Implicit application of non‐reflective boundary conditions for Navier–Stokes equations in generalized coordinates

The non‐reflective boundary conditions (NRBC) for Navier–Stokes equations originally suggested by Poinsot and Lele (J. Comput. Phys. 1992; 101 :104–129) in Cartesian coordinates are extended to generalized coordinates. The characteristic form Navier–Stokes equations in conservative variables are given. In this characteristic‐based method, the NRBC is implicitly coupled with the Navier–Stokes flow solver and are solved simultaneously with the flow solver. The calculations are conducted for a subsonic vortex propagating flow and the steady and unsteady transonic inlet‐diffuser flows. The results indicate that the present method is accurate and robust, and the NRBC are essential for unsteady flow calculations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An attempt to improve accuracy of higher‐order statistics and spectra in direct numerical simulation of incompressible wall turbulence by using the compact schemes for viscous terms

We attempt to improve accuracy in the high‐wavenumber region in DNS of incompressible wall turbulence such as found in fully developed turbulent channel flow. In particular, it is shown that the improvement of accuracy of viscous terms in the Navier–Stokes equations leads to the improvement of accuracy of higher‐order statistics and various spectra. It is emphasized that increase in required computational cost will not be crucial when incompressible flow is simulated, because the introduction of a higher‐order scheme into the viscous terms does not increase computational cost for solving the Poisson equation. We introduced fourth‐order and eighth‐order central compact schemes for discretizing the viscous terms in DNS of a fully developed turbulent channel flow. The results are compared with those using second‐order and fourth‐order central‐difference schemes applied to the viscous terms and those obtained by the spectral method. The results show that accuracy improvement of the viscous terms improve accuracy of higher‐order statistics (i.e., skewness and flatness factors of streamwise velocity fluctuation) and various spectra of velocity and pressure fluctuations in the high‐wavenumber region. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Direct numerical simulation of the turbulent flow in a pipe with annular cross section

The turbulent flow in a pipe of annular cross section is studied for the first time through a direct numerical simulation (DNS) using the Navier–Stokes equations written in cylindrical coordinates. To this aim a novel numerical method is developed, which extends to the cylindrical coordinate system an existing, efficient method designed for cartesian coordinates, and allows us to eliminate the pressure and formulate the problem in two scalar unknowns. The unnecessary increase of resolution at smaller radius typically brought about by polar coordinates, with its consequent stability limitations, is avoided by changing the number of azimuthal Fourier modes with the radial coordinate itself. In addition, the azimuthal extension of the computational domain is reduced, for the cases with lowest curvature, by considering only a part of the annulus, without loss of physical significance of the results. A computer code based on this method is run on a desktop PC for the simulation (with up to 16 million degrees of freedom) of the turbulent flow in a pipe with annular cross section, in a range of relatively low curvatures. This investigation highlights that curvature effects are already evident, even on first order turbulence statistics like the mean axial velocity distribution, in a low-curvature range where it is commonly believed that the flow should be hardly distinguishable from the flow over a plane surface.     

High‐order stable interpolations for immersed boundary methods

The analysis and improvement of an immersed boundary method (IBM) for simulating turbulent flows over complex geometries are presented. Direct forcing is employed. It consists in interpolating boundary conditions from the solid body to the Cartesian mesh on which the computation is performed. Lagrange and least squares high‐order interpolations are considered. The direct forcing IBM is implemented in an incompressible finite volume Navier–Stokes solver for direct numerical simulations (DNS) and large eddy simulations (LES) on staggered grids. An algorithm to identify the body and construct the interpolation schemes for arbitrarily complex geometries consisting of triangular elements is presented. A matrix stability analysis of both interpolation schemes demonstrates the superiority of least squares interpolation over Lagrange interpolation in terms of stability. Preservation of time and space accuracy of the original solver is proven with the laminar two‐dimensional Taylor–Couette flow. Finally, practicability of the method for simulating complex flows is demonstrated with the computation of the fully turbulent three‐dimensional flow in an air‐conditioning exhaust pipe. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solution of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations by the method of lines

The numerical method of lines (NUMOL) is a numerical technique used to solve efficiently partial differential equations. In this paper, the NUMOL is applied to the solution of the two‐dimensional unsteady Navier–Stokes equations for incompressible laminar flows in Cartesian coordinates. The Navier–Stokes equations are first discretized (in space) on a staggered grid as in the Marker and Cell scheme. The discretized Navier–Stokes equations form an index 2 system of differential algebraic equations, which are afterwards reduced to a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs), using the discretized form of the continuity equation. The pressure field is computed solving a discrete pressure Poisson equation. Finally, the resulting ODEs are solved using the backward differentiation formulas. The proposed method is illustrated with Dirichlet boundary conditions through applications to the driven cavity flow and to the backward facing step flow. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On coupling the Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations with two‐equation turbulence model equations

Two methods for coupling the Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations with the q–ω turbulence model equations on structured grid systems have been studied; namely a loosely coupled method and a strongly coupled method. The loosely coupled method first solves the Navier–Stokes equations with the turbulent viscosity fixed. In a subsequent step, the turbulence model equations are solved with all flow quantities fixed. On the other hand, the strongly coupled method solves the Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations and the turbulence model equations simultaneously. In this paper, numerical stabilities of both methods in conjunction with the approximated factorization‐alternative direction implicit method are analysed. The effect of the turbulent kinetic energy terms in the governing equations on the convergence characteristics is also studied. The performance of the two methods is compared for several two‐ and three‐dimensional problems. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Generalized lattice‐BGK concept for thermal and chemically reacting flows at low Mach numbers

The lattice‐BGK method has been extended by introducing additional, free parameters in the original formulation of the lattice‐BGK methods. The relationship between these parameters and the macroscopic moment equations is analysed by Taylor series and Chapman–Enskog expansion. The parameters are determined from the macroscopic moment equations by comparisons with the governing equations to be modelled. Extensions are presented for the Navier–Stokes equations at low Mach numbers in Cartesian or axisymmetric coordinates with constant or variable density, for scalar convection–diffusion equations and for equations of Poisson type. The generalized lattice‐BGK concept is demonstrated by two applications of chemical engineering. These are the computation of chemically reacting flow through an axisymmetric reactor and of the transport and deposition of particles to filters under the action of different forces. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Incompressible Roe‐like scheme for turbulent flows

In the current study, numerical investigation of incompressible turbulent flow is presented. By the artificial compressibility method, momentum and continuity equations are coupled. Considering Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations, the Spalart–Allmaras turbulence model, which has accurate results in two‐dimensional problems, is used to calculate Reynolds stresses. For convective fluxes a Roe‐like scheme is proposed for the steady Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations. Also, Jameson averaging method was implemented. In comparison, the proposed characteristics‐based upwind incompressible turbulent Roe‐like scheme, demonstrated very accurate results, high stability, and fast convergence. The fifth‐order Runge–Kutta scheme is used for time discretization. The local time stepping and implicit residual smoothing were applied as the convergence acceleration techniques. Suitable boundary conditions have been implemented considering flow behavior. The problem has been studied at high Reynolds numbers for cross flow around the horizontal circular cylinder and NACA0012 hydrofoil. Results were compared with those of others and a good agreement has been observed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Higher‐order and adaptive discontinuous Galerkin methods with shock‐capturing applied to transonic turbulent delta wing flow

Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods allow high‐order flow solutions on unstructured or locally refined meshes by increasing the polynomial degree and using curved instead of straight‐sided elements. DG discretizations with higher polynomial degrees must, however, be stabilized in the vicinity of discontinuities of flow solutions such as shocks. In this article, we device a consistent shock‐capturing method for the Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes and k‐ ω turbulence model equations based on an artificial viscosity term that depends on element residual terms. Furthermore, the DG method is combined with a residual‐based adaptation algorithm that targets at resolving all flow features. The higher‐order and adaptive DG method is applied to a fully turbulent transonic flow around the second Vortex Flow Experiment (VFE‐2) configuration with a good resolution of the vortex system.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A transformation‐free HOC scheme for incompressible viscous flows on nonuniform polar grids

We recently proposed a transformation‐free higher‐order compact (HOC) scheme for two‐dimensional (2‐D) steady convection–diffusion equations on nonuniform Cartesian grids (Int. J. Numer. Meth. Fluids 2004; 44 :33–53). As the scheme was equipped to handle only constant coefficients for the second‐order derivatives, it could not be extended directly to curvilinear coordinates, where they invariably occur as variables. In this paper, we extend the scheme to cylindrical polar coordinates for the 2‐D convection–diffusion equations and more specifically to the 2‐D incompressible viscous flows governed by the Navier–Stokes (N–S) equations. We first apply the formulation to a problem having analytical solution and demonstrate its fourth‐order spatial accuracy. We then apply it to the flow past an impulsively started circular cylinder problem and finally to the driven polar cavity problem. We present our numerical results and compare them with established numerical and analytical and experimental results whenever available. This new approach is seen to produce excellent comparison in all the cases. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fourth‐order compact formulation of Navier–Stokes equations and driven cavity flow at high Reynolds numbers

A new fourth‐order compact formulation for the steady 2‐D incompressible Navier–Stokes equations is presented. The formulation is in the same form of the Navier–Stokes equations such that any numerical method that solve the Navier–Stokes equations can easily be applied to this fourth‐order compact formulation. In particular, in this work the formulation is solved with an efficient numerical method that requires the solution of tridiagonal systems using a fine grid mesh of 601 × 601. Using this formulation, the steady 2‐D incompressible flow in a driven cavity is solved up to Reynolds number with Re = 20 000 fourth‐order spatial accuracy. Detailed solutions are presented. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulation of sharp gas–liquid interface using VOF method and adaptive grid local refinement around the interface

The volume of fluid (VOF) method is used to perform two‐phase simulations (gas–liquid). The governing Navier–Stokes conservation equations of the flow field are numerically solved on two‐dimensional axisymmetric or three‐dimensional unstructured grids, using Cartesian velocity components, following the finite volume approximation and a pressure correction method. A new method of adaptive grid local refinement is developed in order to enhance the accuracy of the predictions, to capture the sharp gas–liquid interface and to speed up the calculations. Results are compared with experimental measurements in order to assess the efficiency of the method. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A criterion for detection of the onset of Dean instability in Newtonian fluids

Dean instability for Newtonian fluids in laminar secondary flow in 180° curved channels was studied experimentally and numerically. The numerical study used Fluent CFD code to solve the Navier–Stokes equations, focusing on flow development conditions and the parameters influencing Dean instability. An accurate criterion based on the radial gradient of the axial velocity was defined that allows detection of the instability threshold, and this criterion is used to optimize the grid geometry. The effects on Dean instability of the curvature ratio (from 5.5 to 20) and aspect ratio (from 0.5 to 12) are studied. In particular, we show that the critical value of the Dean number decreases with the increasing duct curvature ratio. The variation of the critical Dean number with duct aspect ratio is less regular.In the experimental study, flows were visualized in several tangential positions of a 180° curved channel with aspect ratio 8 and curvature ratio 10. The flow is hydrodynamically developed at the entrance to the curved channel. The critical Dean number is detected and the development of secondary flow vortices by additional counter-rotating vortex pairs is observed. A diagram of different critical Dean numbers is established.     

Least‐squares meshfree method for incompressible Navier–Stokes problems

A least‐squares meshfree method based on the first‐order velocity–pressure–vorticity formulation for two‐dimensional incompressible Navier–Stokes problem is presented. The convective term is linearized by successive substitution or Newton's method. The discretization of all governing equations is implemented by the least‐squares method. Equal‐order moving least‐squares approximation is employed with Gauss quadrature in the background cells. The boundary conditions are enforced by the penalty method. The matrix‐free element‐by‐element Jacobi preconditioned conjugate method is applied to solve the discretized linear systems. Cavity flow for steady Navier–Stokes problem and the flow over a square obstacle for time‐dependent Navier–Stokes problem are investigated for the presented least‐squares meshfree method. The effects of inaccurate integration on the accuracy of the solution are investigated. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical simulation of free‐surface flow using the level‐set method with global mass correction

A new numerical method that couples the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations with the global mass correction level‐set method for simulating fluid problems with free surfaces and interfaces is presented in this paper. The finite volume method is used to discretize Navier–Stokes equations with the two‐step projection method on a staggered Cartesian grid. The free‐surface flow problem is solved on a fixed grid in which the free surface is captured by the zero level set. Mass conservation is improved significantly by applying a global mass correction scheme, in a novel combination with third‐order essentially non‐oscillatory schemes and a five stage Runge–Kutta method, to accomplish advection and re‐distancing of the level‐set function. The coupled solver is applied to simulate interface change and flow field in four benchmark test cases: (1) shear flow; (2) dam break; (3) travelling and reflection of solitary wave and (4) solitary wave over a submerged object. The computational results are in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions, experimental data and previous numerical simulations using a RANS‐VOF method. The simulations reveal some interesting free‐surface phenomena such as the free‐surface vortices, air entrapment and wave deformation over a submerged object. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spectral/hp penalty least‐squares finite element formulation for unsteady incompressible flows

In this paper, we present spectral/hp penalty least‐squares finite element formulation for the numerical solution of unsteady incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. Pressure is eliminated from Navier–Stokes equations using penalty method, and finite element model is developed in terms of velocity, vorticity and dilatation. High‐order element expansions are used to construct discrete form. Unlike other penalty finite element formulations, equal‐order Gauss integration is used for both viscous and penalty terms of the coefficient matrix. For time integration, space–time decoupled schemes are implemented. Second‐order accuracy of the time integration scheme is established using the method of manufactured solution. Numerical results are presented for impulsively started lid‐driven cavity flow at Reynolds number of 5000 and transient flow over a backward‐facing step. The effect of penalty parameter on the accuracy is investigated thoroughly in this paper and results are presented for a range of penalty parameter. Present formulation produces very accurate results for even very low penalty parameters (10–50). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical solution of three‐dimensional velocity–vorticity Navier–Stokes equations by finite difference method

This paper describes the finite difference numerical procedure for solving velocity–vorticity form of the Navier–Stokes equations in three dimensions. The velocity Poisson equations are made parabolic using the false‐transient technique and are solved along with the vorticity transport equations. The parabolic velocity Poisson equations are advanced in time using the alternating direction implicit (ADI) procedure and are solved along with the continuity equation for velocities, thus ensuring a divergence‐free velocity field. The vorticity transport equations in conservative form are solved using the second‐order accurate Adams–Bashforth central difference scheme in order to assure divergence‐free vorticity field in three dimensions. The velocity and vorticity Cartesian components are discretized using a central difference scheme on a staggered grid for accuracy reasons. The application of the ADI procedure for the parabolic velocity Poisson equations along with the continuity equation results in diagonally dominant tri‐diagonal matrix equations. Thus the explicit method for the vorticity equations and the tri‐diagonal matrix algorithm for the Poisson equations combine to give a simplified numerical scheme for solving three‐dimensional problems, which otherwise requires enormous computational effort. For three‐dimensional‐driven cavity flow predictions, the present method is found to be efficient and accurate for the Reynolds number range 100?Re?2000. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An implicit velocity decoupling procedure for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations

An efficient numerical method to solve the unsteady incompressible Navier–Stokes equations is developed. A fully implicit time advancement is employed to avoid the Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy restriction, where the Crank–Nicolson discretization is used for both the diffusion and convection terms. Based on a block LU decomposition, velocity–pressure decoupling is achieved in conjunction with the approximate factorization. The main emphasis is placed on the additional decoupling of the intermediate velocity components with only nth time step velocity. The temporal second‐order accuracy is preserved with the approximate factorization without any modification of boundary conditions. Since the decoupled momentum equations are solved without iteration, the computational time is reduced significantly. The present decoupling method is validated by solving several test cases, in particular, the turbulent minimal channel flow unit. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Implementation of high‐order compact finite‐difference method to parabolized Navier–Stokes schemes

The numerical solution to the parabolized Navier–Stokes (PNS) and globally iterated PNS (IPNS) equations for accurate computation of hypersonic axisymmetric flowfields is obtained by using the fourth‐order compact finite‐difference method. The PNS and IPNS equations in the general curvilinear coordinates are solved by using the implicit finite‐difference algorithm of Beam and Warming type with a high‐order compact accuracy. A shock‐fitting procedure is utilized in both compact PNS and IPNS schemes to obtain accurate solutions in the vicinity of the shock. The main advantage of the present formulation is that the basic flow variables and their first and second derivatives are simultaneously computed with the fourth‐order accuracy. The computations are carried out for a benchmark case: hypersonic axisymmetric flow over a blunt cone at Mach 8. A sensitivity study is performed for the basic flowfield, including profiles and their derivatives obtained from the fourth‐order compact PNS and IPNS solutions, and the effects of grid size and numerical dissipation term used are discussed. The present results for the flowfield variables and also their derivatives are compared with those of other basic flow models to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. The present work represents the first known application of a high‐order compact finite‐difference method to the PNS schemes, which are computationally more efficient than Navier–Stokes solutions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.