On the steady solution of linear advection problems in steady recirculating flows

Numerical modelling of non-Newtonian flows typically involves the coupling between equations of motion characterized by an elliptic behaviour, and the fluid constitutive equation, which is an advection equation linked to the fluid history. In this paper we prove that linear steady advection problems in steady recirculating flows have only one solution when the kinematics differs from a rigid motion. We also give a numerical procedure to determine this steady solution. We will describe this numerical procedure for two linear models the first will be the SFRT flow model and the second will be a simplified linear formulation of the Pom–Pom viscoelastic model.     

Numerical predictions of the laminar flow over a normal flat plate

Finite-difference and finite-element techniques have been used to calculate the steady laminar flow over a flat plate normal to an air stream, up to a Reynolds number, Re, based on the plate half-width, of 100. The boundary conditions simulate a central splitter plate downstream of the body, to prevent vortex shedding, so the flow is characterized by a closed recirculation region which grows with increasing Re but at Re = O(100) is very similar in size to the turbulent recirculating region that occurs in the corresponding high Reynolds-number flow. Motivation came, in part, from the increasing efforts of turbulence modellers to calculate complex turbulent flows (containing elliptic regions) and our belief that the numerical methods commonly employed for such work can be inaccurate. The predictions are compared with each other and with some expectations based on classic solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations, and the nature of the numerical errors is demonstrated. It is concluded that effort comparable with that expended in developing turbulence models should be directed to developing higher-order numerical methods, before the numerical accuracy of predictions of, for example, bluff-body flows can be made sufficiently high to sustain detailed discussion of the adequacy of turbulence models in such situations.     

Gas-kinetic numerical method for solving mesoscopic velocity distribution function equation

A gas-kinetic numerical method for directly solving the mesoscopic velocity distribution function equation is presented and applied to the study of three-dimensional complex flows and micro-channel flows covering various flow regimes. The unified velocity distribution function equation describing gas transport phenomena from rarefied transition to continuum flow regimes can be presented on the basis of the kinetic Boltzmann–Shakhov model equation. The gas-kinetic finite-difference schemes for the velocity distribution function are constructed by developing a discrete velocity ordinate method of gas kinetic theory and an unsteady time-splitting technique from computational fluid dynamics. Gas-kinetic boundary conditions and numerical modeling can be established by directly manipulating on the mesoscopic velocity distribution function. A new Gauss-type discrete velocity numerical integration method can be developed and adopted to attack complex flows with different Mach numbers. HPF parallel strategy suitable for the gas-kinetic numerical method is investigated and adopted to solve three-dimensional complex problems. High Mach number flows around three-dimensional bodies are computed preliminarily with massive scale parallel. It is noteworthy and of practical importance that the HPF parallel algorithm for solving three-dimensional complex problems can be effectively developed to cover various flow regimes. On the other hand, the gas-kinetic numerical method is extended and used to study micro-channel gas flows including the classical Couette flow, the Poiseuille- channel flow and pressure-driven gas flows in two-dimensional short micro-channels. The numerical experience shows that the gas-kinetic algorithm may be a powerful tool in the numerical simulation of micro-scale gas flows occuring in the Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS). The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (90205009 and 10321002), and the National Parallel Computing Center in Beijing. The English text was polished by Yunming Chen.     

Non-swirling axisymmetric flow of the ω-D fluid

In this paper a constitutive equation for the extra stress tensor τ is considered, which can be used for steady axisymmetric flows when u _ϕ=0 (non-swirling). It is explicit with coefficients which, in case of incompressibility, depend only upon three invariants. As such it should prove useful in numerical calculations, especially so if used in its simplest form, namely the quasi-Newtonian fluid. Here, a purely viscous code can be used. The constitutive equation is self-consistent and receives additional justification from the fact that any constitutive equation is bound to result in the form proposed if the flow is a constant stretch history flow. Received: 30 March 1998 Accepted: 6 August 1998     

Orientation tensors in simple flows of dilute suspensions of non-Brownian rigid ellipsoids,comparison of analytical and approximate solutions

General analytical solutions are obtained for the planar orientation structure of rigid ellipsoid of revolutions subjected to an arbitrary homogeneous flow in a Newtonian fluid. Both finite and infinite aspect ratio particles are considered. The orientation structure is described in terms of two-dimensional, time-dependent tensors that are commonly employed in constitutive equations for anisotropic fluids such as fiber suspensions. The effect of particle aspect ratio on the evolution of orientation structure is studied in simple shear and planar elongational flows. With the availability of analytical solutions, accuracies of quadratic closure approximations used for nonhomogeneous flows are analyzed, avoiding numerical integration of orientation distribution function. In general, fourth-order orientation evolution equations with sixth-order quadratic closure approximations yield more accurate representations compared to the commonly used second-order evolution equations with fourth-order quadratic closure approximations. However, quadratic closure approximations of any order are found to give correct maximum orientation angle (i.e., preferred direction) results for all particle aspect ratios and flow cases.     

A promising boundary element formulation for three‐dimensional viscous flow

In this paper, a new set of boundary‐domain integral equations is derived from the continuity and momentum equations for three‐dimensional viscous flows. The primary variables involved in these integral equations are velocity, traction, and pressure. The final system of equations entering the iteration procedure only involves velocities and tractions as unknowns. In the use of the continuity equation, a complex‐variable technique is used to compute the divergence of velocity for internal points, while the traction‐recovery method is adopted for boundary points. Although the derived equations are valid for steady, unsteady, compressible, and incompressible problems, the numerical implementation is only focused on steady incompressible flows. Two commonly cited numerical examples and one practical pipe flow problem are presented to validate the derived equations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gas-kinetic unified algorithm for plane external force-driven flows covering all flow regimes by modeling of Boltzmann equation

The nonequilibrium steady gas flows under the external forces are essentially associated with some extremely complicated nonlinear dynamics, due to the acceleration or deceleration effects of the external forces on the gas molecules by the velocity distribution function. In this article, the gas-kinetic unified algorithm (GKUA) for rarefied transition to continuum flows under external forces is developed by solving the unified Boltzmann model equation. The computable modeling of the Boltzmann equation with the external force terms is presented at the first time by introducing the gas molecular collision relaxing parameter and the local equilibrium distribution function integrated in the unified expression with the flow state controlling parameter, including the macroscopic flow variables, the gas viscosity transport coefficient, the thermodynamic effect, the molecular power law, and molecular models, covering a full spectrum of flow regimes. The conservative discrete velocity ordinate (DVO) method is utilized to transform the governing equation into the hyperbolic conservation forms at each of the DVO points. The corresponding numerical schemes are constructed, especially the forward-backward MacCormack predictor-corrector method for the convection term in the molecular velocity space, which is unlike the original type. Some typical numerical examples are conducted to test the present new algorithm. The results obtained by the relevant direct simulation Monte Carlo method, Euler/Navier-Stokes solver, unified gas-kinetic scheme, and moment methods are compared with the numerical analysis solutions of the present GKUA, which are in good agreement, demonstrating the high accuracy of the present algorithm. Besides, some anomalous features in these flows are observed and analyzed in detail. The numerical experience indicates that the present GKUA can provide potential applications for the simulations of the nonequilibrium external-force driven flows, such as the gravity, the electric force, and the Lorentz force fields covering all flow regimes.     

Computation of flow of viscoelastic fluids by parameter differentiation

A technique combining the features of parameter differentiation and finite differences is presented to compute the flow of viscoelastic fluids. Two flow problems are considered: (i) three-dimensional flow near a stagnation point and (ii) axisymmetric flow due to stretching of a sheet. Both flows are characterized by a boundary value problem in which the order of the differential equation exceeds the number of boundary conditions. The exact numerical solutions are obtained using the technique described in the paper. Also, the first-order perturbation solutions (in terms of the viscoelastic fluid parameter) are derived. A comparison of the results shows that the perturbation method is inadequate in predicting some of the vital characteristic features of the flows, which can possibly be revealed only by the exact numerical solution.     

Efficient computation of two‐dimensional steady free‐surface flows

We consider a family of steady free‐surface flow problems in two dimensions, concentrating on the effect of nonlinearity on the train of gravity waves that appear downstream of a disturbance. By exploiting standard complex variable techniques, these problems are formulated in terms of a coupled system of Bernoulli equation and an integral equation. When applying a numerical collocation scheme, the Jacobian for the system is dense, as the integral equation forces each of the algebraic equations to depend on each of the unknowns. We present here a strategy for overcoming this challenge, which leads to a numerical scheme that is much more efficient than what is normally used for these types of problems, allowing for many more grid points over the free surface. In particular, we provide a simple recipe for constructing a sparse approximation to the Jacobian that is used as a preconditioner in a Jacobian‐free Newton‐Krylov method for solving the nonlinear system. We use this approach to compute numerical results for a variety of prototype problems including flows past pressure distributions, a surface‐piercing object and bottom topographies.     

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.      

An efficient algorithm for strain history tracking in finite element computations of non-Newtonian fluids with integral constitutive equations

A new finite element technique has been developed for employing integral-type constitutive equations in non-Newtonian flow simulations. The present method uses conventional quadrilateral elements for the interpolation of velocity components, so that it can conveniently handle viscoelastic flows with both open and closed streamlines (recirculating regions). A Picard iteration scheme with either flow rate or elasticity increment is used to treat the non-Newtonian stresses as pseudo-body forces, and an efficient and consistent predictor-corrector scheme is adopted for both the particle-tracking and strain tensor calculations. The new method has been used to simulate entry flows of polymer melts in circular abrupt contractions using the K-BKZ integral constitutive model. Results are in very good agreement with existing numerical data. The important question of mesh refinement and convergence for integral models in complex flow at high flow rate has also been addressed, and satisfactory convergence and mesh-independent results are obtained. In addition, the present method is relatively inexpensive and in the meantime can reach higher elasticity levels without numerical instability, compared with the best available similar calculations in the literature.     

Simulation of unsteady turbulent flows around moving aerofoils using the pseudo‐time method

The pseudo‐time formulation of Jameson has facilitated the use of numerical methods for unsteady flows, these methods have proved successful for steady flows. The formulation uses iterations through pseudo‐time to arrive at the next real time approximation. This iteration can be used in a straightforward manner to remove sequencing errors introduced when solving mean flow equations together with another set of differential equations (e.g. two‐equation turbulence models or structural equations). The current paper discusses the accuracy and efficiency advantages of removing the sequencing error and the effect that building extra equations into the pseudo‐time iteration has on its convergence characteristics. Test cases used are for the turbulent flow around pitching and ramping aerofoils. The performance of an implicit method for solving the pseudo‐steady state problem is also assessed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical modelling of complex turbulent free‐surface flows with the SPH method: an overview

The gridless smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method is now commonly used in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and appears to be promising in predicting complex free‐surface flows. However, increasing flow complexity requires appropriate approaches for taking account of turbulent effects, whereas some authors are still working without any turbulence closure in SPH. A review of recently developed turbulence models adapted to the SPH method is presented herein, from the simplistic point of view of a one‐equation model involving mixing length to more sophisticated (and thus realistic) models like explicit algebraic Reynolds stress models (EARSM) or large eddy simulation (LES). Each proposed model is tested and validated on the basis of schematic cases for which laboratory data, theoretical or numerical solutions are available in the general field of turbulent free‐surface incompressible flows (e.g. open‐channel flow and schematic dam break). They give satisfactory results, even though some progress should be made in the future in terms of free‐surface influence and wall conditions. Recommendations are given to SPH users to apply this method to the modelling of complex free‐surface turbulent flows. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A kinetic theory for polymer melts VI. calculation of additional material functions

The Curtiss-Bird constitutive equation is used to analyze three flows: large-amplitude oscillatory shearing; superposition of steady shear flow and small-amplitude oscillations; and eccentric disk rheometer flow. The corresponding Doi-Edwards theory results can be obtained as a special case by setting the link-tension coefficient equal to zero.     

A fast universal solver for 1D continuous and discontinuous steady flows in rivers and pipes

Simulation of 1D steady flow covers a wide range of practical applications, such as rivers, pipes and hydraulic structures. Various flow patterns coexist in such situations: free surface flows (supercritical, subcritical and hydraulic jump), pressurized flows as well as mixed flows. As a result, development of a unified 1D model for all the situations of interest in civil engineering remains challenging. In this paper, a fast universal solver for 1D continuous and discontinuous steady flows in rivers and pipes is set up and assessed. Developments are initiated from an original unified mathematical model using the Saint‐Venant equations. Application of these equations, originally dedicated to free‐surface flow, is extended to pressurized flow by means of the Preissmann slot model. In particular, an original negative slot is developed in order to handle sub‐atmospheric pressurized flow. Next, the full unsteady model is simplified under the assumption of steadiness and reformulated into a single pseudo‐unsteady differential equation. The derived pseudo‐unsteady formulation aims at keeping the hyperbolic feature of the equation. Stability analysis of the differential equation suggests a unique splitting for the finite volume scheme whatever the flow conditions. The numerical scheme obtained is a universal Flux Vector Splitting which shows robustness and simplicity. Accuracy and performance of the new methodology is assessed by comparison with analytical and experimental results. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Giesekus fluid in ω–D form for steady two-dimensional flows

Using the fact that for simple fluids the most general constitutive equation in constant stretch history flows for the extra stress tensor τ is known in an explicit form, the Giesekus fluid model is cast into this (ω–D) form for two-dimensional flows. The three material functions needed to characterize τ are listed. The explicit results for simple shear and planar elongation reveal that the parameter α should be restricted to values less than 0.5. It is demonstrated that in this explicit form the constitutive equation is free from thermodynamic objections and can thus be used as a starting point for numerical calculations of general, but steady, two-dimensional flows. Received: 9 November 1998 Accepted: 20 May 1999