An efficient and accurate algebraic interface capturing method for unstructured grids in 2 and 3 dimensions: The THINC method with quadratic surface representation

We present in this paper an efficient and accurate volume of fluid (VOF) type scheme to compute moving interfaces on unstructured grids with arbitrary quadrilateral mesh elements in 2D and hexahedral elements in 3D. Being an extension of the multi‐dimensional tangent of hyperbola interface capturing (THINC) reconstruction proposed by the authors in Cartesian grid, an algebraic VOF scheme is devised for arbitrary quadrilateral and hexahedral elements. The interface is cell‐wisely approximated by a quadratic surface, which substantially improves the numerical accuracy. The same as the other THINC type schemes, the present method does not require the explicit geometric representation of the interface when computing numerical fluxes and thus is very computationally efficient and straightforward in implementation. The proposed scheme has been verified by benchmark tests, which reveal that this scheme is able to produce high‐quality numerical solutions of moving interfaces in unstructured grids and thus a practical method for interfacial multi‐phase flow simulations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

HyperFLOW软件非结构网格亚跨声速湍流模拟的验证与确认

计算流体力学(computational fluid dynamics,CFD)数值模拟在航空航天等领域发挥越来越重要的作用,然而CFD数值模拟结果的可信度仍然需要通过不断地验证与确认来提高.本文给出了从制造解精度测试、简单到复杂外形湍流模拟网格收敛性研究等三个方面开展CFD软件验证与确认的方法,并对自主研发的CFD软件平台HyperFLOW在非结构网格上模拟亚跨声速湍流问题的能力进行了验证与确认.首先通过基于Euler方程和标量扩散方程的制造解精度测试,分别验证了HyperFLOW在非结构网格上对Euler方程和黏性项的求解精度,结果表明其能够在任意非结构网格上达到设计的二阶精度. 其次,通过NASATurbulence Modeling Resource中的湍流平板、二维翼型近尾迹流动、二维Bump等几个典型的亚声速湍流算例的网格收敛性研究,量化考察了数值结果的观测精度阶和网格收敛性指数,并与国外知名CFD解算器CFL3D,FUN3D的计算结果进行了对比,验证了HyperFLOW对简单湍流问题的模拟能力,且具有良好的网格收敛性和计算精度(阶). 最后,通过NASA CommonResearchModel标模定升力系数的网格收敛性研究和升阻极曲线预测,验证了软件在复杂外形亚跨声速湍流流动数值模拟中也具有良好的可信度.      

基于非结构/混合网格的高阶精度格式研究进展

尽管以二阶精度格式为基础的计算流体力学(CFD) 方法和软件已经在航空航天飞行器设计中发挥了重要的作用, 但是由于二阶精度格式的耗散和色散较大, 对于湍流、分离等多尺度流动现象的模拟, 现有成熟的CFD 软件仍难以给出满意的结果, 为此CFD 工作者发展了众多的高阶精度计算格式. 如果以适应的计算网格来分类, 一般可以分为基于结构网格的有限差分格式、基于非结构/混合网格的有限体积法和有限元方法,以及各种类型的混合方法. 由于非结构/混合网格具有良好的几何适应性, 基于非结构/混合网格的高阶精度格式近年来备受关注. 本文综述了近年来基于非结构/混合网格的高阶精度格式研究进展, 重点介绍了空间离散方法, 主要包括k-Exact 和ENO/WENO 等有限体积方法, 间断伽辽金(DG) 有限元方法, 有限谱体积(SV) 和有限谱差分(SD) 方法, 以及近来发展的各种DG/FV 混合算法和将各种方法统一在一个框架内的CPR (correctionprocedure via reconstruction) 方法等. 随后简要介绍了高阶精度格式应用于复杂外形流动数值模拟的一些需要关注的问题, 包括曲边界的处理方法、间断侦测和限制器、各种加速收敛技术等. 在综述过程中, 介绍了各种方法的优势与不足, 其间介绍了作者发展的基于"静动态混合重构" 的DG/FV 混合算法. 最后展望了基于非结构/混合网格的高阶精度格式的未来发展趋势及应用前景.     

动网格生成技术及非定常计算方法进展综述

对应用于飞行器非定常运动的数值计算方法(包括动态网格技术和相应的数值离散格式)进行了综述.根据网格拓扑结构的不同,重点论述了基于结构网格的非定常计算方法和基于非结构/混合网格的非定常计算方法,比较了各种方法的优缺点.在基于结构网格的非定常计算方法中,重点介绍了刚性运动网格技术、超限插值动态网格技术、重叠动网格技术、滑移动网格技术等动态结构网格生成方法,同时介绍了惯性系和非惯性系下的控制方程,讨论了非定常时间离散方法、动网格计算的几何守恒律等问题.在基于非结构/混合网格的非定常计算方法中,重点介绍了重叠非结构动网格技术、重构非结构动网格技术、变形非结构动网格技术以及变形/重构耦合动态混合网格技术等方法,以及相应的计算格式,包括非定常时间离散、几何守恒律计算方法、可压缩和不可压缩非定常流动的计算方法、各种加速收敛技术等.在介绍国内外进展的同时,介绍了作者在动态混合网格生成技术和相应的非定常方法方面的研究与应用工作.     

A novel non‐upwind,interconnected, multi‐grid,overlapping numerical procedure for problems involving fluid flow

A novel numerical procedure for heat, mass and momentum transfer in fluid flow is presented. The new scheme is passed on a non‐upwind, interconnected, multi‐grid, overlapping (NIMO) finite‐difference algorithm. In 2D flows, the NIMO algorithm solves finite‐difference equations for each dependent variable on four overlapping grids. The finite‐difference equations are formulated using the control‐volume approach, such that no interpolations are needed for computing the convective fluxes. For a particular dependent variable, four fields of values are produced. The NIMO numerical procedure is tested against the exact solution of two test problems. The first test problem is an oblique laminar 2D flow with a double step abrupt change in a passive scalar variable for infinite Peclet number. The second test problem is a rotating radial flow in an annular sector with a single step abrupt change in a passive scalar variable for infinite Peclet number. The NIMO scheme produced essentially the exact solution using different uniform and non‐uniform square and rectangular grids for 45 and 30° angle of inclination. All other schemes were unable to capture the exact solution, especially for the rectangular and non‐uniform grids. The NIMO scheme was also successful in predicting the exact solution for the rotating radial flow, using a uniform cylindrical‐polar coordinate grid. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A three‐dimensional hydrodynamic model for shallow waters using unstructured Cartesian grids

This paper presents a three‐dimensional unstructured Cartesian grid model for simulating shallow water hydrodynamics in lakes, rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters. It is a flux‐based finite difference model that uses a cut‐cell approach to fit the bottom topography and shorelines and, at the same time, has the flexibility of discretizing complex geometries with Cartesian grids that can be arbitrarily downsized in the two horizontal directions simultaneously. Because of the use of Cartesian grids, the grid generation is very simple and does not suffer the grid generation headache often seen in many other unstructured models, as the unstructured Cartesian grid model does not have any requirements on the orthogonality of the grids. The newly developed unstructured Cartesian grid model was validated against analytical solutions for a three‐dimensional seiching case in a rectangular basin, before it was compared with another three‐dimensional model named LESS3D for circulations and salinity transport processes in an idealized embayment that is driven by tides and freshwater inflows. Model tests show that the numerical procedure used in the unstructured Cartesian grid model is robust. Similar to other unstructured models, a variable grid size has resulted in a smaller number of grids required for a reasonable model simulation, which in turn reduces the CPU time used in the model run. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A fast nested multi‐grid viscous flow solver for adaptive Cartesian/Quad grids

A nested multi‐grid solution algorithm has been developed for an adaptive Cartesian/Quad grid viscous flow solver. Body‐fitted adaptive Quad (quadrilateral) grids are generated around solid bodies through ‘surface extrusion’. The Quad grids are then overlapped with an adaptive Cartesian grid. Quadtree data structures are employed to record both the Quad and Cartesian grids. The Cartesian grid is generated through recursive sub‐division of a single root, whereas the Quad grids start from multiple roots—a forest of Quadtrees, representing the coarsest possible Quad grids. Cell‐cutting is performed at the Cartesian/Quad grid interface to merge the Cartesian and Quad grids into a single unstructured grid with arbitrary cell topologies (i.e., arbitrary polygons). Because of the hierarchical nature of the data structure, many levels of coarse grids have already been built in. The coarsening of the unstructured grid is based on the Quadtree data structure through reverse tree traversal. Issues arising from grid coarsening are discussed and solutions are developed. The flow solver is based on a cell‐centered finite volume discretization, Roe's flux splitting, a least‐squares linear reconstruction, and a differentiable limiter developed by Venkatakrishnan in a modified form. A local time stepping scheme is used to handle very small cut cells produced in cell‐cutting. Several cycling strategies, such as the saw‐tooth, W‐ and V‐cycles, have been studies. The V‐cycle has been found to be the most efficient. In general, the multi‐grid solution algorithm has been shown to greatly speed up convergence to steady state—by one to two orders. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

非结构网格二阶有限体积法中黏性通量离散格式精度分析与改进

非结构网格二阶有限体积离散方法广泛应用于计算流体力学工程实践中,研究非结构网格二阶精度有限体积离散方法的计算精度具有现实意义. 计算精度主要受到网格和计算方法的影响,本文从单元梯度重构方法、黏性通量中的界面梯度计算方法两个方面考察黏性流动模拟精度的影响因素. 首先从理论上分析了黏性通量离散中的“奇偶失联”问题,并通过基于标量扩散方程的制造解方法验证了“奇偶失联”导致的精度下降现象,进一步通过引入差分修正项消除了“奇偶失联”并提高了扩散方程计算精度;其次,在不同类型、不同质量的网格上进行基于扩散方程的制造解精度测试,考察单元梯度重构方法、界面梯度计算方法对扩散方程计算精度的影响,结果显示,单元梯度重构精度和界面梯度计算方法均对扩散方程计算精度起重要作用;最后对三个黏性流动算例(二维层流平板、二维湍流平板和二维翼型近尾迹流动)进行网格收敛性研究,初步验证了本文的结论,得到了计算精度和网格收敛性均较好的黏性通量计算格式.      

Computation of viscous incompressible flow using pressure correction method on unstructured Chimera grid

In this paper, a pressure correction algorithm for computing incompressible flows is modified and implemented on unstructured Chimera grid. Schwarz method is used to couple the solutions of different sub-domains. A new interpolation to ensure consistency between primary variables and auxiliary variables is proposed. Other important issues such as global mass conservation and order of accuracy in the interpolations are also discussed. Two numerical simulations are successfully performed. They include one steady case, the lid-driven cavity and one unsteady case, the flow around a circular cylinder. The results demonstrate a very good performance of the proposed scheme on unstructured Chimera grids. It prevents the decoupling of pressure field in the overlapping region and requires only little modification to the existing unstructured Navier–Stokes (NS) solver. The numerical experiments show the reliability and potential of this method in applying to practical problems.     

A finite volume unstructured multigrid method for efficient computation of unsteady incompressible viscous flows

An unstructured non‐nested multigrid method is presented for efficient simulation of unsteady incompressible Navier–Stokes flows. The Navier–Stokes solver is based on the artificial compressibility approach and a higher‐order characteristics‐based finite‐volume scheme on unstructured grids. Unsteady flow is calculated with an implicit dual time stepping scheme. For efficient computation of unsteady viscous flows over complex geometries, an unstructured multigrid method is developed to speed up the convergence rate of the dual time stepping calculation. The multigrid method is used to simulate the steady and unsteady incompressible viscous flows over a circular cylinder for validation and performance evaluation purposes. It is found that the multigrid method with three levels of grids results in a 75% reduction in CPU time for the steady flow calculation and 55% reduction for the unsteady flow calculation, compared with its single grid counterparts. The results obtained are compared with numerical solutions obtained by other researchers as well as experimental measurements wherever available and good agreements are obtained. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An unstructured/structured multi‐layer hybrid grid method and its application

A multi‐layer hybrid grid method is constructed to simulate complex flow field around 2‐D and 3‐D configuration. The method combines Cartesian grids with structured grids and triangular meshes to provide great flexibility in discretizing a domain. We generate the body‐fitted structured grids near the wall surface and the Cartesian grids for the far field. In addition, we regard the triangular meshes as an adhesive to link each grid part. Coupled with a tree data structure, the Cartesian grid is generated automatically through a cell‐cutting algorithm. The grid merging methodology is discussed, which can smooth hybrid grids and improve the quality of the grids. A cell‐centred finite volume flow solver has been developed in combination with a dual‐time stepping scheme. The flow solver supports arbitrary control volume cells. Both inviscid and viscous flows are computed by solving the Euler and Navier–Stokes equations. The above methods and algorithms have been validated on some test cases. Computed results are presented and compared with experimental data. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unstructured lattice Boltzmann method in three dimensions

Over the last decade, the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has evolved into a valuable alternative to continuum computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods for the numerical simulation of several complex fluid‐dynamic problems. Recent advances in lattice Boltzmann research have considerably extended the capability of LBM to handle complex geometries. Among these, a particularly remarkable option is represented by cell‐vertex finite‐volume formulations which permit LBM to operate on fully unstructured grids. The two‐dimensional implementation of unstructured LBM, based on the use of triangular elements, has shown capability of tolerating significant grid distortions without suffering any appreciable numerical viscosity effects, to second‐order in the mesh size. In this work, we present the first three‐dimensional generalization of the unstructured lattice Boltzmann technique (ULBE as unstructured lattice Boltzmann equation), in which geometrical flexibility is achieved by coarse‐graining the lattice Boltzmann equation in differential form, using tetrahedrical grids. This 3D extension is demonstrated for the case of 3D pipe flow and moderate Reynolds numbers flow past a sphere. The results provide evidence that the ULBE has significant potential for the accurate calculation of flows in complex 3D geometries. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

多维迎风方法在非结构/混合网格热流计算中的应用研究

非结构/混合网格具有极强的几何灵活性,在复杂外形飞行器的气动力特性数值模拟中已得到广泛应用,但目前还难以准确地预测气动热环境。本文从非结构/混合网格热流计算的三个需求出发,选取了多维迎风方法,并与其他方法进行了对比研究。以二维圆柱高超声速绕流这一Benchmark典型问题为例,对比研究了多维迎风方法和几种广泛使用的无粘通量格式(Roe格式、Van Leer格式和AUSMDV格式)对混合网格热流计算精度的影响。结果表明,多维迎风方法在热流计算精度、鲁棒性以及收敛性方面表现良好。最后,将多维迎风方法应用于常规混合网格上的圆柱和钝双锥绕流问题,均得到了较好的热流计算结果,为非结构/混合网格热流计算在复杂高超飞行器中的应用奠定了基础。     

基于混合网格多维梯度重构的热流预测方法研究

高超声速气动热环境的数值计算对算法和网格的敏感度极高. 随着高超声速飞行器外形日益复杂, 生成高质量的结构网格时间成本呈指数增加, 难以满足工程应用的需求. 非结构/混合网格因具有很强的复杂外形适应能力, 为了缩短任务周期, 有必要在非结构/混合网格上开展高精度的气动热环境数值计算方法研究. 梯度重构方法是影响非结构/混合网格热流计算精度的重要因素之一. 本文通过引入多维梯度重构方法, 发展了基于常规的非结构/混合网格的高精度热流计算方法, 对典型的高超声速Benchmark算例(二维圆柱)进行了模拟, 并与气动力计算广泛采用的Green-Gauss类方法和最小二乘类方法进行了对比. 计算结果表明, 多维梯度重构方法能有效提高非结构/混合网格热流预测精度, 其鲁棒性和收敛性更好. 最后将多维梯度重构方法应用于常规混合网格的三维圆柱和三维双椭球绕流问题, 得到了与实验值吻合较好的热流计算结果, 展现了良好的应用前景.      

Cell-vertex Based Parallel and Adaptive Explicit 3D Flow Solution on Unstructured Grids

A parallel adaptive Euler flow solution algorithm is developed for 3D applications on distributed memory computers. Significant contribution of this research is the development and implementation of a parallel grid adaptation scheme together with an explicit cell vertex-based finite volume 3D flow solver on unstructured tetrahedral grids. Parallel adaptation of grids is based on grid-regeneration philosophy by using an existing serial grid generation program. Then, a general partitioner repartitions the grid. An adaptive sensor value, which is a measure to refine or coarsen grids, is calculated considering the pressure gradients in all partitioned blocks of grids. The parallel performance of the present study was tested. Parallel computations were performed on Unix workstations and a Linux cluster using MPI communication library. The present results show that overall adaptation scheme developed in this study is applicable to any pair of a flow solver and grid generator with affordable cost. It is also proved that parallel adaptation is necessary for accurate and efficient flow solutions.     

非结构混合网格高超声速绕流与磁场干扰数值模拟

对均匀磁场干扰下的二维钝头体无粘高超声速流场进行了基于非结构混合网格的数值模拟.受磁流体力学方程组高度非线性的影响及考虑到数值模拟格式的精度,目前在此类流场的数值模拟中大多使用结构网格及有限差分方法,因而在三维复杂外形及复杂流场方面的研究受到限制.本文主要探索使用非结构网格(含混合网格)技术时的数值模拟方法.控制方程为耦合了Maxwell方程及无粘流体力学方程的磁流体力学方程组,数值离散格式采用Jameson有限体积格心格式,5步Runge-Kutta显式时间推进.计算模型为二维钝头体,初始磁场均匀分布.对不同磁感应强度影响下的高超声速流场进行了数值模拟,并与有限的资料进行了对比,得到了较符合的结果.     

Finite element‐fictitious boundary methods (FEM‐FBM) for 3D particulate flow

In this paper we discuss numerical simulation techniques using a finite element approach in combination with the fictitious boundary method (FBM) for rigid particulate flow configurations in 3D. The flow is computed with a multigrid finite element solver (FEATFLOW), the solid particles are allowed to move freely through the computational mesh which can be static or adaptively aligned by a grid deformation method allowing structured as well as unstructured meshes. We explain the details of how we can use the FBM to simulate flows with complex geometries that are hard to describe analytically. Stationary and time‐dependent numerical examples, demonstrating the use of such geometries are provided. Our numerical results include well‐known benchmark configurations showing that the method can accurately and efficiently handle prototypical particulate flow situations in 3D with particles of different shape and size. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A robust algorithm for computing fluid flows on highly non‐smooth staggered grids

A new method for computing the fluid flow in complex geometries using highly non‐smooth and non‐orthogonal staggered grid is presented. In a context of the SIMPLE algorithm, pressure and physical tangential velocity components are used as dependent variables in momentum equations. To reduce the sensitivity of the curvature terms in response to coordinate line orientation change, these terms are exclusively computed using Cartesian velocity components in momentum equations. The method is then used to solve some fairly complicated 2‐D and 3‐D flow field using highly non‐smooth grids. The accuracy of results on rough grids (with sharp grid line orientation change and non‐uniformity) was found to be high and the agreement with previous experimental and numerical results was quite good. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An aspect ratio agglomeration multigrid for unstructured grids

A robust aspect ratio‐based agglomeration algorithm to generate high quality of coarse grids for unstructured and hybrid grids is proposed in this paper. The algorithm focuses on multigrid techniques for the numerical solution of Euler and Navier–Stokes equations, which conform to cell‐centered finite volume special discretization scheme, combines vertex‐based isotropic agglomeration and cell‐based directional agglomeration to yield large increases in convergence rates. Aspect ratio is used as fusing weight to capture the degree of cell convexity and give an indication of cell stretching. Agglomeration front queue is established to propagate inward from the boundaries, which stores isotropic vertex and also high‐stretched cell marked with different flag according to aspect ratio. We conduct the present method to solve Euler and Navier–Stokes equations on unstructured and hybrid grids and compare the results with single grid as well as MGridGen, which shows that the present method is efficient in reducing computational time for large‐scale system equations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

非结构混合网格在气动热标模模拟中的应用

非结构混合网格消除了结构网格节点的结构性限制,可以较好地处理边界,同时兼顾了粘性边界层模拟的需求,具有灵活性大、对复杂外形适应能力强和生成耗时短等优点,在飞行器气动特性模拟中得到广泛应用.本文针对非结构混合网格的特点,把前期针对非结构混合网格气动力高精度模拟发展改进的梯度计算方法和Roe格式熵修正方法推广应用到气动热流的数值模拟.以典型钝锥标模外形的高超声速绕流为研究对象,开展了不同网格形式和第一层网格不同间距的影响研究.结果 表明,热流计算时,头部物面网格最好采用四边形或四边形交叉剖分得到的三角形网格,物面法向的网格雷诺数取20左右,为热流计算时非结构混合网格的生成提供了指导,同时验证了计算方法的有效性和可靠性.