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Module 1: Introduction to Finite Difference Method and Fundamentals of CFD

Lecture 3:

The Lecture deals with:

Basic Aspects of Finite -Difference Equations

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Module 1: Introduction to Finite Difference Method and Fundamentals of CFD

Lecture 3:

Combinations of finite difference quotients for partial derivatives form finite difference
expressions for the partial differential equations.

Example, The Laplace equation in two dimensions, becomes

or

(3.1)

Where is the mesh aspect ratio

If we solve the Lapalce equation on a domain given by Fig. 1.2, the value of will be

(3.2)

It can be said that many other forms of difference approximations can be obtained for the
derivatives which constitute the governing equations for fluid flow and heat transfer.

The basic procedure, however, remains the same. In order to appreciate some more finite
difference representations see Tables 2.1 and 2.2.

Interested readers are referred to Anderson, Tannehill and Pletcher (1984) for more insight into various
discretization methods.

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Module 1: Introduction to Finite Difference Method and Fundamentals of CFD

Lecture 3:

Basic Aspects of Finite-Difference Equations

In this slide we shall look into some of the basic aspect of difference equations.

Consider the following one dimensional unsteady state heat conduction equation. The
dependent variable (temperature) is a function of and (time) and is a constant
known as thermal diffusivity.

(3.3)

It is to be noted that Eq.(3.3) is classified as a parabolic partial differential equation.

If we substitute the time derivative in Eq. (3.3) with a forward difference, and a spatial
derivative with a central difference (usually called FTCS, Forward Time Central Space
method of discretization), we obtain

(3.4)

In Eq. (3.4), the index for time appears as a superscript, where n denotes conditions at
time denotes conditions at time and so on. The subscript denotes the
grid point in the spatial dimension.

However, there must be a truncation error for the equation because each one of the finite
difference quotient has been taken from a truncated series.

Considering Eqns. (3.3) and (3.4) and looking at the truncation error associated with the
difference quotients we can write

(3.5)

In Eq. (3.5), the terms in the square brackets represent truncation error for the complete
equation. It is evident that truncation error (TE) for this representation is

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Module 1: Introduction to Finite Difference Method and Fundamentals of CFD

Lecture 3:

Basic Aspects of Finite-Difference Equations

Table 3.1: Difference Approximations for Derivatives

grid spacing

Table 3.2: Difference Approximations for Derivatives

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With respect to Eq. (3.5), it can be said that as and the truncation error
approach zero.

Hence, in the limiting case, the difference equation also approaches the original
differential equation. Under such circumstances, the finite difference representation of the
partial differential equation is said to be consistent.

Congratulations! You have finished Lecture 3. To view the next lecture select it from the left hand side
menu of the page or click the next button.

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