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Definition of CFD
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is the simulation of fluids
engineering systems using
modeling (mathematical physical problem formulation) and
numerical methods (discretization methods, solvers, numerical
parameters, and grid generations, etc.).
Choice of
Physical
Models
Mesh
generation
Solving
Postprocessing
Select
geometry
Turbulence
models
Structured/
unstructured
Numerical
schemes
Result
reporting
Select
domain
Flow
properties
Mesh size
Convergence
criteria
Verification &
Validation
Boundary
conditions
Initial
conditions
Importance of CFD
Cost
Simulation (CFD)
Cheap
Experiment
Expensive
Time
Scale
Information
Repeatable
Safety
Short
Any
All
Yes
Yes
Long
Small/Medium
Selected points
Some
Some danger
Objective
To provide an overview of turbulence and its modeling
Mainly cover
What is turbulence?
Types of turbulent flows
How turbulence is generated
Length and time scales in turbulent flow
Prediction methods
Turbulence models
Selecting turbulence model for your application
Motivation
For the Study of Turbulent Flows
An important characteristic of turbulence is its ability to transport and mix fluid
practical importance.
And Turbulence greatly enhances the rates of these processes.
Motion of clouds
Characteristics of Turbulence
Turbulence is very difficult to define.
In turbulent flow
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a) Jet
b) Mixing Layer
c) Wake
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1. Jet
2. Mixing Layer
3. Wake
Introduction to Transition
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Dissipation
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Kolmogorov Scales
The scales of turbulence can be easily established for smallest
eddies if one uses Kolmogorov universal equilibrium theorem
which states:
Rate of transfer of energy from larger eddies to
smaller eddies is approximately equal to the dissipation
of energy to heat by the smallest eddies
Hybrid Method.
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Where
The velocity and density components are replaced by sum of mean and fluctuating
components of velocity and density respectively as:
Once this equation is expanded, it is time averaged according to the rules defined
earlier to provide
The instantaneous values are replaced by time averaged mean and fluctuating
values to provide
It is customary to combine the laminar and turbulent shear stress terms in above
momentum equation as
Similarly
Turbulence Models
A turbulence model is a computational procedure to close the system of mean
flow equations.
We only need to know how turbulence affected the mean flow.
The number of equations denotes the number of additional PDEs that are being
solved.
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represent mixing
A commonly used models utilizes an exponential function for inner region, whereas the outer region
is proportional to the boundary layer thickness. Mathematically they are expressed as
A turbulence model which is not written in terms of the boundary layer quantities was introduced by
Baldwin and Lomax. For this the inner region is approximated as
can be written as
or
Finally the turbulent viscosity distribution across the boundary layer is determined
from
Advantages
Mathematically simple
Cheap in terms of computing resources
Well established
Good predictions for thin shear layer,
jets, wakes, mixing layer and B.L
Disadvantages
Completely incapable of
describing flows with separation
and recirculation.
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Strengths
Weaknesses
SpalartAllmaras
STD k-
Robust, economical,
reasonably accurate; long
accumulated performance
data.
RNG k-
Realizable
k-
Reynolds
Stress
Model
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As 99% of the energy is contained outside the dissipation range (the smallest scales).
Therefore, one thinks of modelling these small scales that have a universal character
while fully resolving the larger scales: This is Large Eddy Simulation.
In LES, large (Grid) Scales (GS) are resolved and the small (Sub-Grid) Scales (SGS) are
modelled.
Subgrid model for the SGS turbulent scales
A filter is introduced that would act as an automation technique that tells the
equations what to fully resolve and what to model.
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Example
Consider a two dimensional CFD case of the flow between two parallel plates to
demonstrate the laminar and turbulent nature of the fluid flow. Using CFD observe the
velocity and viscosity profiles in the fully developed region with a working fluid taken
as air for inlet velocities of 0.02m/s and 1m/s.
Contd..(Example)
Velocity profile
Viscosity profile
Turbulent K. E profile
Accuracy requirement
to evaluate the grids resolution required for a certain accuracy
Resources requirement
to evaluate the need for sophisticated turbulence models
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Contd..
Effect of Turbulence Models on Flow over an Airfoil
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Contd..
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Concluding Remarks
Major worry about turbulence modeling is that one cannot
estimate the errors of computer results
There is no better way to calculate turbulent flows unless we deal with very
low Re and simple geometries.
This may change in future with improvements in computer technology