Investigation on a coupled Navier–Stokes–Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method for the simulation of plume flowfield of a conical nozzle

To assess the plume effects of space thrusters, the accurate plume flowfield is indispensable. The plume flow of thrusters involves both continuum and rarefied flow regimes. Coupled Navier–Stokes–Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (NS–DSMC) method is a major approach to the simulation of continuum‐rarefied flows. An axisymmetric coupled NS–DSMC solver, possessing adaptive‐interface and two‐way coupling features, is investigated in this paper for the simulation of the nozzle and plume flows of thrusters. The state‐based coupling scheme is adopted, and the gradient local Knudsen number is used to indicate the breakdown of continuum solver. The nitrogen flows in a conical nozzle and its plume are chosen as the reference case to test the coupled solver. The threshold value of the continuum breakdown parameter is studied based on both theoretical kinetic velocity sampling and coupled numerical tests. Succeeding comparisons between coupled and full DSMC results demonstrate their conformities, meanwhile, the former saves 58.8% computational time. The pitot pressure evaluated from the coupled simulation result is compared with the experimental data proposed in literatures, revealing that the coupled method makes precise predictions on the experimental pitot pressure. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computation of head–disk interface gap micro flowfields using DSMC and continuum–atomistic hybrid methods

This paper discusses computational modeling of micro flow in the head–disk interface (HDI) gap using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. Modeling considerations are discussed in detail both for a stand‐alone DSMC computation and for the case of a hybrid continuum–atomistic simulation that couples the Navier–Stokes (NS) equation to a DSMC solver. The impact of the number of particles and number of cells on the accuracy of a DSMC simulation of the HDI gap is investigated both for two‐ and three‐dimensional configurations. An appropriate implicit boundary treatment method for modeling inflow and outflow boundaries is used in this work for a three‐dimensional DSMC micro flow simulation. As the flow outside the slider is in the continuum regime, a hybrid continuum–atomistic method based on the Schwarz alternating method is used to couple the DSMC model in the slider bearing region to the flow outside the slider modeled by NS equation. Schwarz coupling is done in two dimensions by taking overlap regions along two directions and the Chapman–Enskog distribution is employed for imposing the boundary condition from the continuum region to the DSMC region. Converged hybrid flow solutions are obtained in about five iterations and the hybrid DSMC–NS solutions show good agreement with the exact solutions in the entire domain considered. An investigation on the impact of the size of the overlap region on the convergence behavior of the Schwarz method indicates that the hybrid coupling by the Schwarz method is weakly dependent on the size of the overlap region. However, the use of a finite overlap region will facilitate the exchange of boundary conditions as the hybrid solution has been found to diverge in the absence of an overlap region for coupling the two models. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Differentially weighted direct simulation Monte Carlo method for particle collision in gas–solid flows

In gas–solid flows, particle–particle interaction (typical, particle collision) is highly significant, despite the small particles fractional volume. Widely distributed polydisperse particle population is a typical characteristic during dynamic evolution of particles (e.g., agglomeration and fragmentation) in spite of their initial monodisperse particle distribution. The conventional direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method for particle collision tracks equally weighted simulation particles, which results in high statistical noise for particle fields if there are insufficient simulation particles in less-populated regions. In this study, a new differentially weighted DSMC (DW-DSMC) method for collisions of particles with different number weight is proposed within the framework of the general Eulerian–Lagrangian models for hydrodynamics. Three schemes (mass, momentum and energy conservation) were developed to restore the numbers of simulation particle while keeping total mass, momentum or energy of the whole system unchanged respectively. A limiting case of high-inertia particle flow was numerically simulated to validate the DW-DSMC method in terms of computational precision and efficiency. The momentum conservation scheme which leads to little fluctuation around the mass and energy of the whole system performed best. Improved resolution in particle fields and dynamic behavior could be attained simultaneously using DW-DSMC, compared with the equally weighted DSMC. Meanwhile, computational cost can be largely reduced in contrast with direct numerical simulation.     

A parallel cell‐based DSMC method on unstructured adaptive meshes

A parallel DSMC method based on a cell‐based data structure is developed for the efficient simulation of rarefied gas flows on PC‐clusters. Parallel computation is made by decomposing the computational domain into several subdomains. Dynamic load balancing between processors is achieved based on the number of simulation particles and the number of cells allocated in each subdomain. Adjustment of cell size is also made through mesh adaptation for the improvement of solution accuracy and the efficient usage of meshes. Applications were made for a two‐dimensional supersonic leading‐edge flow, the axi‐symmetric Rothe's nozzle, and the open hollow cylinder flare flow for validation. It was found that the present method is an efficient tool for the simulation of rarefied gas flows on PC‐based parallel machines. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

高速流场气动光学RANS/DSMC混合数值模拟算法研究

提出了适用于高速流场气动光学数值模拟的RANS/DSMC混合算法.通过RANS对全局时均流场进行数值模拟,再对其中局部流场的脉动量采用DSMC进行数值模拟,以Maxwellian速度分布实现RANS宏观量信息向DSMC微观量信息的传递.采用超声速环境下尖劈模型对该混合算法进行校验,对比试验结果论证了算法的正确性.在计算...     

Empirical slip and viscosity model performance for microscale gas flow

For the simple geometries of Couette and Poiseuille flows, the velocity profile maintains a similar shape from continuum to free molecular flow. Therefore, modifications to the fluid viscosity and slip boundary conditions can improve the continuum based Navier–Stokes solution in the non‐continuum non‐equilibrium regime. In this investigation, the optimal modifications are found by a linear least‐squares fit of the Navier–Stokes solution to the non‐equilibrium solution obtained using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. Models are then constructed for the Knudsen number dependence of the viscosity correction and the slip model from a database of DSMC solutions for Couette and Poiseuille flows of argon and nitrogen gas, with Knudsen numbers ranging from 0.01 to 10. Finally, the accuracy of the models is measured for non‐equilibrium cases both in and outside the DSMC database. Flows outside the database include: combined Couette and Poiseuille flow, partial wall accommodation, helium gas, and non‐zero convective acceleration. The models reproduce the velocity profiles in the DSMC database within an L₂ error norm of 3% for Couette flows and 7% for Poiseuille flows. However, the errors in the model predictions outside the database are up to five times larger. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Extension of the DSMC method to high pressure flows

A collision-limiter method, designated as equilibrium direct simulation Monte Carlo (eDSMC), is proposed to extend the DSMC technique to high pressure flows. The method is similar to collision-limiter schemes considered in the past with the important distinction that for inviscid flows, equilibrium is enforced in the entire flow by providing a sufficient number of collisions, based on pre-simulation testing. To test the method with standard DSMC and Navier–Stokes (NS) methods, axi-symmetric nozzle and embedded-channel flows are simulated and compared with experimental temperature data and pre-existing calculations, respectively. The method is shown to agree with third-order Eulerian nozzle flows and first-order channel flows. Chapman–Enskog theory is utilized to predict the range of initial conditions where eDSMC is potentially useful for modeling flows that contain viscous boundary layer regions. Comparison with supersonic nozzle data suggests that the eDSMC method is not adequate for capturing the large variation in flow length scales occurring in supersonic expansions into a vacuum. However, when eDSMC is used in combination with the baseline-DSMC method a near-exact solution is obtained with a considerable computational savings compared to the exact DSMC solution. Viscous flow channel calculations are found to agree well with an exact Navier–Stokes (NS) calculation for a small Knudsen number case as predicted by Chapman–Enskog theory.     

Differentially weighted direct simulation Monte Carlo method for particle collision in gas-solid flows

In gas-solid flows,particle-particle interaction(typical,particle collision) is highly significant,despite the small particles fractional volume.Widely distributed polydisperse particle population is a typical characteristic during dynamic evolution of particles(e.g.,agglomeration and fragmentation) in spite of their initial monodisperse particle distribution.The conventional direct simulation Monte Carlo(DSMC)method for particle collision tracks equally weighted simulation particles,which results in high statistical noise for particle fields if there are insufficient simulation particles in less-populated regions.In this study,a new differentially weighted DSMC(DW-DSMC) method for collisions of particles with different number weight is proposed within the framework of the general Eulerian-Lagrangian models for hydrodynamics.Three schemes(mass,momentum and energy conservation) were developed to restore the numbers of simulation particle while keeping total mass,momentum or energy of the whole system unchanged respectively.A limiting case of high-inertia particle flow was numerically simulated to validate the DW-DSMC method in terms of computational precision and efficiency.The momentum conservation scheme which leads to little fluctuation around the mass and energy of the whole system performed best.Improved resolution in particle fields and dynamic behavior could be attained simultaneously using DW-DSMC,compared with the equally weighted DSMC.Meanwhile,computational cost can be largely reduced in contrast with direct numerical simulation.     

一种新的玻尔兹曼方程可计算模型构造与分析

临近空间飞行器因各部件尺寸差异较大, 在高空高马赫数条件下飞行会出现多流区共存的多尺度复杂非平衡流动现象, 流场中的气体分子速度分布函数与当地位置、流场分子速度、气体密度、流动速度、温度、热流矢量、应力张量等相关. 通过分析玻尔兹曼方程的一阶查普曼?恩斯科近似解, 构造了一种同时考虑热流矢量和应力张量影响、满足玻尔兹曼方程高阶碰撞矩的跨流域统一可计算模型方程, 并在数学上分析了其守恒性、H定理等基本属性, 证明了新模型方程与玻尔兹曼方程的相容性, 给出了新模型与现有模型如沙克霍夫(Shakhov)模型等的递进关系, 基于碰撞动力学确定了各流域统一气体分子碰撞松弛参数表达式. 在气体动理论统一算法中采用新建模型及现有模型模拟了一维激波结构、二维近空间飞行环境平板和多体圆柱干扰流动, 并与直接模拟蒙特卡洛方法对比分析, 结果表明在流场中粘性效应显著的区域新建模型能更好地捕捉激波位置, 尤其是在激波内部新模型模拟的宏观参数分布与直接模拟蒙特卡洛方法结果符合更好, 验证了新模型的有效性和可靠性, 同时说明在非平衡显著的流动区域碰撞松弛模型受多参数共同作用的影响.      

Mass flow rate prediction of pressure–temperature-driven gas flows through micro/nanoscale channels

In this paper, we study mass flow rate of rarefied gas flow through micro/nanoscale channels under simultaneous thermal and pressure gradients using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. We first compare our DSMC solutions for mass flow rate of pure temperature-driven flow with those of Boltzmann-Krook-Walender equation and Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook solutions. Then, we focus on pressure–temperature-driven flows. The effects of different parameters such as flow rarefaction, channel pressure ratio, wall temperature gradient and flow bulk temperature on the thermal mass flow rate of the pressure–temperature-driven flow are examined. Based on our analysis, we propose a correlated relation that expresses normalized mass flow rate increment due to thermal creep as a function of flow rarefaction, normalized wall temperature gradient and pressure ratio over a wide range of Knudsen number. We examine our predictive relation by simulation of pressure-driven flows under uniform wall heat flux (UWH) boundary condition. Walls under UWH condition have non-uniform temperature distribution, that is, thermal creep effects exist. Our investigation shows that developed analytical relation could predict mass flow rate of rarefied pressure-driven gas flows under UWH condition at early transition regime, that is, up to Knudsen numbers of 0.5.     

A multiblock operator‐splitting algorithm for unsteady flows at all speeds in complex geometries

This paper describes a non‐iterative operator‐splitting algorithm for computing all‐speed flows in complex geometries. A pressure‐based algorithm is adopted as the base, in which pressure, instead of density, is a primary variable, thus allowing for a unified formulation for all Mach numbers. The focus is on adapting the method for (a) flows at all speeds, and (b) multiblock, non‐orthogonal, body‐fitted grids for very complex geometries. Key features of the formulation include special treatment of mass fluxes at control volume interfaces to avoid pressure–velocity decoupling for incompressible (low Mach number limit) flows and to provide robust pressure–velocity–density coupling for compressible (high‐speed) flows. The method is shown to be robust for all Mach number regimes for both steady and unsteady flows; it is found to be stable for CFL numbers of order ten, allowing large time steps to be taken for steady flows. Enhancements to the method which allow for stable solutions to be obtained on non‐orthogonal grids are also discussed. The method is found to be very reliable even in complex engineering applications such as unsteady rotor–stator interactions in turbulent, all‐speed turbomachinery flows. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical investigation from rarefied flow to continuum by solving the Boltzmann model equation

Based on the Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (BGK) Boltzmann model equation, the unified simplified velocity distribution function equation adapted to various flow regimes can be presented. The reduced velocity distribution functions and the discrete velocity ordinate method are developed and applied to remove the velocity space dependency of the distribution function, and then the distribution function equations will be cast into hyperbolic conservation laws form with non‐linear source terms. Based on the unsteady time‐splitting technique and the non‐oscillatory, containing no free parameters, and dissipative (NND) finite‐difference method, the gas kinetic finite‐difference second‐order scheme is constructed for the computation of the discrete velocity distribution functions. The discrete velocity numerical quadrature methods are developed to evaluate the macroscopic flow parameters at each point in the physical space. As a result, a unified simplified gas kinetic algorithm for the gas dynamical problems from various flow regimes is developed. To test the reliability of the present numerical method, the one‐dimensional shock‐tube problems and the flows past two‐dimensional circular cylinder with various Knudsen numbers are simulated. The computations of the related flows indicate that both high resolution of the flow fields and good qualitative agreement with the theoretical, DSMC and experimental results can be obtained. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel efficient hybrid DSMC–dynamic collision limiter algorithm for multiscale transitional flows

A new 2D parallel multispecies polyatomic particle–based hybrid flow solver is developed by coupling the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method with a novel Dynamic Collision Limiter (DCL) approach to solve multiscale transitional flows. The hybrid DSMC‐DCL solver can solve nonequilibrium multiscale flows with length scales ranging from continuum to rarefied. The DCL method, developed in this work, dynamically assigns different number of collisions in cells, which is based on the local value of K‐S parameter such that the number of collisions per time step is limited in near‐equilibrium flow regions. Present hybrid solver uses the Kolmogorov‐Smirnov statistical test as the continuum breakdown parameter, based on which, the solution domain is decomposed into near‐equilibrium and nonequilibrium flow regions. Direct Simulation Monte Carlo is used where nonequilibrium flow regions are encountered, while the DCL method is used where flow regions are found to be in near‐equilibrium state. In this work, we have studied hypersonic flow of nitrogen over a blunt body with an aerospike and supersonic flow of argon through a micronozzle. The results obtained by the hybrid DSMC‐DCL solver are compared and shown to agree well with the experimental data and with those obtained from DSMC, with significant savings in the computational cost.     

A hybrid DSMC/Navier–Stokes frame to solve mixed rarefied/nonrarefied hypersonic flows over nano‐plate and micro‐cylinder

We extend a hybrid DSMC/Navier–Stokes (NS) approach to unify the DSMC and the NS simulators in one framework capable of solving the mixed non‐equilibrium and near‐equilibrium flow regions efficiently. Furthermore, we use a one‐way state‐based coupling (Dirichlet–Dirichlet boundary‐condition coupling) to transfer the required information from the continuum region to the rarefied one. The current hybrid DSMC–NS frame is applied to the hypersonic flows over nanoflat plate and microcylinder cases. The achieved solutions are compared with the pure DSMC and NS solutions. The results show that the current hybrid approach predicts the surface heat transfer rate and shear stress magnitudes very accurately. Some important conclusions can be drawn from this study. For example, although the shock wave region would be a non‐equilibrium region, it is not necessary to use a pure DSMC simulator to solve it entirely. This is important when the researchers wish to predict the surface properties such as velocity slip, temperature jump, wall heat flux rate, and friction drag magnitudes accurately. Our investigation showed that our hybrid solution time would be at least 40% (for the flat plate) and 35% (for the cylinder) of the time that must be spent by a pure DSMC solver to attain the same accuracy.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The direct simulation Monte Carlo method using unstructured adaptive mesh and its application

The implementation of an adaptive mesh‐embedding (h‐refinement) scheme using unstructured grid in two‐dimensional direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is reported. In this technique, local isotropic refinement is used to introduce new mesh where the local cell Knudsen number is less than some preset value. This simple scheme, however, has several severe consequences affecting the performance of the DSMC method. Thus, we have applied a technique to remove the hanging node, by introducing the an‐isotropic refinement in the interfacial cells between refined and non‐refined cells. Not only does this remedy increase a negligible amount of work, but it also removes all the difficulties presented in the originals scheme. We have tested the proposed scheme for argon gas in a high‐speed driven cavity flow. The results show an improved flow resolution as compared with that of un‐adaptive mesh. Finally, we have used triangular adaptive mesh to compute a near‐continuum gas flow, a hypersonic flow over a cylinder. The results show fairly good agreement with previous studies. In summary, the proposed simple mesh adaptation is very useful in computing rarefied gas flows, which involve both complicated geometry and highly non‐uniform density variations throughout the flow field. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Variance‐reduced Monte Carlo solutions of the Boltzmann equation for low‐speed gas flows: A discontinuous Galerkin formulation

We present and discuss an efficient, high‐order numerical solution method for solving the Boltzmann equation for low‐speed dilute gas flows. The method's major ingredient is a new Monte Carlo technique for evaluating the weak form of the collision integral necessary for the discontinuous Galerkin formulation used here. The Monte Carlo technique extends the variance reduction ideas first presented in Baker and Hadjiconstantinou (Phys. Fluids 2005; 17 , art. no. 051703) and makes evaluation of the weak form of the collision integral not only tractable but also very efficient. The variance reduction, achieved by evaluating only the deviation from equilibrium, results in very low statistical uncertainty and the ability to capture arbitrarily small deviations from equilibrium (e.g. low‐flow speed) at a computational cost that is independent of the magnitude of this deviation. As a result, for low‐signal flows the proposed method holds a significant computational advantage compared with traditional particle methods such as direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

DSMC／EPSM混合算法研究

将EPSM算法与DSMC方法结合，构造了可模拟含近连续流区及过渡流区的DSMC/EPSM混合算法。运用混合算法模拟了马赫数等于5时超音速竖板绕流及马赫数等于4时超音速平板绕流，并将结果与DSMC算法的结果进行比较，证明了DSMC／EPSM混合算法的有效性，同时将EPSM算法与DSMC算法的效率进行了比较。     

MEMS稀薄气体内部流动模拟中的信息保存法

首先综述了处理低速稀薄气体流动的一些方法: 线化Boltzmann方程方法、Lattice Boltzmann方法(LBM)、加滑移边界的Navier-Stokes方程、以及DSMC方法, 并讨论它们在模拟MEMS中过渡领域低速流动特别是内部流动所遇到的困难, 其中表明了LBM现有方案不适合模拟过渡领域中的MEMS流动问题. 信息保存(IP)法通过保存一个模拟分子所代表的大量分子的平均信息,克服了流速低使得信息噪声比小而引起统计模拟的困难. 本文给出了方法的一些理论证实. MEMS中内部流动的特点, 即流速低和大的长宽比的特点, 引起椭圆性问题, 即出入口边界条件相互影响需要协调的问题. 通过对(长约几千微米的)微槽道流动应用IP方法的算例,演示了采用守恒形式的质量守恒方程和超松弛法可成功地解决这一问题. 借助同样的方法,用IP方法求解了真实长度(1\,000\,$\mu$m)硬盘驱动器读写头在过渡领域的薄膜支撑问题, 压力分布与具有严格气体动理论基础的概括化Reynolds方程完全相符, 而在此之前, DSMC方法只对短的读写头(5\,$\mu$m)与Reynolds方程做了校验. 作者建议将原来用于求解读写头润滑问题的Reynolds方程退化来求解过渡领域中的微槽道流动问题, 从而提供了一个有严格气体动理论品性的检验方法来验证求解MEMS内部流动的各种方法.      

不同形状微管道中的气体流动

不同形状微尺度管道(圆形、六边形、半圆形、不同宽高比的矩形)中的气体流动特性是微机电系统设计最为关心的问题之一.文中利用信息保存(IP)方法和直接模拟Monte Carlo(DSMC)方法进行研究,给出两种方法的计算结果相互符合,并与其它研究者的BGK模型方程计算结果进行了比较.对于微尺度管道中关心的低Mach数流动, IP方法的统计收敛效率明显优于DSMC方法.通过拟合IP和DSMC结果,给出了圆形、六边形、半圆形、不同宽高比的矩形截面情况下无量纲质量流率与等效Knudsen数的关系.