Computational Fluid Dynamics

Unit #1
Brief Introduction to CFD

Fluid flow problems are governed by three equations (a)
continuity; (b) Navier Stokes and Energy.
These coupled equations are often very difficult to
solve analytically.
Computational Fluid Mechanics or CFD helps solve these
equations numerically using computers

Steps of CFD solutions:
a) Discretize the flow region in cells (space) or time
intervals

b) Convert the partial differential equations into finite
difference equations

c) Solve the resulting algebraic equation using a chosen
procedure
a) Discretization of domain into
Cells or grids
Let us assume that we are analyzing the flight of a bullet
through a complex medium. The space variable is height
above the ground, y while time, t is measured from the
time the bullet is fired. Our interest is to know what
happens to the bullet within a height 0 to H.
The Y axis may be divided into AL equal size cells. The
time axis may also be divided into small time steps of dt
The grid points are not necessarily uniform
If the calculation domain is divided into 100 rectangular
cells, then there will be 100 algebraic equations for each
velocity component and 100 equations for the pressure,
giving a total of 300 simultaneous algebraic equations.
Finer the grid the better the solution, however, the
computational effort (CPU and memory) increases
proportionally.
a) Examples of space domains or Cells
Flow over cylinder
square cells




Flow over
turbine blade
curved cell
b) Conversion of Differential Equations
b t a t y y < < = ) (
).... (
! 2
) (
! 1
) ( ) (
11
2
1
t y
t
t y
t
t y t t y
A
+
A
+ = A +
Taylor Series Expansion can be used to write differential equations in Finite
Differences. Note that it is valid only for continuous functions.

b) Finite Difference (First derivative)


The equation dy/dt=y(t) can be discretized in one
of the three ways. O( ) is the truncation error
- Forward Difference


- Backward Difference


- Central Difference
) (
) ( ) (
) (
1
t O
t
t t y t y
t y
dt
dy
A +
A
A
~ =
) (
) ( ) (
) (
1
t O
t
t y t t y
t y
dt
dy
A +
A
A +
~ =
) (
2
) ( ) (
) (
2 1
t O
t
t t y t t y
t y
dt
dy
A +
A
A A +
~ =
t A
b) Difference form of second
derivative
Central difference


Backward difference



Forward difference
) (
2
) ( ' '
2
2
2 1
2
2
t O
t
y y y
t y
t
y
i i i
i
i
A +
A
+
~ =
c
c

) (
2
) ( ' '
2
2
1 1
2
2
t O
t
y y y
t y
t
y
i i i
i
i
A +
A
+
~ =
c
c
+
) (
2
) ( ' '
2
2
2 1
2
2
t O
t
y y y
t y
t
y
i i i
i
i
A +
A
+
~ =
c
c
+ +
( ) q o f =
c) Solution Procedure
There are many algorithms for solving the
algebraic equations formed. They can be
broadly classified under two groups
1. Explicit method
No iteration
2. Implicit
This method involves iterations
Example
Solve numerically y(t) = t
2
to
find value of y at t=0.25
Analytical soln gives
t=0.5; y(t) = 0.25


At t=0


At t= t+At = 0 +0.5, we can write using Taylor
expansion

2
) (
) (
, 2
) (
) (
, 1 0 , ) (
2
2
11
1
2
= =
= =
s s =
dt
t y d
t y
t
dt
t dy
t y
t t t y
0 ) 0 ( ... ) 0 ( ) 0 ( , 2 ) 0 ( , 0 ) 0 ( , 0 ) 0 (
) ( 111 11 1
= = = = = = =
n iv
y y y y y y
25 . 0 2
! 2
5 . 0
0
! 1
5 . 0
0
) 0 (
! 2
5 . 0
) 0 (
! 1
5 . 0
) 0 ( ) 5 . 0 0 (
2
11
2
1
= + +
= + + = +
x x
y y y y
Method of CFD Solution
Define the flow physics - laminar or turbulent,
compressible or incompressible, etc.
Define the flow geometry - description of the
closed region where the flow occurs.
Generate a suitable grid - divide the flow region
into a large number of relatively small cells.
Define the physical properties of the fluid - such
as density and viscosity.
Start solver.
Analyze solution.
Internet Links
15.1 - Introduction
Welcome to CFDnet - Computational Fluid
Dynamics on the Internet:
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