Efficient simulation of multidimensional continuum and non-continuum flows by a parallelised unified gas kinetic scheme solver

We develop an efficient, parallel, gas-kinetic solver for computing both continuum and non-continuum flows over non-Cartesian geometries by utilising the unified gas kinetic scheme (UGKS). UGKS, however, requires the computationally expensive update of a six-dimensional phase space at each time step restricting its application to canonical, laminar problems and simple geometries. In this paper, we demonstrate that the applications of UGKS can be increased by parallelising it and combining it with a recently developed, Cartesian grid method (UGKS-CGM). We demonstrate that our Cartesian grid methodology as well as UGKS parallelization perform and scale well on a range of numerical test cases even for a very large number of cores. Finally, we demonstrate that the solver accurately computes canonical turbulence at low Knudsen numbers. These results demonstrate that the parallelised UGKS code can be utilised to effectively study the non-equilibrium effects of rarefaction on laminar and turbulent non-continuum flows.     

基于Boltzmann模型方程的气体运动论统一算法研究

模型方程出发,研究确立含流态控制参数可描述不同流域气体流动特征的气体分子速度分布函数方程; 研究发展气体运动论离散速度坐标法, 借助非定常时间分裂数值计算方法和NND差分格式, 结合DSMC方法关于分子运动与碰撞去耦技术, 发展直接求解速度分布函数的气体运动论耦合迭代数值格式; 研制可用于物理空间各点宏观流动取矩的离散速度数值积分方法, 由此提出一套能有效模拟稀薄流到连续流不同流域气体流动问题统一算法. 通过对不同Knudsen数下一维激波内流动、二维圆柱、三维球体绕流数值计算表明, 计算结果与有关实验数据及其它途径研究结果(如DSMC模拟值、N-S数值解)吻合较好, 证实气体运动论统一算法求解各流域气体流动问题的可行性. 尝试将统一算法进行HPF并行化程序设计, 基于对球体绕流及类``神舟'返回舱外形绕流问题进行HPF初步并行试算, 显示出统一算法具有很好的并行可扩展性, 可望建立起新型的能有效模拟各流域飞行器绕流HPF并行算法研究方向. 通过将气体运动论统一算法推广应用于微槽道流动计算研究, 已初步发展起可靠模拟二维短微槽道流动数值算法; 通过对Couette流、Poiseuille流、压力驱动的二维短槽道流数值模拟, 证实该算法对微槽道气体流动问题具有较强的模拟能力, 可望发展起基于Boltzmann模型方程能可靠模拟MEMS微流动问题气体运动论数值计算方法研究途径.      

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.     

Immersed boundary method for unsteady kinetic model equations

Predicting unsteady flows and aerodynamic forces for large displacement motion of microstructures requires transient solution of Boltzmann equation with moving boundaries. For the inclusion of moving complex boundaries for these problems, three immersed boundary method flux formulations (interpolation, relaxation, and interrelaxation) are presented. These formulations are implemented in a 2‐D finite volume method solver for ellipsoidal‐statistical (ES)‐Bhatnagar‐Gross‐Krook (BGK) equations using unstructured meshes. For the verification, a transient analytical solution for free molecular 1‐D flow is derived, and results are compared with the immersed boundary (IB)‐ES‐BGK methods. In 2‐D, methods are verified with the conformal, non‐moving finite volume method, and it is shown that the interrelaxation flux formulation gives an error less than the interpolation and relaxation methods for a given mesh size. Furthermore, formulations applied to a thermally induced flow for a heated beam near a cold substrate show that interrelaxation formulation gives more accurate solution in terms of heat flux. As a 2‐D unsteady application, IB/ES‐BGK methods are used to determine flow properties and damping forces for impulsive motion of microbeam due to high inertial forces. IB/ES‐BGK methods are compared with Navier–Stokes solution at low Knudsen numbers, and it is shown that velocity slip in the transitional rarefied regime reduces the unsteady damping force. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An improved Rhie–Chow interpolation scheme for the smoothed‐interface immersed boundary method

Rhie–Chow interpolation is a commonly used method in CFD calculations on a co‐located mesh in order to suppress non‐physical pressure oscillations arising from chequerboard effects. A fully parallelized smoothed‐interface immersed boundary method on a co‐located grid is described in this paper. We discuss the necessity of modifications to the original Rhie–Chow interpolation in order to deal with a locally refined mesh. Numerical simulation with the modified scheme of Choi shows that numerical dissipation due to Rhie–Chow interpolation introduces significant errors at the immersed boundary. To address this issue, we develop an improved Rhie–Chow interpolation scheme that is shown to increase the accuracy in resolving the flow near the immersed boundary. We compare our improved scheme with the modified scheme of Choi by parallel simulations of benchmark flows: (i) flow past a stationary cylinder; (ii) flow past an oscillating cylinder; and (iii) flow past a stationary elliptical cylinder, where Reynolds numbers are tested in the range 10–200. Our improved scheme is significantly more accurate and compares favourably with a staggered grid algorithm. We also develop a scheme to compute the boundary force for the direct‐forcing immersed boundary method efficiently. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

稀薄流到连续流的气体运动论模型方程算法研究

通过引入碰撞松弛参数和当地平衡态分布函数对BGK模型方程进行修正，确定含流态控制参数可描述不同流域气体流动特性的气体分子速度分布函数的简化控制方程。发展和应用离散速度坐标法于气体分子速度空间，利用一套在物理空间和时间上连续而速度空间离散的分布函数来代替原分布函数对速度空间的连续依赖性。基于非定常时间分裂数值计算方法和无波动、无自由参数的NND耗散差分格式，建立直接求解气体分子速度分布函数的气体运动论有限差分数值方法。推广应用改进的Gauss-Hermite无穷积分法和华罗庚－王元提出的以单和逼近重积分的黄金分割数论积分方法等，对离散速度空间进行宏观取矩获取物理空间各点的气体流动参数，由此发展一套从稀薄流到连续流各流域统一的气体运动论数值算法。通过对不同Knudsen数下一维激波管问题、二维圆柱绕流和三维球体绕流的初步数值实验表明文中发展的数值算法是可行的。     

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.     

气体动理学统一算法中相容性条件不满足引起的数值误差及其影响研究

求解玻尔兹曼(Boltzmann) 模型方程的气体动理学统一算法(unified gas kinetic scheme,UGKS) 是为模拟存在显著稀薄气体效应流动而建立的. 在该方法中,如果速度空间离散采用传统的离散速度坐标法(discreteordinate method,DOM),将会导致相容性条件得不到严格满足,从而引入数值误差. 本文从理论分析及数值试验两方面说明了该数值误差,正比于来流马赫数,反比于来流努森数. 引入了守恒型的离散速度坐标法(conservativediscrete ordinate method,CDOM),在离散层面上确保了相容性条件得到严格满足. 圆柱绕流计算结果表明,来流马赫数较高、努森数较小时,相容性条件满足与否对计算结果影响较大,采用CDOM 可以在较稀的速度空间网格上得到网格无关解,缩减计算量最大可达2/3.      

气体动理学统一算法的隐式方法研究

目前的气体动理学统一算法(unified gas kinetic scheme, 简称UGKS) 在求解高速流动问题时的计算效率,难以满足求解复杂工程问题的需求. 为了提高该算法的计算效率, 本文对模型方程的对流项和碰撞项进行了隐式处理, 并针对UGKS 界面通量与演化时间相关的特点, 引入了演化时间平均界面通量, 通过对控制方程矩阵进行近似LU 分解(lower-upper decomposition), 实现了隐式UGKS. 不同来流马赫数的圆柱绕流算例测试表明, 只要演化时间选取得当, 隐式方法可以得到与显式方法完全相同的结果, 且计算效率可以提高1~2 个量级.      

High-order ghost-point immersed boundary method for viscous compressible flows based on summation-by-parts operators

A high-order immersed boundary method is devised for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations by employing high-order summation-by-parts difference operators. The immersed boundaries are treated as sharp interfaces by enforcing the solid wall boundary conditions via flow variables at ghost points. Two different interpolation schemes are tested to compute values at the ghost points and a hybrid treatment is used. The first method provides the bilinearly interpolated flow variables at the image points of the corresponding ghost points and the second method applies the boundary condition at the immersed boundary by using the weighted least squares method with high-order polynomials. The approach is verified and validated for compressible flow past a circular cylinder at moderate Reynolds numbers. The tonal sound generated by vortex shedding from a circular cylinder is also investigated. In order to demonstrate the capability of the solver to handle complex geometries in practical cases, flow in a cross-section of a human upper airway is simulated.     

A new modification of the immersed‐boundary method for simulating flows with complex moving boundaries

In this paper, a new immersed‐boundary method for simulating flows over complex immersed, moving boundaries is presented. The flow is computed on a fixed Cartesian mesh and the solid boundaries are allowed to move freely through the mesh. The present method is based on a finite‐difference approach on a staggered mesh together with a fractional‐step method. It must be noted that the immersed boundary is generally not coincident with the position of the solution variables on the grid, therefore, an appropriate strategy is needed to construct a relationship between the curved boundary and the grid points nearby. Furthermore, a momentum forcing is added on the body boundaries and also inside the body to satisfy the no‐slip boundary condition. The immersed boundary is represented by a series of interfacial markers, and the markers are also used as Lagrangian forcing points. A linear interpolation is then used to scale the Lagrangian forcing from the interfacial markers to the corresponding grid points nearby. This treatment of the immersed‐boundary is used to simulate several problems, which have been validated with previous experimental results in the open literature, verifying the accuracy of the present method. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

气体运动论数值算法在微槽道流中的应用研究

简要介绍基于Boltzmann模型方程的气体运动论数值算法基本思想及其对二维微槽道流动问题数值计算的推广，并阐述适用于微尺度流动问题的气体运动论边界条件数值处理方法。通过对压力驱动的二维微槽道流动问题进行数值模拟，将不同Knudsen数下的微槽道流计算结果分别与有关DSMC模拟值和经滑移流理论修正的N—S方程解进行比较分析，表明基于Boltzmann模型方程的气体运动论数值算法对微槽道气体流动问题具有很好的模拟能力。     

Simulation of three‐dimensional flows over moving objects by an improved immersed boundary–lattice Boltzmann method

An improved immersed boundary–lattice Boltzmann method (IB–LBM) developed recently [28] was applied in this work to simulate three‐dimensional (3D) flows over moving objects. By enforcing the non‐slip boundary condition, the method could avoid any flow penetration to the wall. In the developed IB–LBM solver, the flow field is obtained on the non‐uniform mesh by the efficient LBM that is based on the second‐order one‐dimensional interpolation. As a consequence, its coefficients could be computed simply. By simulating flows over a stationary sphere and torus [28] accurately and efficiently, the proposed IB–LBM showed its ability to handle 3D flow problems with curved boundaries. In this paper, we further applied this method to simulate 3D flows around moving boundaries. As a first example, the flow over a rotating sphere was simulated. The obtained results agreed very well with the previous data in the literature. Then, simulation of flow over a rotating torus was conducted. The capability of the improved IB–LBM for solving 3D flows over moving objects with complex geometries was demonstrated via the simulations of fish swimming and dragonfly flight. The numerical results displayed quantitative and qualitative agreement with the date in the literature. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unified gas-kinetic simulation of slider air bearing

The unified gas-kinetic scheme (UGKS) is presented and used in this letter to study the slider air bearing problem. The UGKS solutions are first validated by comparison with direct simulation Monte Carlo results. After validation, the UGKS is used to study the air-bearing problem under different non-equilibrium conditions. On the surface of the slider, the dependency of the gas pressure and normal force on the Mach and Knudsen numbers are fully evaluated. The non-equilibrium effect on the force loading in the whole transition regime up to the free molecular limit is also studied.     

Fonction de distribution pour les gaz polyatomiques dans la couche de Knudsen. Solution approchée de l'équation de Boltzmann

Polyatomic gases in strong non equilibrium vibrational state are studied in the Knudsen layer. A kinetic equation is derived from the Boltzmann equation for a stationary gas without macroscopic velocity. The simplification are basically deduced from the order of magnitude of adimmensional gradient terms. The approximate solution of this equation is deduced from a recurrent algorithm on the adimensional space variable power. Furthermore, the boundary condition allows us to obtain density and temperature jumps at the wall.     

Development of circular function‐based gas‐kinetic scheme (CGKS) on moving grids for unsteady flows through oscillating cascades

In this paper, the circular function‐based gas‐kinetic scheme (CGKS), which was originally developed for simulation of flows on stationary grids, is extended to solve moving boundary problems on moving grids. Particularly, the unsteady flows through oscillating cascades are our major interests. The main idea of the CGKS is to discretize the macroscopic equations by the finite volume method while the fluxes at the cell interface are evaluated by locally reconstructing the solution of the continuous Boltzmann Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook equation. The present solver is based on the fact that the modified Boltzmann equation, which is expressed in a moving frame of reference, can recover the corresponding macroscopic equations with Chapman–Enskog expansion analysis. Different from the original Maxwellian function‐based gas‐kinetic scheme, in improving the computational efficiency, a simple circular function is used to describe the equilibrium state of distribution function. Considering that the concerned cascade oscillating problems belong to cases that the motion of surface boundary is known a priori, the dynamic mesh method is suitable and is adopted in the present work. In achieving the mesh deformation with high quality and efficiency, a hybrid dynamic mesh method named radial basic functions‐transfinite interpolation is presented and applied for cascade geometries. For validation, several numerical test cases involving a wide range are investigated. Numerical results show that the developed CGKS on moving grids is well applied for cascade oscillating flows. And for some cases where nonlinear effects are strong, the solution accuracy could be effectively improved by using the present method. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The study of sound wave propagation in rarefied gases using unified gas-kinetic scheme

Sound wave propagation in rarefied monatomic gases is simulated using a newly developed unified gaskinetic scheme (UGKS). The numerical calculations are carried out for a wide range of wave oscillating frequencies. The corresponding rarefaction parameter is defined as the ratio of sound wave frequency to the intermolecular particle collision frequency. The simulation covers the flow regime from the continuum to free molecule one. The treatment of the oscillating wall boundary condition and the methods for evaluating the absorption coefficient and sound wave speed are presented in detail. The simulation results from the UGKS are compared to the Navier-Stokes solutions, the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) simulation, and experimental measurements. Good agreement with the experimental data has been obtained in the whole flow regimes for the corresponding Knudsen number from 0.08 to 32. The current study clearly demonstrates the capability of the UGKS method in capturing the sound wave propagation and its usefulness for the rarefied flow study.     

A unified gas-kinetic scheme for multiscale and multicomponent flow transport

Compressible flows exhibit a diverse set of behaviors, where individual particle transports and their collective dynamics play different roles at different scales. At the same time, the atmosphere is composed of different components that require additional degrees of freedom for representation in computational fluid dynamics. It is challenging to construct an accurate and efficient numerical algorithm to faithfully represent multiscale flow physics across different regimes. In this paper, a unified gas-kinetic scheme(UGKS) is developed to study non-equilibrium multicomponent gaseous flows. Based on the Boltzmann kinetic equation, an analytical space-time evolving solution is used to construct the discretized equations of gas dynamics directly according to cell size and scales of time steps, i.e., the so-called direct modeling method. With the variation in the ratio of the numerical time step to the local particle collision time(or the cell size to the local particle mean free path), the UGKS automatically recovers all scale-dependent flows over the given domain and provides a continuous spectrum of the gas dynamics. The performance of the proposed unified scheme is fully validated through numerical experiments.The UGKS can be a valuable tool to study multiscale and multicomponent flow physics.     

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.