A stabilized formulation for the advection–diffusion equation using the Generalized Finite Element Method

This paper presents a stable formulation for the advection–diffusion equation based on the Generalized (or eXtended) Finite Element Method, GFEM (or X‐FEM). Using enrichment functions that represent the exponential character of the exact solution, smooth numerical solutions are obtained for problems with steep gradients and high Péclet numbers in one‐ and two‐dimensions. In contrast with traditional stabilized methods that require the construction of stability parameters and stabilization terms, the present work avoids numerical instabilities by improving the classical Galerkin solution with enrichment functions (that need not be polynomials) using GFEM, which is an instance of the partition of unity framework. This work also presents a strategy for constructing enrichment functions for problems involving complex geometries by employing a global–local‐type approach. Representative numerical results are presented to illustrate the performance of the proposed method. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fourth‐order exponential finite difference methods for boundary value problems of convective diffusion type

Methods based on exponential finite difference approximations of h⁴ accuracy are developed to solve one and two‐dimensional convection–diffusion type differential equations with constant and variable convection coefficients. In the one‐dimensional case, the numerical scheme developed uses three points. For the two‐dimensional case, even though nine points are used, the successive line overrelaxation approach with alternating direction implicit procedure enables us to deal with tri‐diagonal systems. The methods are applied on a number of linear and non‐linear problems, mostly with large first derivative terms, in particular, fluid flow problems with boundary layers. Better accuracy is obtained in all the problems, compared with the available results in the literature. Application of an exponential scheme with a non‐uniform mesh is also illustrated. The h⁴ accuracy of the schemes is also computationally demonstrated. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Approximate heat transfer coefficients based on variable thermophysical properties for laminar flow over a uniformly heated flat plate

New heat transfer coefficient approximations are developed for forced laminar flow over a uniformly heated flat plate at zero incidence angle. The development is based on solving the variable property boundary layer equations using a variable property similarity transform that incorporates an adjustable similarity scaling constant. The scaling constants value is iteratively adjusted until the scaled temperature gradient-at-the-wall value is equal to the small temperature difference value. The resulting scaled profiles are nearly congruent. The congruency scaling constant is then approximated in terms of simple functions of the kinematic viscosity and the Prandlt number evaluated at the plate and free stream temperatures. The approximate scaling constants are used to form new approximations for the heat transfer coefficient. The new approximate coefficients are compared to traditional coefficients for four gases and six liquid flows covering the range 0.5 < Pr < 3,000 with large temperature differences.     

Dynamic coefficient evaluation for an algebraic subgrid stress model

Static model coefficients for an algebraic subgrid stress (SGS) model are determined using a dynamic approach, based on results from simulations of isotropic decaying turbulence. The study was motivated by the discrepancies in energy transfer predictions using the previously documented coefficients (Bhushan and Warsi, Int. J. Numer. Meth. Fluids 2005; 49 : 489–519). The discrepancies are identified to be due to inconsistent filter functions used in the analytic estimates and the simulations. The study emphasizes that SGS model development should use filter functions compatible with those inherent in CFD application solvers. The dynamic approach predicts consistent model and transfer coefficients for different grid resolutions and is judged to be a reliable basis for model coefficient adjustments. The predicted Leonard's stress coefficient and associated energy transfer coefficients agree very well with the analytic estimates using a Gaussian/cutoff combination filter. This suggests that the modeling of Leonard's stress term using a truncated Taylor series expansion is robust and may not benefit significantly from dynamic modeling. Validation simulations were performed for turbulent channel flow at Re_τ = 180 and 590. The dynamic approach was found to be reliable only for the lower log‐layer of the Re_τ = 590 case, where the scale invariance condition was satisfied. Nonetheless, in this narrow range, the model and transfer coefficients compare well with the isotropic case. The static coefficient algebraic model with new adjusted coefficients shows improved predictions compared with the previous coefficients, for both isotropic decaying turbulence and channel flow cases. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On simulations investigating droplet diameter–charge distributions in electrostatically atomized dielectric liquid sprays

A general procedure has been developed for the simulation of charged liquid and electrostatically atomized sprays. The procedure follows a Lagrangian approach for simulation of spray droplets and a Eulerian approach for gas‐phase variables, including the electric field generated by the charge presence on droplets. Validation of the procedure was examined through simulations of previously published charged spray experiments. Results showed that for the specification of initial droplet charge, modelling the droplet charge–diameter relationship through a scaling law is as reliable a method as using a directly obtained charge–diameter relationship from experimental measurements. The normalized root‐mean‐square errors for sprays using the two methods were shown to be within 12% of one another, for the prediction of spatially averaged profiles of mean droplet diameters, mean axial velocities and mean radial droplet velocities. Results showed that the general spatial characteristics and dynamics of a charged liquid spray can successfully be reproduced, including the axial and radial dispersal pattern of droplets and the distribution of mean droplet diameters throughout the spray plume. For all sprays with droplet charges defined through a scaling law relationship, the normalized root‐mean‐square errors range from 9.0% to 31.6% for mean droplet diameters, 10.4% to 67.9% for mean axial droplet velocities and 16.8% to 38.6% for mean radial droplet velocities. Lastly, we present a brief set of general recommendations for simulating electrostatically atomized dielectric liquid sprays.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Holberg's optimisation for high-order compact finite difference staggered schemes

Two optimised high-order compact finite difference (FD) staggered schemes are presented in this communication. Following Holberg's optimisation strategy, the least squares problem to minimising the group velocity (MGV) error, for the fourth- and sixth-order pentadiagonal schemes, is formulated. For a fixed level of group velocity accuracy, the optimised spectrum of wave number and the optimised coefficients for the schemes, are analytically evaluated. The spectral accuracy of these schemes has been verified by several comparisons with the FD staggered schemes obtained following Kim and Lee's (1996) optimisation procedure. Fewer group and phase velocity errors, greater resolution in terms of absolute error and resolving efficiency have been achieved by the optimised schemes proposed. High-order accuracy in time is obtained by marching the solution with an optimised Runge–Kutta scheme. Next, the comparison in terms of the number of grid points per wavelength required to achieve a standard accuracy for distances expressed in terms of the number of wavelengths travelled is presented. Numerical results from benchmark tests for the one-dimensional shallow water equations are presented.     

Reduced‐order modeling based on POD of a parabolized Navier–Stokes equation model I: forward model

A proper orthogonal decomposition (POD)‐based reduced‐order model of the parabolized Navier–Stokes (PNS) equations is derived in this article. A space‐marching finite difference method with time relaxation is used to obtain the solution of this problem, from which snapshots are obtained to generate the POD basis functions used to construct the reduced‐order model. In order to improve the accuracy and the stability of the reduced‐order model in the presence of a high Reynolds number, we applied a Sobolev H₁ norm calibration to the POD construction process. Finally, some numerical tests with a high‐fidelity model as well as the POD reduced‐order model were carried out to demonstrate the efficiency and the accuracy of the reduced‐order model for solving the PNS equations compared with the full PNS model. Different inflow conditions and different selections of snapshots were experimented to test the POD reduction technique. The efficiency of the H₁ norm POD calibration is illustrated for the PNS model with increasingly higher Reynolds numbers, along with the optimal dissipation coefficient derivation, yielding the best root mean square error and correlation coefficient between the full and reduced‐order PNS models. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A high‐fidelity low‐cost aerodynamic model using proper orthogonal decomposition

In this paper a high‐fidelity aerodynamic model is presented for use in parametric studies of weapon aerodynamics. The method employs a reduced‐order model obtained from the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) of an ensemble of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions with varying parameters. This decomposition produces an optimal linear set of orthogonal basis functions that best describe the ensemble of numerical solutions. These solutions are then projected onto this set of basis functions to provide a finite set of scalar coefficients that represent the solutions. A pseudo‐continuous representation of these projection coefficients is constructed, which allows predictions to be made of parameter combinations not in the original set of observations. The paper explores the performance of a few design‐of‐experiment approaches for the generation of the initial ensemble of computational experiments. Response surface construction methods based on parametric and non‐parametric models for the pseudo‐continuous representation of the projection coefficients are also evaluated. The model has been applied to two‐flow problems related to high‐speed weapon aerodynamics, inviscid flow around a flare‐stabilized hypersonic projectile and supersonic turbulent flow around a fin‐stabilized projectile with drooping nose control. Comparisons of model predictions with high‐fidelity CFD simulations suggest that the POD provides a reliable and robust approach to the construction of reduced‐order models. The practicality of the model is shown to be sensitive to the technique used to generate the ensemble of observations from which the model is constructed, while the accuracy of the approach depends on the pseudo‐continuous representation of the projection coefficients. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A simple sliding‐mesh interface procedure and its application to the CFD simulation of a tidal‐stream turbine

An effective way of using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate flow about a rotating device—for example, a wind or marine turbine—is to embed a rotating region of cells inside a larger, stationary domain, with a sliding interface between. This paper describes a simple but effective method for implementing this as an internal Dirichlet boundary condition, with interfacial values obtained by interpolation from halo nodes. The method is tested in two finite‐volume codes: one using block‐structured meshes and the other unstructured meshes. Validation is performed for flow around simple, isolated, rotating shapes (cylinder, sphere and cube), comparing, where possible, with experiment and the alternative CFD approach of fixed grid with moving walls. Flow variables are shown to vary smoothly across the sliding interface. Simulations of a tidal‐stream turbine, including both rotor and support, are then performed and compared with towing‐tank experiments. Comparison between CFD and experiment is made for thrust and power coefficients as a function of tip‐speed ratio (TSR) using Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes turbulence models and large‐eddy simulation (LES). Performance of most models is good near the optimal TSR, but simulations underestimate mean thrust and power coefficients in off‐design conditions, with the standard k– ? turbulence model performing noticeably worse than shear stress transport k– ω and Reynolds‐stress‐transport closures. LES gave good predictions of mean load coefficients and vital information about wake structures but at substantial computational cost. Grid‐sensitivity studies suggest that Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes models give acceptable predictions of mean power and thrust coefficients on a single device using a mesh of about 4 million cells. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Operational modal filter and its applications

In the paper, the procedure for the estimation of modal filter coefficients from output-only data is presented. The basic concept of the procedure consists in frequency response functions synthesis based on the knowledge of an operational modal model. A method of operational mode shapes scaling is described. The method is then compared with the classical modal filter and with modal filtration of responses spectra, which is sometimes used as a solution for modal filtration based on the output-only data. Each solution is applied to load identification and damage detection. The study shows the method verification on data obtained from laboratory experiment.     

High-Order Vibrations’ Dynamic Scaling Laws of Distorted Scaled Models of Thin-Walled Short Cylindrical Shells

In this study, we investigate the dynamic scaling laws of geometrically distorted models for predicting dynamic characteristics of thin-walled short cylindrical shells. Approximate and accurate analysis methods for obtaining the scaling laws are introduced. Two coefficient functions are established in deriving high-order scaling laws for a narrow range distorted model. Then a modified function is obtained by using numerical analysis, in order to modify the errors of wide range distorted models. The general form of the high-order scaling laws of thin-walled short cylindrical shells is also developed. To be practical, a process of detecting scaling laws by experimental operation is summarized, and the applicability of scaling laws is validated by using experimental data. Although there are some limitations in practice, the scaling laws of the thin-walled short cylindrical shell still have the ability to predict the prototype with good accuracy.     

Near-wall damping in model predictions of separated flows

Different near-wall scalings are reviewed by the use of data from direct numerical simulations (DNS) of attached and separated adverse pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers. The turbulent boundary layer equation is analysed in order to extend the validity of existing wall damping functions to turbulent boundary layers under severe adverse pressure gradients. A proposed near-wall scaling is based on local quantities and the wall distance, which makes it applicable for general computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. It was found to have a similar behaviour as the pressure-gradient corrected analytical y^* scaling and avoids the inconsistencies present in the y⁺ scaling. The performance of the model is illustrated by model computations using explicit algebraic Reynolds stress models with near-wall damping based on different scalings.     

A fast non‐Fickian particle‐tracking diffusion simulator and the effect of shear on the pollutant diffusion process

This paper presents a fast method for the generation of non‐Fickian particle paths within a particle‐tracking pollutant diffusion model based on a Fourier spectral representation of fractional Brownian motion (fBm), a generalization of ordinary Brownian motion. Correlated diffusive components in a particle‐tracking algorithm are modelled using fBm increments that have long‐range correlations over numerous spatial and/or temporal scales; hence producing non‐Fickian diffusion. A fast algorithm to generate fBm and its increment by using its power spectral density S(f) in a fast Fourier transform algorithm is given. A general equation for the scaling of fBm within a velocity flow field with simple linear shear is presented. An initial numerical study of the nature of fBm shear dispersion has been conducted by incorporating fBm increments into a non‐Fickian particle‐tracking algorithm. It is shown that the effect of simple (i.e. linear) shear on the diffusion process is to produce enhanced diffusive phenomena with the longitudinal spreading of the plume scaling with exponent ∼1+H, where H is the Hurst exponent used to describe fBm. Finally, a more complex shear zone at the entrance of a coastal bay model is investigated using both a traditional particle‐tracking method and the fBm‐based method. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparative study of two fast nonlinear free‐surface water wave models

This paper presents a comparison in terms of accuracy and efficiency between two fully nonlinear potential flow solvers for the solution of gravity wave propagation. One model is based on the high‐order spectral (HOS) method, whereas the second model is the high‐order finite difference model OceanWave3D. Although both models solve the nonlinear potential flow problem, they make use of two different approaches. The HOS model uses a modal expansion in the vertical direction to collapse the numerical solution to the two‐dimensional horizontal plane. On the other hand, the finite difference model simply directly solves the three‐dimensional problem. Both models have been well validated on standard test cases and shown to exhibit attractive convergence properties and an optimal scaling of the computational effort with increasing problem size. These two models are compared for solution of a typical problem: propagation of highly nonlinear periodic waves on a finite constant‐depth domain. The HOS model is found to be more efficient than OceanWave3D with a difference dependent on the level of accuracy needed as well as the wave steepness. Also, the higher the order of the finite difference schemes used in OceanWave3D, the closer the results come to the HOS model. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of the finite segment method to stabilisation of the force in a riser connection with a wellhead

This paper presents a spatial model of riser dynamics formulated using the segment method and its applications. The model has been validated by comparison of the authors’ own results with those obtained from experimental measurements and Abaqus on the basis of forced vibration with large amplitude for the riser submerged in water. The influence of the sea environment is considered. Correctness and numerical effectiveness of the model enable us to formulate and solve the force stabilisation problem. A dynamic optimisation problem is formulated and solved. As a result vertical courses of movement of the upper end of the riser are obtained which compensate the horizontal movement of the base and stabilise the force in the connection of the riser with a wellhead.     

Wall modeling via function enrichment within a high‐order DG method for RANS simulations of incompressible flow

We present a novel approach to wall modeling for the Reynolds‐averaged Navier‐Stokes equations within the discontinuous Galerkin method. Wall functions are not used to prescribe boundary conditions as usual, but they are built into the function space of the numerical method as a local enrichment, in addition to the standard polynomial component. The Galerkin method then automatically finds the optimal solution among all shape functions available. This idea is fully consistent and gives the wall model vast flexibility in separated boundary layers or high adverse pressure gradients. The wall model is implemented in a high‐order discontinuous Galerkin solver for incompressible flow complemented by the Spalart‐Allmaras closure model. As benchmark examples, we present turbulent channel flow starting from Re_τ=180 and up to Re_τ=100000 as well as flow past periodic hills at Reynolds numbers based on the hill height of Re_H=10595 and Re_H=19000.     

Coiflet solution of strongly nonlinear p-Laplacian equations

A new boundary extension technique based on the Lagrange interpolating polynomial is proposed and used to solve the function approximation defined on an interval by a series of scaling Coiflet functions, where the coefficients are used as the single-point samplings. The obtained approximation formula can exactly represent any polynomials defined on the interval with the order up to one third of the length of the compact support of the adopted Coiflet function. Based on the Galerkin method, a Coiflet-based solution procedure is established for general two-dimensional p-Laplacian equations, following which the equations can be discretized into a concise matrix form.As examples of applications, the proposed modified wavelet Galerkin method is applied to three typical p-Laplacian equations with strong nonlinearity. The numerical results justify the efficiency and accuracy of the method.     

Non‐intrusive reduced‐order modelling of the Navier–Stokes equations based on RBF interpolation

We present a new non‐intrusive model reduction method for the Navier–Stokes equations. The method replaces the traditional approach of projecting the equations onto the reduced space with a radial basis function (RBF) multi‐dimensional interpolation. The main point of this method is to construct a number of multi‐dimensional interpolation functions using the RBF scatter multi‐dimensional interpolation method. The interpolation functions are used to calculate POD coefficients at each time step from POD coefficients at earlier time steps. The advantage of this method is that it does not require modifications to the source code (which would otherwise be very cumbersome), as it is independent of the governing equations of the system. Another advantage of this method is that it avoids the stability problem of POD/Galerkin. The novelty of this work lies in the application of RBF interpolation and POD to construct the reduced‐order model for the Navier–Stokes equations. Another novelty is the verification and validation of numerical examples (a lock exchange problem and a flow past a cylinder problem) using unstructured adaptive finite element ocean model. The results obtained show that CPU times are reduced by several orders of magnitude whilst the accuracy is maintained in comparison with the corresponding high‐fidelity models. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of accuracy of solving integral equations for the thermal and viscous Chapman functions on the value of gas-kinetic coefficients

The dependence of the gas-kinetic coefficients on the accuracy of calculating the thermal and viscous Chapman functions for the case of a simple gas in the neighborhood of a plane rigid surface is studied. Expressions for the gas-kinetic coefficients are obtained by solving the Boltzmann equation using the Loyalka method. In order to find the temperature jump we use boundary conditions which take into account the accommodation both on the energy and the momentum. The effect of the accuracy of solving the integral equations for the thermal and viscous functions on the value of the temperature jump and the thermal and isothermal slip coefficients was studied by taking into account one, two or three terms in expansions of these functions in Sonine polynomials. The dependence of the results on the choice of the molecule interaction potential model is analyzed.Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, pp. 190–198, March–April, 1995.