Computational Fluid Dynamics

In this tutorial, you will learn what is Computational Fluid Dynamics or CFD, how it works and various approaches to solve fluid dynamics problems. You will also learn about the types of fluid, governing equations, NS equation and basics of thermodynamics.

Contents:

1. What is a Computational Fluid Dynamics?
2. Prediction Approaches
3. Theoretical vs Experimental Approach
4. Types of Fluid
5. Governing Equations
6. Navier-Stokes Equation
7. Basics of Thermodynamics
8. How CFD Works?

What is Computational Fluid Dynamics?

Computational Fluid Dynamics or CFD has three parts:

• Fluid: Fluid is a matter which flows under influence of force. (Note: matters are of 2 types, solid & fluid). It has certain properties, for example, density, viscosity, compressibility etc.
• Dynamics: The word “Dynamics”, comes from the Greek word “Dynamis”, which means Force or Power. So, when said, Fluid Dynamics, people only deal with the Force & Power applied on the fluid.
• Computational: Using the power and capabilities of computers to determine the forces and power on a fluid body is known as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).

Hence, Computational Fluid Dynamics is a process where mathematically modeling of a physical phenomenon involving fluid flow and solved numerically using the computational power of computers.

Prediction Approaches

Prediction Approaches are various ways or methods to solve a natural phenomenon. There are 3 types of prediction approaches:

• Experimental Approach:
  Experiment by hand is done in this approach to get some results or data sets. Hence, it is a very reliable approach of solving any natural phenomenon. Though, Analysis of operations like boiling, combustion can’t be done using this approach. Hence, the field of this approach becomes very restricted.
• Theoretical Approach:
• It works using mathematical models. Where the mathematical models usually consist of some partial differential equations. Hence, this approach reduces cost to almost zero.
• One of the major drawbacks of this approach is that most of the times the problem becomes so complex that assumptions have to be done in order to proceed further and hence in spite of getting results it cannot used in real life applications.
• CFD Approach:
  As both experimental and theoretical approaches have many disadvantages, CFD came into existence, where CFD takes the experimental data from experimental approach and takes the mathematical models from theoretical approach. And then it combines them with the power of computation to achieve better results.

  The following figure explains the relation between all approaches of prediction:

  

  Analysis of any fluid behavior or phenomenon can be done in three ways, using pure theory (Theoretical Approach) or pure experiment (Experimental Approach) or CFD (Some theory and some virtual experiment). All of these together is also known as 3 Dimensions of Fluid Mechanics.

Experimental vs Theoretical Approach

The following table describes the difference between Experimental and Theoretical Method of Prediction:

Types of Fluid

Fluids can be divided based on Power Law, which is described below:

• Power Law: According to Power Law, behavior of all fluids can be represented by this single equation:
  τ = \(K(\frac{δu}{δy})^n\) 
  Where:
• K is the flow consistency index (SI units Pa.sⁿ)
• \(\frac{δu}{δy}\) is the shear rate or the velocity gradient perpendicular to the plane of stress (SI unit s^-1)
• n is the flow behavior index (dimensionless).

Various types of Fluids are described below via graph:

Varying the n and K in power law, we can get different kind of fluids:

• If, n < 1; the fluid is called as Pseudo plastic Fluid.
• If, n = 1; the fluid is called as Newtonian Fluid.
• If, n > 1; the fluid is called as Dilatant Fluid.

Governing Equations

Governing equations are those equations, on which the whole CFD is built. They are the fundamental equations to solve any natural phenomenon. The governing equations are described below:

• Conservation of Mass (Continuity Equation):
  The Conservation of Mass states that, difference between the mass going out and in of a specified control volume is equal to the mass stored inside the control volume.

  The equation of conservation of mass is specified as:

  \(\frac{Dρ}{Dt}\)+ ρ(∇.v)=0

  Where, ρ is the density, v is the velocity and ∇ is the gradient operator.
  ∇=i\(\frac{δ}{δx}\)+ j\(\frac{δ}{δy}\)+ k\(\frac{δ}{δz}\)

• Conservation of Momentum (Newton’s Second Law):
  The Conservation of Momentum states that, total momentum of a system always remains constant. The equation of conservation of momentum is specified as:
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  ∑p_before = ∑p_after
  Where, P is momentum of the system.

• Conservation of Energy (Steady Flow Energy Equation):
  The Conservation of Energy states that, difference between the energy going out and in of a specified control volume is equal to the energy stored inside the control volume.

  The equation of conservation of energy is specified as:
  \(\frac{dE}{dt}\)= Q_c.v. – W_c.v. + m_ine_in – m_oute_out

  Where,
  Q = lim_dt→0\(\frac{δQ}{δt}\) is rate of energy transfer to the system as heat
  W = lim_dt→0\(\frac{δW}{δt}\) is rate of work done by the system

Navier-Stokes Equation

Navier-Stokes equation or NS equation is an extension to the Conservation of Momentum equation. It is the most basic equation out of all conservation equation in fluid mechanics. It is specified as:
\(\frac{δu}{δt}\)+ u. ∇u = –\(\frac{ߜP}{p}\)+ v∇²u

Where,

• u is velocity of fluid
• P is pressure
• v (mu) is the kinetic viscosity of the fluid
• (rho) (below gradP) is density of the fluid.

Basics of Thermodynamics

Basics of Thermodynamics includes 1^st and 2^nd law, which are stated below:

• 1^st Law of Thermodynamics:

  The 1^st law of thermodynamics states that, change in internal energy of a system is equal to the heat added to the sytem minus work done by the system.

  U = Q – W
  Where,

• U is the internal energy of the system
• Q is the heat added to the system
• W is work done by the system
• 2^nd Law of Thermodynamics:
  The 2^nd law of thermodynamics states that, heat cannot flow itself from colder body to hotter body.
  dS=\(\frac{dQ}{T}\) Where,

How CFD Works?

Working of an average CFD Project can be described as following:

• Step 1: Stating the Problem: Stating problem means to define the control volume (CV) or system on which the analysis is to be done and also deciding the surrounding conditions (Including Boundary Conditions).
• Step 2: Drafting the Model & Applying the Solver Code: Drafting a model means making the system or CV virtually using CAD. After that, we apply the solver code made using programming language to divide the system into small parts and solve all of them individually using the governing equations.
• Step 3: Processing of Result: Processing of result means to rearrange the results in a presentable manner using graphs, tables, charts etc.