulation results to some experimental
data for setting a baseline case
● Numerical Error
○ Introduced by the computer when it rounds or truncates numbers as it
assembles matrices and solved equations
Inlet
Outlet
Flow area of
interest
Fluid entering
container
● Smooth and colorful contours can be produced by any model, good or bad
● A responsible user must understand the nature of the problem and the inherent
assumptions before setting up the problem and analyzing the results
● The results should always be first compared qualitatively and then with Analytical
calculations or Hand approximations to check for obvious inconsistencies
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CFD in SimScale:
Meshing
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.....
Units are
Meters
Centroid Boundary
faces
Node
Element
2D Cell/Element
● Robust
● High-quality meshes
● Optional boundary layer refinement
● Underlying algorithm: snappyHexMesh
‘Top-bottom’ approach.
Base Mesh
Cell Size
for X
Parametric/Manual
● For complex models with complicated small features, faces and edges
Tet-mesh: User specified Global and local surface refinements with layers, works for single part or assembly.
Hex-mesh: All types of refinement with layers, works for single part or assembly.
● Non-Orthogonal cells
● High Skewness
● Concavity
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CFD in SimScale:
Analysis Types
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Incompressible Compressible
● Mass and Momentum conservation ● Mass and Momentum conservation
only ● Energy (heat) balance also solved
● No Energy (Heat) balance
● Density is a variable
● Density is constant
● Mostly all Liquids ● Mostly gases at high speed or
● Usually low speed gas flow pressure
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CFD in SimScale:
Incompressible Flow Analysis
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○ Low temperatures
Compressible flow is more demanding numerically (additional equations) and should only
be selected if necessary
Mach Number
● Mach Number=Velocity of flow / Velocity of sound
● Gases become significantly compressible at M>=0.3
Ma = /
Rule of thumb:
If Ma > 0.3 then compressible flow should be applied for gases
● If the system is expected to converge to a state where it doesn't change any more, use
steady-state.
● Transient flow changes with time and has periodic phenomenon e.g vortex shedding
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Wall
Flow Outlet
Problem Overview:
● Velocity: Low
● Flow behaviour: Independent of time
● Fluid: Water
Interested in time
Fluid: Water Velocity: Low independent flow
Incompressible
Laminar Flow Steady-State
Analysis
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