Computer Exercise 2

MVK150: Applied CFD

Holger Grosshans

To do

Answer the questions marked with (*)

Max 1-2 pages
Each answer should be one or two sentences only.
1 report per student

Send your report to

holger.grosshans@energy.lth.se

Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

Case structure

Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

Grid independency study

Create 4 cases from the case pipe and change the number
of cells: 10, 20, 40 and 100. (for each block and direction)
Run these cases (blockMesh + icoFoam)
(*) Compare the velocity components and pressure at the
sample line going trough the bend of the pipe
(*) Deduce the coarsest independent grid.
(*) Plot for this case the convergence history.
IcoFoam > terminal
Pick ca. 15 values for Ux Initial residual
Plot (eg. Excel) log(residual) vs. log(timestep)

Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

icoFoam
Solver application
Solves the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations

Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

icoFoam
Uses PISO (pressure-implicit splitting operator) algorithm
to solve these equations iteratively :
1.

Guess p, flux (from previous time step)

2.
3.

Velocity predictor : solve momentum equations to get

Ux, Uy, Uz
Solve pressure equation

4.
5.

Correct flux to satisfy continuity

go back to 2. until convergence is reached

Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

icoFoam
How is it done in OpenFOAM?
Let's have a look at the source code (only Linux version) :
icoFoam.C

Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

icoFoam
The time loop starts
The fvSolution PISO
dictionary is read
The CFL number is
evaluated and printed to the
screen
The momentum equations
are defined
The velocity predictor is
solved for the PISO loop
Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

icoFoam
Piso loop:
- The pressure equation is
defined
- and solved
- Correct the flux
Print out the continuity error
on the screen
Evaluate the velocity field
Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

icoFoam
Print out the execution
time on the screen

Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

system/fvScheme

Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

system/fvScheme
Create a new case from the pipe case.
Change the schemes to higher order
time terms:
gradient terms:
divergence terms:
rest:

second order bounded implicit

fourth order
fourth order
as in original pipe case

Reference : Numerical schemes in Chapter 4.4 in the User

Guide. (...typo...)
Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

system/fvScheme
Create a new case from the pipe case.
Change the schemes to lower order
divergence terms: first order
laplacian terms:
first order
rest:
as in original pipe case
(*) Compare the execution time for each case.
( icoFoam > terminal )
(*) Compare the results.
Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

system/fvSolution
Linear-solver to solve the
system of discretized
equations
Solver stops at current
residual

Solver stops at ratio of

current to initial residual

Controlling PISO algorithm

Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

system/fvSolution
Create 2 new cases from the pipe case :
Put tolerance values to 1e-3
Put tolerance values to 1e-9
(*) Discuss the sensitivity of the results:
- probe point (4.5 3 0.05), how can the difference be
explained ?
- number of iterations per time step

Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

system/controlDict
Create one new case from the pipe case
Change the inlet velocity to 20 m/s
and the viscosity to 0.001 m^2/s
(*) If your case diverges... which parameter would you
change to obtain convergence?
Simulate 1 s and look how the velocity field evolves.

Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011

system/controlDict
Initial time
Final time
Time step
CFL = u dt / dx
How often the results are
printed into the time
directory.

Lund University / Division of Fluid Mechanics / 25.3.2011