Train1 4

Fluent Software Training
TRN-00-002
Fluent Inc.
1 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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Orientation
u Agenda for Week:
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Solver-1 Solver-2 Gambit-1 Gambit-2 1:1 Consult
u Facilities
l Training rooms, Lunch rooms, and Bathrooms
u Training
l Problem Setup
n Creating the model: geometry and mesh generation
n Using the Solver: setup and execution
l Establish contact with support staff
l Begin your own CFD project!
n We recommend doing all Gambit and relevant Fluent tutorials first.
2 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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Detailed Agenda (Day 1)
8:00-8:30 Introduction to Fluent Inc.

8:30-9:00 Introduction to CFD Analysis
9:00-9:30 Demonstration: Overview of the CFD Process
9:30-11:15 Tutorial Session I
11:15-12:00 Solver Basics
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 Boundary Conditions
2:00-4:00 Tutorial Session II
4:00-5:00 Turbulence Modeling
3 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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Detailed Agenda (Day 2)

8:00-9:00 Solver Settings
9:00-10:30 Tutorial Session III
10:30-11:15 Heat Transfer and Thermal Boundary Conditions
11:15-12:00 User Defined Functions (Optional)
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 Tutorial Session IV: Post-processing
2:00-3:30 Multiphase Modeling (Optional)
3:30-5:00 Combustion Modeling (Optional)
4 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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About Fluent: History
1983 Creare Inc.

Creare Inc. Creare Inc.
CFD Group
1961
1988
Fluent Inc.
Aavid Thermal
Technologies
1995
1964
Fluent Inc.
Aavid Thermal Incorporating
Aavid Thermal Technologies 1996
FDI and
Technologies
Fluent Inc. POLYFLOW
u Fluent now has more than 10 offices located in Europe, Asia, and
the U.S.A.
5 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01
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Organization
Aero Auto Material Chemical Power HVAC
Sales Support Consulting
• Engineers and staff are assigned to industry teams.

• Each team has their own sales, support, and consulting groups.
6 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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Fluent Support Online

u User Services Center
l Access through fluent.com
n must be registered user
l Services
n Release Information
n Download Updates
n Documentation
n Supported Platforms
n Defects/Workarounds
n Presentations
n Training
u ftp’ing files to support
l ftp to ftp.fluent.com
l log on as ftp and use email address for password
l cd to incoming/xxx and put appropriate support files (binary).
n xxx = support engineer identifier
7 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01
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Advanced Training on CD-ROM

u Advanced training available on
CD-ROM
u Can be purchased online
l Turbulence Modeling
l User Defined Functions
l Combustion
l Multiphase
8 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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User Group Meetings

u Attend the annual UGM and:
l meet with the users and staff of
Fluent
l attend short-courses
l learn of other Fluent applications
presented by users
l provide input to future development
of software
u Worldwide User Group Meetings:
l USA (Manchester NH, MI, CA)
n typ. Mid-June
l European Meetings
n typ. Mid-September through early October
l Asia-Pacific Meetings
n typ. Mid-October through early November
9 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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FLUENT 4.5 and FLUENT 5
u General purpose FVM solvers

l Fluent 5 Applications:
n Internal and external
automotive flows
n High speed aerodynamics Surface pressure
n Rocket flows distribution in an
n Turbomachinery automotive engine
n Reactor Vessels cooling jacket.
l Fluent 4.5 Applications:
n Cyclones
Instantaneous solids concentration in a
n Bubble Columns
riser indicating uniform distribution of
n Mixing tanks
catalyst at the riser head.
n Fluidized Beds
10 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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FIDAP
u General purpose FEM solver
Example: Pulsatile flow in an artery
l FIDAP Applications: with a compliant vein graft.
n Polymer processing: non-
Newtonian flow in extrusion
dies Velocity contour plot
n Thin film coating flows

n Biomedical: oxygenators,
blood pumps, deforming
arteries deforming artery
n Semiconductor crystal growth rigid artery
n Other metal, glass, and
chemical processing problems
initial mesh
u=u(t),
sinusoidal
inlet velocity
rigid compliant rigid
wall wall wall Time history plot of wall shear rate-
Deformations cannot be neglected!
11 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01
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POLYFLOW
Inverse Die Design:
u FEM solver for laminar, viscous Determines die geometry
flows for complex rheologies and based upon desired
free surface extruded shape.
l POLYFLOW Applications:
n Extrusion, coextrusion, die
design
n Blow molding, thermoforming Requested part shape and calculated die
lip shape for a rubber car door seal.
n Film casting, glass sheet
forming/stretching, fiber
drawing
n Chemical reactions, foaming
n Viscoelastic flows (“memory Blow molding simulation of a
effects”) gas tank using the membrane
element.
12 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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IcePak
u IcePak is focused on electronics
cooling design:
l Cooling airflow, heat
conduction, convection and
radiation heat transfer
u The user interface and automatic
meshing are tailored for
applications such as:
l Cabinet design
l Fan placement Flow pathlines and temperature
l Board-level design distribution in a fan-cooled computer
cabinet.
l Heat sink evaluation
13 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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Airpak
u Simplifies the design and analysis of
ventilation systems
u Accurate, quick, and easy-to-use design tool
that empowers designers and professionals,
without extensive backgrounds in computer
applications, to utilize the powers of
advanced CFD tools
u Optimize your designs or pinpoint problems
based on accurate predictions of airflow
patterns, thermal conditions, comfort
conditions, and/or contamination control
effectiveness
14 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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MixSim
u MixSim is a specialized user interface that allows quick and easy set-up
of mixing tank simulations.
u The tank size, bottom shape, baffle configuration, number and type of
impellers, etc. are specified directly.
u The mesh and complete problem definition are then automatically
created.
u Other features include:
l Impeller libraries from leading equipment
manufacturers
l Transient sliding mesh, steady-state multiple
reference frame models
l Non-Newtonian rheology
15 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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Pre-processor: Gambit
u A single, integrated
pre-processor for
CFD analysis.
l Geometry
creation
l Mesh generation
l Mesh quality
examination
l Boundary zone
assignment
16 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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Pre-processor: TGrid
u A pre-processor for
tet/hybrid mesh
generation.
u Useful when
starting with
triangular surface
mesh.
17 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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Documentation CD’s
u Separate CD for each product (e.g.,
FLUENT 5, TGrid, etc.) containing
all the manuals for that product.
u Three formats available:
l HTML
n for general viewing, searching,
limited printing
l Adobe Acrobat PDF
n for high quality printing of one
or many pages
l Adobe PostScript Fluent 5 CD Documentation html homepage
n for high quality printing of one or many pages
u A script is included which can (optionally) install the documentation.
18 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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Evaluation Forms
u Evaluation forms
are provided in
your folder.
x
u Your feedback
helps us improve
our training
material and
methods.
19 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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Introduction to CFD Analysis
A1 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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Background
u FLUENT solvers are based on the Fluid region of
finite volume method. pipe flow
discretized into
l Domain is discretized into a control
finite set of
finite set of control volumes volume
control volumes
or cells. (mesh).
l General conservation (transport) equation
for mass, momentum, energy, etc.,
Eqn. φ
∂
∂t V∫
ρφ dV + ∫ ρφV ⋅ dA = ∫ Γ∇φ ⋅ dA + ∫ Sφ dV continuity 1
A A V x-mom. u
unsteady convection diffusion generation y-mom. v
energy h
are discretized into algebraic equations.
l All equations are solved to render flow field.

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CFD Analysis: Basic Steps

u Problem Identification and Pre-Processing
1. Define your modeling goals.
2. Identify the domain you will model.
3. Design and create the grid.
u Solver Execution
4. Set up the numerical model.
5. Compute and monitor the solution.
u Post-Processing
6. Examine the results.
7. Consider revisions to the model.

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Define Your Modeling Goals

u What results are you looking for, and how will they be used?
u What physical models will need to be included in your analysis?
l Multiphase?
u What degree of accuracy is required?
u How quickly do you need the results?
u Do you require a unique modeling capability?
l User-defined subroutines (written in FORTRAN) in FLUENT 4.5
l User-defined functions (written in C) in FLUENT 5

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Identify the Domain You Will Model

u How will you isolate a piece of the complete physical system?
u Where will the computational domain begin and end?
u What boundary conditions are needed?
u Can the problem be simplified to 2D?

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Design and Create the Grid

u Should you use a quad/hex grid, a tri/tet grid, a hybrid grid, or a non-
conformal grid?
u What degree of grid resolution is required in each region of the
domain?
u Can you take advantage of MixSim, IcePak, or Airpak?
u Will you use adaption to add resolution?
u How many cells are required for the problem? triangle
u Do you have sufficient computer memory?
tetrahedron quadrilateral
pyramid
hexahedron prism or wedge

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Tri/Tet vs. Quad/Hex Meshes

u For simple geometries, quad/hex
meshes can provide high-quality
solutions with fewer cells than a
comparable tri/tet mesh.
u For complex geometries, quad/hex

meshes show no numerical
advantage, and you can save meshing
effort by using a tri/tet mesh.

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Hybrid Mesh Example

u Valve port grid
tet mesh
l Specific regions can be
meshed with different
cell types. hex mesh
l Both efficiency and
accuracy are enhanced
relative to a hexahedral
or tetrahedral mesh
alone.
l Tools for hybrid mesh
generation are available
in Gambit and TGrid. wedge mesh
Hybrid mesh for an

IC engine valve port

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Non-Conformal Mesh Example

u Nonconformal mesh: mesh in which grid nodes do not match up
along an interface.
l Useful for ‘parts-swapping’ for design study, etc.
l Helpful for meshing complex geometries.
u Example:
l 3D Film Cooling Problem
n Coolant is injected into a duct
from a plenum
s Plenum is meshed with
tetrahedral cells.
s Duct is meshed with
hexahedral cells.
Plenum part can be replaced with new

geometry with reduced meshing effort.

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Set Up the Numerical Model

u For a given problem, you will need to:
l Select appropriate physical models.
n Turbulence, combustion, multiphase, etc.
l Define material properties.
n Fluid
n Solid
n Mixture
l Prescribe operating conditions.
l Prescribe boundary conditions at all boundary zones.
l Provide an initial solution.
l Set up solver controls.
l Set up convergence monitors.

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Compute the Solution

u The discretized conservation equations are solved iteratively.
l A number of iterations are usually required to reach a converged
solution.
u Convergence is reached when:
l Changes in solution variables from one iteration to the next are
negligible.
n Residuals provide a mechanism to help monitor this trend.
l Overall property conservation is achieved.
u The accuracy of a converged solution is dependent upon:
l Appropriateness and accuracy of the physical models.
l Grid resolution and independence
l Problem setup
u A converged and grid-independent solution on a well-posed
problem will provide useful engineering results!

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Examine the Results

u Examine the results to review solution and to extract useful
engineering data.
u Visualization can be used to answer such questions as:
l What is the overall flow pattern?
l Is there separation?
l Where do shocks, shear layers, etc. form?
l Are key flow features being resolved?
l Are physical models and boundary conditions appropriate?
l Are there local convergence problems?
u Numerical reporting tools can be used to calculate quantitative results:
l Lift and drag
l Average heat transfer coefficients
l Surface-averaged quantities

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Tools to Examine the Results

u Graphical tools
l Grid, contour, and vector plots
l Pathline and particle trajectory plots
l XY plots
l Animations
u Numerical reporting tools
l Flux balances
l Surface and volume integrals and averages
l Forces and moments

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Consider Revisions to the Model

u Are physical models appropriate?
l Is flow turbulent?
l Is flow unsteady?
l Are there compressibility effects?
l Are there 3D effects?
u Are boundary conditions correct?
l Is the computational domain large enough?
l Are boundary conditions appropriate?
l Are boundary values reasonable?
u Is grid adequate?
l Can grid be adapted to improve results?
l Does solution change significantly with adaption, or is the solution grid
independent?
l Does boundary resolution need to be improved?

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Review for Demo

u Problem Identification and Pre-Processing
1. Define your modeling goals.
2. Identify the domain you will model.
3. Design and create the grid.
u Solver Execution
4. Set up the numerical model.
5. Compute and monitor the solution.
u Post-Processing
6. Examine the results.
7. Consider revisions to the model.

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FLUENT DEMO
u Startup Gambit
l load database
l define boundary zones
l export mesh
u Startup Fluent
l GUI
l Problem Setup
l Solve
l Post-Processing

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Unix Operating System Basics

u FLUENT/GAMBIT user interface is same on Unix and NT
u Basic Unix commands issued in xterm window:
l pwd - prints the name current working directory
l ls - lists the files in the current directory
l cd - change working directories (cd .. to go up one directory).
u Directories
l Home directory is /home/fluent.
l Tutorial mesh files are in /home/fluent/tut.
l Before running tutorial, copy appropriate mesh file into home directory.
n e.g., from home directory: cp tut/elbow/elbow.msh .
u To start Fluent 5: % fluent 2d &
u To start Fluent 4.5: % fluent -r4.5 &
u !Note: It is recommended that you restart FLUENT for each tutorial to
avoid mixing solver settings from different tutorials.
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Solver Basics
B1 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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CFD Analysis: Solver Execution

u Solver Execution:
l Import and scale mesh file*.
l Select physical models.
l Define material properties*.
l Prescribe operating conditions.
l Prescribe boundary conditions.
l Provide an initial solution.
l Set solver controls.
l Set up convergence monitors.
l Compute and monitor solution.
u Post-Processing*
l Feedback into Solver
l Engineering Analysis
* Covered in this lecture; remaining steps covered in later lectures.

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On Startup: License Manager

u License Manager is ‘librarian’ to software process check out.
u license.dat file defines how many processes can be checked out.
l limit to each software process (e.g., FEATURE fluent)
l limits total processes checked out (FEATURE fluentall)
u Typical floating/network license file:
SERVER host_name host_id tcp_ip_port#
DAEMON Fluentd Fluentd.exe
FEATURE fluent Fluentd 5.300 16-jan-2001 2 CC064F90570633323E03 ""
FEATURE tgrid Fluentd 1.000 16-jan-2001 2 9CF65FB082E75D09614C ""
FEATURE fluent-nox Fluentd 1.000 16-jan-2001 2 DCC6CF4074A895463A29 ""
FEATURE uns Fluentd 1.000 16-jan-2001 2 7CB6DFA053802EB023CF ""
FEATURE rng-premix Fluentd 1.000 16-jan-2001 2 EC56BF90A7888F6D55FC ""
FEATURE gambit Fluentd 1.200 16-jan-2001 2 9C763F707B4DB6553904 ""
FEATURE fluent-post Fluentd 1.000 16-jan-2001 1 1CB61F6094D4AEEFA599 ""
FEATURE fluentall Fluentd 1.000 16-jan-2001 2 1CD63FB04BB6EBBC62D6 ""
available processes
version #; ignored by
expiration date
fluent, but do not change!

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User Inputs
u GUI commands have a corresponding TUI command.

l Advanced commands are only available through TUI.
l ‘Enter’ displays command set at current level.
l ‘q’ moves up one level.
u Journal/Transcript write capability.
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Mouse Functionality
u Mouse button functionality depends on solver and can be configured
in the solver.
Display Õ Mouse Buttons...
u Default Settings:
l 2D Solver
n Left button translates (dolly)
n Middle button zooms
n Right button selects
l 3D Solver
n Left button rotates about 2-axes
n Middle button zooms
s Middle click on point in screen centers point in window
(an alternative to no translate option)
n Right button selects

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Reading Mesh: Mesh Components

node
cell
u Cell = control volume into which center
domain is broken up
face
l computational domain is defined by
mesh that represents the fluid and
solid regions of interest. cell
u Face = boundary of a cell Simple 2D mesh

u Edge = boundary of a face
u Node = grid point
u Zone = grouping of nodes, faces,
node
and/or cells
l Boundary data assigned to face zones. edge
cell
l Material data and source terms face
assigned to cell zones. Simple 3D mesh

TRN-99-003
Reading Mesh: Zones

orifice
(interior)
Orifice_plate and
outlet
orifice_plate-shadow
wall
inlet
Fluid (cell zone)
u Example: Face and cell zones Default-interior is

associated with Pipe Flow zone of internal cell
through orifice plate. faces (not used).

TRN-99-003
Scaling Mesh and Units
u All physical dimensions initially assumed to be in meters.

l Scale grid accordingly.
u Other quantities can also be scaled
independent of other units used.
l Fluent defaults to SI units.

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Models in Fluent 5 (1)

u Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer
l Momentum, Continuity, and Energy Equations
l Radiation Models
u Turbulence
l RANS based models
including k-e and RSM.
l LES
u Chemical Species Transport Pressure contours in near ground flight
and Reacting Flows

l Species transport equation
l Finite Rate Chemistry
l PDF Modeling
n laminar flamelet
l Premixed Turbulent Combustion
Temperature contours for kiln burner retrofitting.
l Surface Reaction and CVD
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Models in Fluent 5 (2)

Inlet Gas outlet
u Multiple Phase Flows
l Liquid/Solid Phase Change Model
l Discrete Phase Model
l VOF modeling of immiscible fluids
l Cavitation Contours of oil volume fraction Water outlet Oil outlet
in three phase separator.
l Algebraic Slip Mixture Model
l Eulerian-Eulerian and Eulerian-Granular (Fluent 4.5)
u Flows involving Moving Parts
l Moving boundaries (normal translation not allowed,
exception: Fluent 4.5)
l Moving zones
n Rotating/Multiple Reference Frame
n Mixing Plane
n Sliding Mesh Model
Pressure contours for squirrel cage blower.
u User-Defined Scalar Transport
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Material Types and Property Definition

u Material properties defined in Materials Panel.
l Single-Phase, Single Species Flows
n Define fluid/solid properties
n Real gas model (NIST’s REFPROP)
l Multiple Species (Single Phase) Flows
n Mixture Material concept employed
s Mixture properties (composition dependent)
defined separately from constituent’s properties.
s Constituent properties must be defined.
n PDF Mixture Material concept
s PDF lookup table used for mixture properties.
– Transport properties for mixture defined separately.
s Constituent properties extracted from database.
l Multiple Phase Flows, Single Species
n Define fluid/solid properties.
l Multiple Phase, Multiple Species flows in Fluent 4.5 only.

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Fluid Density
l For constant density, incompressible flow:
n ρ = const.
l For incompressible flow:
n ρ = poperating/RT
s Select incompressible-ideal-gas in Define Õ Materials...
s Set poperating close to mean pressure in problem.
l For compressible flow:

n ρ = pabsolute/RT
Energy
s For low Mach number flows, set poperating close to mean
equation
pressure in problem to avoid round-off errors. automatically
s Use Floating Operating Pressure for unsteady flows with enabled.
large, gradual changes in absolute pressure (seg. only).
l Density can also be defined as a function of Temperature
n polynomial or piece-wise polynomial
n Boussinesq model discussed in heat transfer lecture.
l Density can also be defined using UDF’s.
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Material Assignment
u Materials are assigned to cell zone where
assignment method depends upon models
selected:
l Single-Phase, Single Species Flows
n Assign material to fluid zone(s) in
Fluid Panel.
l Multiple Species (Single Phase) Flows
n Assign mixture material to fluid zones in
Species Model Panel or in Pre-PDF.
n All fluid zones consist of ‘mixture’.
l Multiple Phase Flows, Single Species
n Primary and secondary phases selected
in Multiphase Model Panel.
n All fluid zones consist of ‘mixture’.

TRN-99-003
Post-Processing
u Post-Processing functions typically u Example: Planar slice through axis
operate on surfaces. of Pipe/Orifice mesh.
l Surfaces are automatically created

from zones.
l Additional surfaces can be created.
l Facets are generated as the result of

the intersection of the new surface
and the original grid.

TRN-99-003
Post-Processing: Node Values

u Fluent stores most field variable
data at cell centers.
u Node values of the grid are either:
l calculated as the average of
neighboring cell data, or,
l defined explicitly (when available)
with boundary condition data.
u Node values on surfaces are
interpolated from grid node data.
u data files store:
l data at cell centers
l node value data for primitive
variables at boundary nodes.
u Enable Node Values to interpolate
field data to nodes.
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Flux Reports and Surface Integrals

u Flux Reports
l use boundary condition
data and therefore provide
more accurate values.
u Surface Integrals
l interpolates from cell
center data- slightly less
accurate.
l Many options available,
e.g.,

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Grid Adaption
u Grid adaption adds more cells where needed to
resolve the flow field.
u Fluent adapts on cells listed in register.
l Registers can be defined based on:
n Gradients of flow or user-defined variables
n Isovalues of flow or user-defined variables
n All cells on a boundary
n All cells in a region
n Cell volumes or volume changes
n y+ in cells adjacent to walls
l To assist adaption process, you can:
n Combine adaption registers
n Draw contours of adaption function
n Display cells marked for adaption
n Limit adaption based on cell size
and number of cells:
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Adaption Example: 2D Planar Shell

u Adapt grid in regions of high pressure gradient to better resolve pressure
jump across the shock.
2D planar shell - initial grid 2D planar shell - contours of pressure

initial grid

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Adaption Example: Final Grid and Solution
2D planar shell - final grid 2D planar shell - contours of pressure

final grid

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Parallel Solver
u With 2 or more processes,
Fluent can be run on
multiple processors.
u Can run on a dedicated,
multiprocessor machine,
or a network of machines.
u Mesh can be partitioned
manually or
automatically.
u Some models not yet
ported to parallel solver.
l See release notes.
Partitioned grid for multi-element airfoil.

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Boundary Conditions
C1 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

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Outline
u Overview
u Inlet and Outlet Boundaries
l Velocity
n Profiles
n Turbulence Parameters
l Pressure Boundaries and others...
u Wall, Symmetry, Periodic and Axis Boundaries
u Internal Cell Zones
l Fluid
n Porous Media
n Moving Cell Zones
l Solid
u Internal Face Boundaries

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Overview
orifice
u Boundary Conditions: (interior)
l Boundaries direct motion of flow. orifice_plate and
outlet
l Boundary Conditions are a required orifice_plate-shadow
component of mathematical model.
u Specify fluxes into computational domain.
l e.g., mass, momentum, and energy
u Fluid/Solid regions represented by cell
zones. wall
l Material and Source terms are assigned to inlet
cell zones. fluid
u Boundaries and internal surfaces are Example: Face and Cell zones
represented by face zones. associated with Pipe Flow
through orifice plate
l Boundary data are assigned to face zones.

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Setting Boundary Conditions

u Zones and zone types are initially defined in
pre-processor.
u To change zone type for a particular zone:
Define Õ Boundary Conditions...
l Choose the zone in Zone list.
n Can also select boundary zone using right
mouse button in Display Grid window.
l Select new zone type in Type list.
u To set boundary conditions for particular zone:
l Choose the zone in Zone list.
l Click Set... button
u Boundary condition data can be copied from one zone to another.
u Boundary condition data can be stored and retrieved from file.
l file ® write-bc
l file ® read-bc
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Flow Inlets and Outlets

u Wide range of boundary conditions types permit flow to enter and exit
solution domain:
l General l Compressible flows
n Pressure inlet n Mass flow inlet
n Pressure outlet n Pressure far-field
l Incompressible l Special
n Velocity inlet n Inlet vent, outlet vent,
n Outflow intake fan, exhaust fan
u Boundary data required depends on physical models selected.

u General guidelines:
l Select boundary location and shape such that flow either goes in or out.
n Not necessary, but will typically observe better convergence.
l Should not observe large gradients in direction normal to boundary.
n Indicates incorrect set-up.
l Minimize grid skewness near boundary.

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Velocity Inlets
u Defines velocity vector and scalar
properties of flow at inlet boundaries.
u Useful when velocity profile is
known at inlet.
l uniform profile is default
u Intended for incompressible flows.
l Total (stagnation) properties of flow
are not fixed.
n Stagnation properties vary to accommodate prescribed velocity distribution.
l Using in compressible flows can lead to non-physical results.
u Avoid placing velocity inlet too close to a solid obstruction.
l Can force the solution to be non-physical, e.g., imposes velocity field, etc., at
boundary that may not be intended.

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Using Profiles
u Alternative to UDF’s for defining
boundary profiles.
l Profiles can define spatial and time
varying boundary conditions.
u Profiles can be generated by:
l Writing a profile from another CFD
simulation
l Creating an appropriately formatted text
file with location information and
boundary condition data.
u Profiles can be manipulated through:
l Define à Profiles
u Profiles data applied to boundary
through ‘hooks’.

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Determining Turbulence Parameters

u When turbulent flow enters domain at inlet, outlet, or at a far-field
boundary, FLUENT 5 requires boundary values for:
l Turbulent kinetic energy k l Turbulence dissipation rate ε
u Four methods available for specifying turbulence parameters:
l Set k and ε explicitly
l Set turbulence intensity and turbulence length scale
l Set turbulence intensity and turbulent viscosity ratio
l Set turbulence intensity and hydraulic diameter
u Intensity and length scale depend on conditions upstream, e.g.:
l Exhaust of a turbine
Intensity = 20 % Length scale = 1 - 10 % of blade span
l Downstream of perforated plate or screen
Intensity = 10 % Length scale = screen/hole size
l Fully-developed flow in a duct or pipe
Intensity = 5 % Length scale = hydraulic diameter
TRN-99-003
Pressure Boundary Conditions

u Pressure boundary conditions require pressure
level
gauge pressure inputs:
gauge
p absolute = p gauge + p operating
pressure
u Operating pressure input is set under: absolute operating

pressure pressure
l Define → Operating Conditions
u Useful when: operating
l flow rate and/or velocity is not pressure
known
(e.g., buoyancy-driven flows).
vacuum
l “free” boundary in an external or
unconfined flow needs to be defined.

TRN-99-003
Pressure Inlet Boundary (1)

u Defines total pressure, temperature,
and other scalar quantities at flow
inlets.
1 2
ptotal = pstatic + ρv incompressible flows
2
k − 1 2 k /( k −1)
ptotal = pstatic (1 + M ) compressible flows
2
u Supersonic/Initial Gauge Pressure:
l Defines static pressure at boundary
for locally supersonic flows.
l Used, if necessary, to initialize flow field for incompressible flows.
u Total temperature:
l must be defined for compressible flows.
l is used, if necessary, to set static temperature for incompressible flows.

TRN-99-003
Pressure Inlet Boundary (2)

u Flow Direction must be defined.
l Can get non-physical results if you don’t specify a reasonable direction.
u Suitable for compressible and incompressible flows.
l Pressure inlet boundary is treated as loss-free transition from stagnation
to inlet conditions.
l Mass flux through boundary varies depending on interior solution and
specified flow direction.
u Outflow can occur at pressure inlet boundaries.
l Flow direction taken from interior solution.
l Exhaust static pressure is defined by value specified for gauge total
pressure wherever outflow occurs.

TRN-99-003
Pressure Outlet Boundary (1)

u Defines static (gauge) pressure at
the outlet boundary.
l Interpreted as static pressure of
environment into which flow
exhausts.
u Radial equilibrium pressure
distribution option available.
u Backflow can occur at pressure
outlet boundaries:
l during solution process or as part of solution.
l Backflow is assumed to be normal to the boundary.
l Convergence difficulties minimized by realistic values for backflow quantities.
l Value specified for static pressure used as total pressure wherever backflow
occurs.

TRN-99-003
Pressure Outlet Boundary (2)
u For incompressible flows:

l The static pressure input defines the boundary pressure
l All other flow quantities are extrapolated from the interior.
u For compressible flows:
l The static pressure input is ignored if locally supersonic.
l All flow quantities are extrapolated from interior.
u Pressure Outlet must be used when problem is set up with Pressure
Inlet.

TRN-99-003
Outflow Boundary
u Flow exiting domain at Outflow boundary has zero normal
gradients for all flow variables except pressure.
u FLUENT extrapolates required information from interior.
u Useful when:
l Details of flow velocity and pressure not known prior to solution of
flow problem.
l Appropriate where exit flow is close to fully developed condition.
u Note: Use of Pressure Outlet (instead of Outflow) often results in
better rate of convergence when backflow occurs during
iteration.

TRN-99-003
Restrictions on Outflow Boundaries

u Outflow Boundaries cannot be used:
l with compressible flows.
l with the Pressure Inlet boundary condition (use Velocity Inlet instead):
n Combination does not uniquely set a pressure gradient over the whole domain.
l in unsteady flows with variable density.
u Do not use outflow

boundaries where:
l Flow enters domain
l Gradients in flow
direction are significant outflow
l Conditions downstream outflow outflow outflow condition
of exit plane impact condition condition condition closely
ill-posed not obeyed obeyed obeyed
flow in domain

TRN-99-003
Modeling Multiple Exits

u Using Outflow boundary condition:
l Mass flow divided equally among all
outflow boundaries by default.

l Flow Rate Weighting (FRW) set to 1 by
default.
l For uneven flow distribution:
n specify Flow Rate Weighting for each

outflow boundary: mi=FRWi/ΣFRWi. FRW1
n static pressure varies among exits to velocity
accommodate flow distribution. inlet
FRW2
u Can also use Pressure Outlet boundaries
to define exits. pressure-outlet
velocity-inlet (v,T0) (ps)1
or
pressure-inlet (p0,T0)
pressure-outlet
(ps)2
TRN-99-003
Other Inlet/Outlet Boundary Conditions

u Mass Flow Inlet
l Used in compressible flows to prescribe mass flow rate at inlet.
l Not required for incompressible flows.
u Pressure Far Field
l Available when density is calculated from the ideal gas law.
l Used to model free-stream compressible flow at infinity, with free-stream
Mach number and static conditions specified.
u Exhaust Fan/Outlet Vent
l Model external exhaust fan/outlet vent with specified pressure jump/loss
coefficient and ambient (discharge) pressure and temperature.
u Inlet Vent/Intake Fan
l Model inlet vent/external intake fan with specified loss coefficient/
pressure jump, flow direction, and ambient (inlet) pressure and
temperature.

TRN-99-003
Wall Boundaries
u Used to bound fluid and solid regions.
u In viscous flows, no-slip condition
enforced at walls:
l Tangential fluid velocity equal
to wall velocity.
l Normal velocity component = 0
u Thermal boundary conditions:
l several types available.
l Wall material and thickness can be defined for 1-D or in-plane thin plate heat
transfer calculations.
u Wall roughness can be defined for turbulent flows.
l Wall shear stress and heat transfer based on local flow field.
u Translational or rotational velocity can be assigned to wall.
l Shear stress can also be specified.
TRN-99-003
Symmetry Boundaries
u Used to reduce computational effort in problem.
u Flow field and geometry must be symmetric:
n Zero normal velocity at symmetry plane
n Zero normal gradients of all variables at symmetry plane
u No inputs required.
l Must take care to correctly define symmetry boundary locations.
u Also used to model slip walls in viscous flow
symmetry
planes
TRN-99-003
Periodic Boundaries
u Used when physical geometry of interest and expected pattern of
flow/thermal solution have periodically repeating nature.
l Reduces computational effort in problem.
u Two types available in FLUENT 5.
l ∆p = 0 across periodic planes.
n Rotationally or translationally periodic.
s Rotationally periodic boundaries require axis of rotation be defined in
fluid zone.
l ∆p is finite across periodic planes.
n Translationally periodic only.
n Models fully developed conditions.
n Specify either mean ∆p per period or net mass flow rate.
l By default, periodic boundaries defined in Gambit are assumed to be
translational in FLUENT 5.

TRN-99-003
Periodic Boundaries: Examples
l ∆p = 0: l ∆p > 0:
4 tangential computational
inlets domain
flow
Rotationally periodic boundaries direction
Streamlines in
a 2D tube heat
exchanger
Translationally periodic boundaries

TRN-99-003
Axis Boundaries
u Used:
l At centerline (y=0) of an
axisymmetric grid
l Where multiple grid lines meet
at a point in a 3D O-type grid
u Specify:
l No inputs required
AXIS
boundary

TRN-99-003
Cell Zones: Fluid

u Fluid zone = group of cells for
which all active equations are
solved.
u Fluid material input required.
l Single species, phase.
u Optional inputs allow setting
of source terms:
l mass, momentum, energy, etc.
u Define fluid zone as laminar flow
region if modeling transitional flow.
u Can define zone as porous media.
u Define axis of rotation for rotationally periodic flows.
u Can define motion for fluid zone.

TRN-99-003
Porous Media Conditions
u Porous zone modeled as special type of fluid zone.

l Enable Porous Zone option in Fluid panel.
l Pressure loss in flow determined via user inputs
of resistance coefficients to lumped parameter
model.
u Used to model flow through porous media
and other “distributed” resistances, e.g.,
l Packed beds
l Filter papers
l Perforated plates
l Flow distributors
l Tube banks

TRN-99-003
Moving Zones
u Single Zone Problems:
l Rotating Reference Frame Model
n define zone as Moving Reference Frame
n limited applicability
u Multiple Zone Problems:
l Each zone defined as moving reference frame:
n Multiple Reference Frame Model
s least accurate, least demanding on CPU
n Mixing Plane Model

s field data are averaged at the outlet of one zone
and used as inlet boundary data to adjacent zone.
l Each zone defined as Moving Mesh:
n Sliding Mesh Model
s must also define interface.
s Mesh positions are calculated; time-accurate simulations
s relative motion must be tangential (no normal translation)

TRN-99-003
Cell Zones: Solid

u “Solid” zone = group of cells for which only
heat conduction problem solved.
l No flow equations solved
u Material being treated as solid may actually be
fluid, but it is assumed that no convection
takes place.
u Only required input is material type
l So appropriate material properties used.
u Optional inputs allow you to set volumetric
heat generation rate (heat source).
u Need to specify rotation axis if rotationally
periodic boundaries adjacent to solid zone.
u Can define motion for solid zone

TRN-99-003
Internal Face Boundaries

u Defined on cell faces
l Do not have finite thickness
l Provide means of introducing step change in flow properties.
u Used to implement physical models representing:
l Fans
l Radiators
l Porous jump
n Preferable over porous media- exhibits better convergence behavior.
l Interior wall

TRN-99-003
Summary
u Zones are used to assign boundary conditions.
u Wide range of boundary conditions permit flow to enter and exit
solution domain.
u Wall boundary conditions used to bound fluid and solid regions.
u Repeating boundaries used to reduce computational effort.
u Internal cell zones used to specify fluid, solid, and porous regions.
u Internal face boundaries provide way to introduce step change in flow
properties.

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Fluent Software Training

1 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

2 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

Detailed Agenda (Day 1)

8:00-8:30 Introduction to Fluent Inc.

3 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

Detailed Agenda (Day 2)

4 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

About Fluent: History

1983 Creare Inc.

Aero Auto Material Chemical Power HVAC

Sales Support Consulting

• Engineers and staff are assigned to industry teams.

6 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

Fluent Support Online

Advanced Training on CD-ROM

8 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

User Group Meetings

9 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

FLUENT 4.5 and FLUENT 5

u General purpose FVM solvers

10 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

n Thin film coating flows

12 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

13 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

14 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

15 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

16 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

17 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

n for high quality printing of one or many pages

u A script is included which can (optionally) install the documentation.

18 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

19 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

Introduction to CFD Analysis

A1 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

l All equations are solved to render flow field.

A2 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

CFD Analysis: Basic Steps

A3 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

Define Your Modeling Goals

A4 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

Identify the Domain You Will Model

A5 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

Design and Create the Grid

hexahedron prism or wedge

A6 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

Tri/Tet vs. Quad/Hex Meshes

u For complex geometries, quad/hex

A7 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

Hybrid Mesh Example

Hybrid mesh for an

A8 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

Non-Conformal Mesh Example

Plenum part can be replaced with new

A9 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

Set Up the Numerical Model

A10 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

Compute the Solution

A11 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

Examine the Results

A12 © Fluent Inc. 2/20/01

Tools to Examine the Results