Solution of the Navier–Stokes equations in velocity–vorticity form using a Eulerian–Lagrangian boundary element method

This paper describes the Eulerian–Lagrangian boundary element model for the solution of incompressible viscous flow problems using velocity–vorticity variables. A Eulerian–Lagrangian boundary element method (ELBEM) is proposed by the combination of the Eulerian–Lagrangian method and the boundary element method (BEM). ELBEM overcomes the limitation of the traditional BEM, which is incapable of dealing with the arbitrary velocity field in advection‐dominated flow problems. The present ELBEM model involves the solution of the vorticity transport equation for vorticity whose solenoidal vorticity components are obtained iteratively by solving velocity Poisson equations involving the velocity and vorticity components. The velocity Poisson equations are solved using a boundary integral scheme and the vorticity transport equation is solved using the ELBEM. Here the results of two‐dimensional Navier–Stokes problems with low–medium Reynolds numbers in a typical cavity flow are presented and compared with a series solution and other numerical models. The ELBEM model has been found to be feasible and satisfactory. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A boundary integral equation method for Navier-Stokes equations—application to flow in annulus of eccentric cylinders

A novel Navier-Stokes solver based on the boundary integral equation method is presented. The solver can be used to obtain flow solutions in arbitrary 2D geometries with modest computational effort. The vorticity transport equation is modelled as a modified Helmholtz equation with the wave number dependent on the flow Reynolds number. The non-linear inertial terms partly manifest themselves as volume vorticity sources which are computed iteratively by tracking flow trajectories. The integral equation representations of the Helmholtz equation for vorticity and Poisson equation for streamfunction are solved directly for the unknown vorticity boundary conditions. Rapid computation of the flow and vorticity field in the volume at each iteration level is achieved by precomputing the influence coefficient matrices. The pressure field can be extracted from the converged streamfunction and vorticity fields. The solver is validated by considering flow in a converging channel (Hamel flow). The solver is then applied to flow in the annulus of eccentric cylinders. Results are presented for various Reynolds numbers and compared with the literature.     

Finite volume solution of the Navier–Stokes equations in velocity–vorticity formulation

For the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations, vorticity‐based formulations have many attractive features over primitive‐variable velocity–pressure formulations. However, some features interfere with the use of the numerical methods based on the vorticity formulations, one of them being the lack of a boundary conditions on vorticity. In this paper, a novel approach is presented to solve the velocity–vorticity integro‐differential formulations. The general numerical method is based on standard finite volume scheme. The velocities needed at the vertexes of each control volume are calculated by a so‐called generalized Biot–Savart formula combined with a fast summation algorithm, which makes the velocity boundary conditions implicitly satisfied by maintaining the kinematic compatibility of the velocity and vorticity fields. The well‐known fractional step approaches are used to solve the vorticity transport equation. The paper describes in detail how we accurately impose no normal‐flow and no tangential‐flow boundary conditions. We impose a no‐flux boundary condition on solid objects by the introduction of a proper amount of vorticity at wall. The diffusion term in the transport equation is treated implicitly using a conservative finite update. The diffusive fluxes of vorticity into flow domain from solid boundaries are determined by an iterative process in order to satisfy the no tangential‐flow boundary condition. As application examples, the impulsively started flows through a flat plate and a circular cylinder are computed using the method. The present results are compared with the analytical solution and other numerical results and show good agreement. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A combined vortex and panel method for numerical simulations of viscous flows: a comparative study of a vortex particle method and a finite volume method

This paper describes and compares two vorticity‐based integral approaches for the solution of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. Either a Lagrangian vortex particle method or an Eulerian finite volume scheme is implemented to solve the vorticity transport equation with a vorticity boundary condition. The Biot–Savart integral is used to compute the velocity field from a vorticity distribution over a fluid domain. The vorticity boundary condition is improved by the use of an iteration scheme connected with the well‐established panel method. In the early stages of development of flows around an impulsively started circular cylinder, and past an impulsively started foil with varying angles of attack, the computational results obtained by the Lagrangian vortex method are compared with those obtained by the Eulerian finite volume method. The comparison is performed separately for the pressure fields as well. The results obtained by the two methods are in good agreement, and give a better understanding of the vorticity‐based methods. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical simulation of vortical ideal fluid flow through curved channel

A numerical algorithm to study the boundary‐value problem in which the governing equations are the steady Euler equations and the vorticity is given on the inflow parts of the domain boundary is developed. The Euler equations are implemented in terms of the stream function and vorticity. An irregular physical domain is transformed into a rectangle in the computational domain and the Euler equations are rewritten with respect to a curvilinear co‐ordinate system. The convergence of the finite‐difference equations to the exact solution is shown experimentally for the test problems by comparing the computational results with the exact solutions on the sequence of grids. To find the pressure from the known vorticity and stream function, the Euler equations are utilized in the Gromeka–Lamb form. The numerical algorithm is illustrated with several examples of steady flow through a two‐dimensional channel with curved walls. The analysis of calculations shows strong dependence of the pressure field on the vorticity given at the inflow parts of the boundary. Plots of the flow structure and isobars, for different geometries of channel and for different values of vorticity on entrance, are also presented. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Parallelization of a vorticity formulation for the analysis of incompressible viscous fluid flows

A parallel computer implementation of a vorticity formulation for the analysis of incompressible viscous fluid flow problems is presented. The vorticity formulation involves a three‐step process, two kinematic steps followed by a kinetic step. The first kinematic step determines vortex sheet strengths along the boundary of the domain from a Galerkin implementation of the generalized Helmholtz decomposition. The vortex sheet strengths are related to the vorticity flux boundary conditions. The second kinematic step determines the interior velocity field from the regular form of the generalized Helmholtz decomposition. The third kinetic step solves the vorticity equation using a Galerkin finite element method with boundary conditions determined in the first step and velocities determined in the second step. The accuracy of the numerical algorithm is demonstrated through the driven‐cavity problem and the 2‐D cylinder in a free‐stream problem, which represent both internal and external flows. Each of the three steps requires a unique parallelization effort, which are evaluated in terms of parallel efficiency. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A spectral solver for the Navier–Stokes equations in the velocity–vorticity formulation

A numerical algorithm intended for the study of flows in a cylindrical container under laminar flow conditions is proposed. High resolution of the flow field, governed by the Navier–Stokes equations in velocity–vorticity formulation relative to a cylindrical frame of reference, is achieved through spatial discretisation by means of the spectral method. This method is based on a Fourier expansion in the azimuthal direction and an expansion in Chebyshev polynomials in the (nonperiodic) radial and axial directions. Several regularity constraints are used to take care of the coordinate singularity. These constraints are implemented, together with the boundary conditions at the top, bottom and mantle of the cylinder, via the tau method. The a priori unknown boundary values of the vorticity are evaluated by means of the influence-matrix technique. The compatibility between the mathematical and numerical formulation of the Navier–Stokes equations is established through a tau-correction procedure. The resolved flow field exhibits high-precision satisfaction of the incompressibility constraints for velocity and vorticity and the definition of the vorticity. The performance of the solver is illustrated by resolution of several configurations representative of generic three-dimensional laminar flows.     

Unsteady flow calculation in a radial flow centrifugal pump with spiral casing

The prediction of the two-dimensional unsteady flow established in a radial flow centrifugal pump is considered. Assuming the fluid incompressible and inviscid, the velocity field is represented by means of source and vorticity surface distributions as well as a set of point vortices. Using this representation, a grid-free (Lagrangian) numerical method is derived based on the coupling of the boundary element and vortex particle methods. In this context the source and vorticity surface distributions are determined through the non-entry boundary condition together with the unsteady Kutta condition. In order to satisfy Kelvin's theorem, vorticity is shed at the trailing edges of the impeller blades. Then the vortex particle method is used to approximate the convection of the free vorticity distribution. Results are given for a pump configuration experimentally tested by Centre Technique des Industries Mécaniques (CETIM). Comparisons between predictions and experimental data show the capability of the proposed method to reproduce the main features of the flow considered.     

A novel fully implicit finite volume method applied to the lid‐driven cavity problem—Part I: High Reynolds number flow calculations

A novel implicit cell‐vertex finite volume method is described for the solution of the Navier–Stokes equations at high Reynolds numbers. The key idea is the elimination of the pressure term from the momentum equation by multiplying the momentum equation with the unit normal vector to a control volume boundary and integrating thereafter around this boundary. The resulting equations are expressed solely in terms of the velocity components. Thus any difficulties with pressure or vorticity boundary conditions are circumvented and the number of primary variables that need to be determined equals the number of space dimensions. The method is applied to both the steady and unsteady two‐dimensional lid‐driven cavity problem at Reynolds numbers up to 10000. Results are compared with those in the literature and show excellent agreement. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of pressure gradients on the different stages of roughness induced boundary layer transition

The physical mechanisms of roughness-induced transition (RIT) in pressure gradient boundary layers are studied using direct numerical simulations. Recent investigations have examined RIT processes in zero-pressure-gradient boundary layers (Suryanarayanan et al., 2019). The present study uses a vorticity dynamics point of view to examine how these processes are altered by a locally accelerating or decelerating flow that strains the vorticity field and creates a net vorticity flux at the wall. Flow acceleration is imposed on specific streamwise extents of the flow. This provides an understanding about how the fundamental mechanisms in different stages of RIT are affected by pressure gradients. The present results suggest that both lift-up and subsequent amplification of the unsteady perturbations are mitigated by flow acceleration. The effect on lift-up is explained by the compression (i.e. large negative value of the stretching term) of the wall-normal vorticity by negative dv/dy. Consistent with earlier experimental observations on spots and wedges, favorable pressure gradients reduce turbulent wedge spreading and nearly arrest the spreading when sufficiently strong. This result is also explained in terms of vorticity dynamics.     

Lateral Spreading Mechanism of a Turbulent Spot and a Turbulent Wedge

We examine the spreading of turbulent spots and wedges into a surrounding laminar Blasius boundary layer. The spreading is not due to the lateral propagation of turbulent eddies but rather to a developing disturbance in the surrounding spanwise vorticity of the laminar boundary layer. We concentrate on the mechanisms for generating streamwise vorticity. In particular, inclined generally streamwise vortex tubes along the spot/wedge boundary tilt mean shear vortex lines either up or down. These lines subsequently tend to either lag back or lead forward. As the leading or lagging vortex lines continue to wrap around and reinforce the causative inclined tube, the lines arch up or down. The outboard portion of the resulting arch must acquire a vertical, ω_y, component of vorticity which induces the rollup of a new inclined tube now outboard of the first. Close to the wall the arching mechanism is inhibited by the no through flow boundary condition while far from the wall the process is inhibited by the lack of sufficient mean spanwise vorticity.     

Effect of boundary vorticity discretization on explicit stream‐function vorticity calculations

The numerical solution of the time‐dependent Navier–Stokes equations in terms of the vorticity and a stream function is a well tested process to describe two‐dimensional incompressible flows, both for fluid mixing applications and for studies in theoretical fluid mechanics. In this paper, we consider the interaction between the unsteady advection–diffusion equation for the vorticity, the Poisson equation linking vorticity and stream function and the approximation of the boundary vorticity, examining from a practical viewpoint, global iteration stability and error. Our results show that most schemes have very similar global stability constraints although there may be small stability gains from the choice of method to determine boundary vorticity. Concerning accuracy, for one model problem we observe that there were cases where the boundary vorticity discretization did not propagate to the interior, but for the usual cavity flow all the schemes tested had error close to second order. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new velocity–vorticity boundary integral formulation for Navier–Stokes equations

In the present work, an indirect boundary integral method for the numerical solution of Navier–Stokes equations formulated in velocity–vorticity dependent variables is proposed. This wholly integral approach, based on Helmholtz's decomposition, deals directly with the vorticity field and gives emphasis to the establishment of appropriate boundary conditions for the vorticity transport equation. The coupling between the vorticity and the vortical velocity fields is expressed by an iterative procedure. The present analysis shows the usefulness of an integral formulation not only in providing a potentially more efficient computational tool, but also in giving a better understanding to the physics of the phenomenon. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A stream function–vorticity formulation‐based immersed boundary method and its applications

A new stream function–vorticity formulation‐based immersed boundary method is presented in this paper. Different from the conventional immersed boundary method, the main feature of the present model is to accurately satisfy both governing equations and boundary conditions through velocity correction and vorticity correction procedures. The velocity correction process is performed implicitly based on the requirement that velocity at the immersed boundary interpolated from the corrected velocity field accurately satisfies the nonslip boundary condition. The vorticity correction is made through the stream function formulation rather than the vorticity transport equation. It is evaluated from the firstorder derivatives of velocity correction. Two simple and efficient ways are presented for approximation of velocity‐correction derivatives. One is based on finite difference approximation, while the other is based on derivative expressions of Dirac delta function and velocity correction. It was found that both ways can work very well. The main advantage of the proposed method lies in its simple concept, easy implementation, and robustness in stability. Numerical experiments for both stationary and moving boundary problems were conducted to validate the capability and efficiency of the present method. Good agreements with available data in the literature were achieved. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Finite element solution of the Navier–Stokes equations by a velocity–vorticity method

A velocity–vorticity formulation of the Navier–Stokes equations is presented as an alternative to the primitive variables approach. The velocity components and the vorticity are solved for in a fully coupled manner using a Newton method. No artificial viscosity is required in this formulation. The pressure is updated by a method allowing natural imposition of boundary conditions. Incompressible and subsonic results are presented for two-dimensional laminar internal flows up to high Reynolds numbers.     

Model of two-dimensional vortex motion with an entrainment mechanism

A model for describing the vertically averaged vortex motions of an incompressible viscous fluid with an arbitrary vertical structure of the bottom Ekman boundary layer is proposed. An approach similar to that adopted in [1] is used: the second moments of the deviations from the average velocities required in order to close the vorticity equation are calculated by means of the Ekman solution for gradient flows, which makes it possible to take the integral bottom boundary layer effect into account. As a result, these terms lead to a specific form of nonlinear friction with a coefficient that depends on the vorticity of the average flow. In the particular case of a constant vertical turbulent transfer coefficient the inaccuracies of the model described in [1] can be eliminated. The generalized vorticity equation obtained has solutions of the vorticity spot type with a uniform internal vorticity distribution, which can be effectively investigated by means of appropriate algorithms [2]. The mechanism of entrainment at the vorticity front is illustrated with reference to the example of the evolution of vorticity spots. An exact solution of the problem of the evolution of an elliptic vortex (generalized Kirchhoff vortex), which in the case of fairly strong anticyclonic vorticity degenerates first into a line segment (vortex sheet) and then into a point vortex, is constructed. Equations describing the dynamics of an elliptic vorticity spot in an external field with a linear dependence of the velocity on the horizontal coordinates and generalizing the classical Chaplygin-Kida model [3, 4] are constructed.Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No.6, pp. 49–56, November–December, 1992.     

Boundary Vorticity Dynamics Since Lighthill's 1963 Article: Review and Development

In his well-known 1963 article: “Introduction. Boundary Layer Theory,” Lighthill explained for the first time how to describe quantitatively the vorticity creation rate from a solid surface and how this creation rate is dominated by the tangent pressure gradient. This was the first cornerstone of boundary vorticity dynamics, which has now been developed to a complete theory on the vorticity creation from solid or fluid boundaries and the reaction of the created vorticity to the boundaries. In this paper we present a general formulation of boundary vorticity dynamics, briefly review the theoretical progress for Newtonian fluid since 1963, examine the effect of variable viscosity and turbulence on the vorticity creation, and, of many applications, exemplify the use of the theory in aerodynamic diagnosis and optimization. Received 14 November 1996 and accepted 14 March 1997     

Postbuckling of long unsymmetrically laminated composite plates under axial compression

An approximate solution is given for the postbuckling of infinitely long and unsymmetrically laminated composite plates. This solution is obtained by superposing a polynomial transverse displacement given by bending due to unsymmetric laminate configurations and a simple functional representation for the buckling mode in conjunction with the Galerkin method. Nondimensional parameters are used to express the approximate solution in a very simple and clear formulation. The results given by this solution for axial compression in the longitudinal direction are compared with the results given by the nonlinear finite element method (FEM) for finite length rectangular long plates. The influence of the boundary conditions on postbuckling response is also studied. For the FEM analysis, two different simply supported boundary conditions on the long edges of the plate are considered. It is found that these two sets of boundary conditions give different results for the buckling and postbuckling finite element analysis. In most cases the FEM analysis overestimate and, respectively, underestimate the approximate closed form solution, depending on the type of simply supported boundary condition considered. Thus, the approximate solution appears useful for design purposes as an averaged quantity between the two FEM analyses. Also, it is found that the reduced bending stiffness method can be successfully used for determining the approximate solution.     

A method for solving the factorized vorticity-stream function equations by finite elements

A new finite element method for solving the time-dependent incompressible Navier-Stokes equations with general boundary conditions is presented. The two second-order partial differential equations for the vorticity and the stream function are factorized, apart from the non-linear advection term, by eliminating the coupling due to the double specification on the stream function at (a part of) the boundary. This is achieved by reducing the no-slip boundary conditions to projection integral conditions for the vorticity field and by evaluating the relevant quantities involved according to an extension of the method of Glowinski and Pironneau for the biharmonic problem. Time integration schemes and iterative algorithms are introduced which require the solution only of banded linear systems of symmetric type. The proposed finite element formulation is compared with its finite difference equivalent by means of a few numerical examples. The results obtained using 4-noded bilinear elements provide an illustration of the superiority of the finite element based spatial discretization.     

数值流形方法的粘性边界问题初探

在实际工程数值流形方法分析中,采用固定约束边界的方法处理无限域或者半无限域的情况,边界处应力波的反射造成模拟结果与实际情况不符.本文基于Lysmer等人提出的粘性边界理论,在边界上设置阻尼器,推导相应粘性边界条件下流形单元刚度矩阵的数值计算格式,经岩石长条中弹性波传播算例,并与有限元结果对比,验证了该粘性边界的有效性,有利于数值流形方法的工程中推广应用.