Laminar Pipe Flow

D
=

: Average axial velocity at any cross-section

=
= 100
< 2300 Laminar flow

Pre-Analysis

1. Mathematical model
2. Numerical solution procedure
3. Hand-calculations of expected results/trends

Mathematical Model: Axisymmetric

Assumption
Use cylindrical coordinates , ,
=
,

=v

=
=

+v

r
z

+v

(r, z)
,

Mathematical Model: Domain

r (y in
FLUENT)
R

z (x in

FLUENT)

Axis of symmetry

0
0
0

Mathematical Model: Governing

Equations in Vector Form
1. Conservation of mass (continuity eq.)

=0

2. Conservation of momentum ( =
( )

+
Assumptions:

Unknowns:
, ,
,

, ( , )

Axisymmetric
Steady
Incompressible
Laminar

Mathematical Model: Governing

Equations in Expanded Form
1 (

=0
1

Mathematical Model: Boundary

Conditions
r

=1

=0

/
=0

=1
z

= 0

=0

Numerical Solution Strategy

Mathematical Model
(Boundary Value
Problem)
Control volume
balance for each cell

System of
algebraic
equations in cellcenter values

Invert

Cell-center
values of
, ,

Post
processing

, , ( , )
Wall shear etc.

Discretization and Linearization

Differential form
of governing
equations +
BCs

Integral form
of governing
equations +
BCs

Discretization
error

Algebraic
equations
relating cellcenter values

Linearization
error

Stop iterations
when imbalances
are below
tolerance

Solve iteratively
updating guess
after each
iteration

Linearized
algebraic
equations relating
cell-center values

Example: Algebraic Equation for

Mass Conservation

Hand Calculations: Expected Trends

Inviscid Core

Boundary Layer

Fully developed region:

Analytical solution
Parabolic profile

Le

Fully Developed Flow

Developing Flow

Entrance length:

0.06

Fully-Developed Region: Simplifications

in Governing Equations
1 (

=0

=
+

+
1

Fully-Developed Region: Analytical

Solution
Parabolic velocity profile:

=2 1

Skin friction coefficient:

= 0.16

Drag Coefficient Monitor

FLUENT finds the net force
acting on the pipe wall by
integrating the pressure and
shear forces on the surface
Drag is component of this force
vector in the axial direction
Drag coefficient in our case is

=
.

Drag coefficient in FLUENT is

=
.

Drag Coefficient Monitor

FLUENT finds the net force
acting on the pipe wall by
integrating the pressure and
shear forces on the surface
Drag is component of this force
vector in the axial direction
Drag coefficient in our case is

=
.

Drag coefficient in FLUENT is

=
.

Denominator is set in
Reference values panel

Verification & Validation Section

Verification: Did I solve the model right?

Check consistency with mathematical model, level of numerical
errors, comparison with hand calcs

Validation: Did I solve the right model?

Check against experimental data

Verification Steps
1.
2.
3.

Sanity checks
Does the CFD solution honor the boundary conditions in the
mathematical model?
Does the CFD solution honor the physical principles in the
mathematical model?

4.
5.

Is the linearization error acceptable?

Is the discretization error acceptable?

6.

Check mass and momentum conservation in the domain

Perform mesh refinement studies

Does the CFD solution match the analytical solution in fullydeveloped region?