Course outline

∙ 1 MM
▫ Introduction to applied CFD
▫ Review of the finite volume method
▫ Geometry creation and CAD import
∙ 2 MM
▫ Grid generation
FACE8 – Applied CFD

▫ Grid quality
▫ Grid adaption – static and dynamic
▫ Boundary conditions
∙ 3 MM
▫ Solution methods
▫ Solution quality
∙ 4 MM
▫ Advanced physical models
∙ 5 MM
▫ Post-processing
▫ Validation

1
 Literature

∙ BPG 3.4 and 5.1

FACE8 – Applied CFD

∙ FLUENT Users Guide chapters 5 and 25

∙ GAMBIT Users Guide chapter 3 p. 70-102

2
 FLUENT cell types

∙ Choice is a trade-off
FACE8 – Applied CFD

▫ Set-up time
▫ Computational expense
▫ Numerical diffusion

3
 FLUENT grid adaption
FACE8 – Applied CFD

4
 Grid generation (1)
Hex grids

∙ Characteristics
▫ Simple in terms of numerical methods (easy to implement)
FACE8 – Applied CFD

5
 Grid generation (2)
non-uniform hex grids

∙ Characteristics
▫ Still simple from numerical viewpoint
▫ Cells concentrated in regions of strong gradients
FACE8 – Applied CFD

6
 Grid generation (3)
tet grids

∙ Characteristics
▫ Highly automated grid generation algorithmes applicable
▫ Local refinement easy
FACE8 – Applied CFD

▫ In complex geometries flow pattern is not obvious

7
 Grid generation (4)
mixed grids, boundary layers

∙ Characteristics
▫ Good grid quality in boundary layer – flow aligned with
surface
FACE8 – Applied CFD

▫ Still flexible internally – adaption to flow and geometry

8
 Unresolved details

∙ In some cases it is prohibitively expensive to resolve all

FACE8 – Applied CFD

geometrical details
▫ Tube banks (pressure loss, heat transfer etc.)
▫ Packed beds
▫ ...

9
 Grid generation (1)
quality and trust

Grid density is NOT the only parameter (grid analysis in Gambit):

- skewness
- aspect ratio
FACE8 – Applied CFD

- expansion ratio (between successive cells)

Adaption of grid as solution proceeds (gradients etc.)

The grid must be fine enough to capture features of interest

Guidelines:

- assess which geometrical detail can be omitted

- avoid highly skewed cells (40 < α < 140)
- limit aspect ratio to around 20-100
- make use of grid adaption in regions of large errors or gradients
- MAKE A GRID DEPENDENCY STUDY (AT LEAST 3 SIZES)

10
 Grid generation (2)
quality and trust, geometrical uncertainties

If used, check the CAD definition is sufficiently detailes

FACE8 – Applied CFD

Have all last minute changes been included in the CAD drawing

Loads may cause deformation of the geometry

The condition of surfaces may be affected by wear, erosion, fouling

Guidelines:

- check and document the correct geometry definition is used

- check that CAD import has not caused a lack of accuracy
- consider whether local detail can be omitted or require refinement

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 Gambit grid quality analysis

∙ Area
∙ Aspect ratio
∙ Diagonal ratio
FACE8 – Applied CFD

∙ Edge ratio
∙ EquiAngle skew
∙ EquiSize skew
∙ MidAngle skew
∙ Stretch
∙ Taper
∙ Volume
∙ Warpage

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 Aspect ratio

∙ Quadrilateral and hexahedral

max[e1,e2,,,,en ]
FACE8 – Applied CFD

QAR =
min[e1,e2,,,,en ]

▫ ei is the average edge length in a coordinate direction (i)

local to the element, i.e. in 2D i=2.

a
a +c
e1 =
d 2
b b+d
e2 =
2
c
13
 Aspect ratio cont’d

∙ Triangular and tetrahedral elements

æRö÷
QAR =fç
ç ÷
÷ QAR ³ 1
èr ø
FACE8 – Applied CFD

▫ f is a scaling factor and r and R represent the radii of the

circles (2D) and spheres (3D) that inscribe and
circumscribe the mesh element, respectively. For triangles
f=1/2 and for tetrahedral f=1/3.

R
14
 Diagonal ratio

∙ Quadrilateral and hexahedral elements

max [d1,d2,,,,,,dn ]
FACE8 – Applied CFD

QDR =
min[d1,d2,,,,,,dn ]

▫ di are the lengths of the element diagonals

▫ QDR≥1

15
 Edge ratio

∙ Definition

max [s1,s2,,,,sn ]
QER =
FACE8 – Applied CFD

min[s1,s2,,,,sn ]

▫ si represents the length of the element edge i, and n is the

total number of edges
▫ QER≥1 by definition

16
 EquiAngle skew

∙ The EquiAngle skew is a normalized measure of skewness

defined as:

æqmax - qeq qeq - qmin ö

FACE8 – Applied CFD

ç ÷
÷
QEAS = max ç
ç , ÷
ç
è180 - qeq qeq
÷
ø

▫ θ max and θ min are the maximum and minimum angles in

degrees between the element edges and θ eq is a
characteristic angle corresponding to an equilateral cell of
similar form.
▫ For triangular and tetrahedral elements θ eq =60, and for
quadrilateral and hexahedral elements θ eq =90.
▫ By definition 0≤QEAS ≤1 with 0 being optimal

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 EquiAngle skew cont’d

∙ Relationship between QEAS and quality

QEAS Quality
FACE8 – Applied CFD

▫ High quality mesh:

QEAS=0 Perfect
◦ 2D QEAS average ≈0.1
◦ 3D QEAS average ≈0.4
0<QEAS≤0.25 Excellent

0.25<QEAS≤0.5 Good

0.5<QEAS≤0.75 Fair

0.75<QEAS≤0.9 Poor

0.9<QEAS≤1.0 Very poor

QEAS=1.0 Degenerate

18
 EquiSize skew

∙ Definition (only applies to triangular and tetrahedral

elements
( Seq - S )
QEVS =
FACE8 – Applied CFD

Seq

▫ S is the area (2D) or volume (3D) of the mesh element, and

Seq is the maximum area (2D) or volume (3D) of an
equilateral cell with idential circumscibing radius.
▫ By definition 0≤QEVS ≤1
▫ The quality ranges defined for EquiAngle skew also apply to
EquiSize skew.

19
 MidAngle skew

∙ Definition (only applies to quadrilateral and hexahedral

elements)
▫ Quadrilateral:
FACE8 – Applied CFD

QMAS = cos q
▫ Hexahedral:

QMAS = max é
cos
ê q ,cos q ,cos q ù
3ú
ë 1 2
û

20
 Stretch

∙ Definition (only applies to quadrilateral and hexahedral

elements)

K min(s1,s2,,,,sm )
FACE8 – Applied CFD

QS = 1-
max ( d1,d2,,,,dn )

▫ where di is the length of diagonal i, sj is the length of the

element edge.
▫ By definition 0≤QS ≤1

21
 Grid quality parameters
FACE8 – Applied CFD

22
 Grid adaption

∙ Surface must be resolved as ”true” geometry is not

FACE8 – Applied CFD

retained
∙ The initial grid must capture flow features to allow
adaption
∙ The solution must be fairly well converged prior to
adaption
∙ The cell volume gradients may increase

23
 Fluent demo

Gambit:
- setup of simple geometry (backward facing step)
- grid generation (mesh seeding)
FACE8 – Applied CFD

- grid quality analysis

- specification of zones/patches

Fluent:
- grid import
- setup of physical and numerical models
- solution
- simple visualization of results
- grid adaption
- check of overall balance is fulfilled

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 Hands-on cont’d

symmetry

φ =1

Outflow
FACE8 – Applied CFD

φ =0

symmetry

Outflow
φ =1

φ =0
Outflow

25