Prepared By: Irtiza Zafar Zahid Iqbal

S.I.M.P.L.E Introduction
In computational fluid dynamics (CFD), SIMPLE algorithm is a widely used numerical procedure to solve the Navier-Stokes equations. SIMPLE is an acronym for Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equations. The SIMPLE algorithm was developed by Prof. Brian Spalding and his student Suhas Patankar at Imperial College, London in 1972. Since then it has been extensively used by many researchers to solve different kinds of fluid flow and heat transfer problems. A modified variant is the SIMPLER algorithm (SIMPLE Revised), that was introduced by Patankar in 1979.

Implicit Versus Explicit Numerical Methods

Numerical solution schemes are often referred to as being explicit or implicit. When a direct computation of the dependent variables can be made in terms of known quantities, the computation is said to be explicit. When the dependent variables are defined by coupled sets of equations, and either a matrix or iterative technique is needed to obtain the solution, the numerical method is said to be implicit. In computational fluid dynamics, the governing equations are nonlinear, and the number of unknown variables is typically very large. Under these conditions implicitly formulated equations are almost always solved using iterative techniques. An elementary physical problem involving the propagation of a pressure wave can be used to illustrate the differences between implicit and explicit methods. Imagine an increase in pressure is applied to one end of an organ pipe that is closed at the opposite end. We know that a pressure wave will move down the pipe and be reflected at the closed end. Given enough time, pressure waves will travel back and forth in the pipe many times before the pressure distribution settles down to the constant value applied at the open end. If only steady-state results are wanted, then an implicit solution scheme with lots of damping of the pressure waves should be used so that steady conditions will be reached as quickly as possible. In this case the damping incorporated in the implicit iteration method (i.e., the underrelaxation) is highly desirable. If, instead, the transient pressure waves are to be investigated, then we want the least amount of numerical damping so that many wave reflections can be accurately followed. This situation is best treated with an explicit solution method.

What is CFD?
Computational fluid dynamics or CFD is the analysis of systems involving fluid flow, heat transfer and associated phenomena such as chemical reactions by means of computer-based simulation. The technique is very powerful and spans a wide range of industrial and non-industrial application areas. Some examples are: aerodynamics of aircraft and vehicles: lift and drag hydrodynamics of ships power plant: combustion in internal combustion engines and gas turbines turbomachinery: flows inside rotating passages, diffusers etc. electrical and electronic engineering: cooling of equipment including microcircuits chemical process engineering: mixing and separation, polymer moulding external and internal environment of buildings: wind loading and heating/ventilation marine engineering: loads on off-shore structures environmental engineering: distribution of pollutants and effluents hydrology and oceanography: flows in rivers, estuaries, oceans meteorology: weather prediction biomedical engineering: blood flows through arteries and veins

Navier-Stokes Equations
The Navier-Stokes equations are the basic governing equations for a viscous, heat conducting fluid. It is a vector equation obtained by applying Newton's Law of Motion to a fluid element and is also called the momentum equation. It is supplemented by the mass conservation equation, also called continuity equation and the energy equation. Usually, the term Navier-Stokes equations is used to refer to all of these equations. The instantaneous continuity equation (1), momentum equation (2) and energy equation (3) for a compressible fluid can be written as: (1) (2) (3)

For a Newtonian fluid, assuming Stokes Law for mono-atomic gases, the viscous stress is given by: (4)