Chapter 1

Introduction to CFD

Introduction to CFX

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Introduction To CFD
What is CFD? Training Manual

• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is the science of predicting fluid

flow, heat and mass transfer, chemical reactions, and related
phenomena by solving numerically the set of governing
mathematical equations
– Conservation of mass, momentum, energy, species mass, etc.

• The results of CFD analyses are relevant in:

– Conceptual studies of new designs
– Detailed product development
– Troubleshooting
– Redesign

• CFD analysis complements testing and experimentation by:

– reducing total effort
– reducing cost required for experimentation

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Introduction To CFD
How Does CFD Work? Training Manual

• ANSYS CFD solvers are based on the finite

volume method
– The fluid region is decomposed into a finite
set of control volumes
– General conservation (transport) equations
for mass, momentum, energy, species, etc. Control
Volume*
are solved on this set of control volumes

* FLUENT control volumes

Unsteady Advection Diffusion Generation are cell-centered (i.e. they
correspond directly with the
mesh) while CFX control
volumes are node-centered
– Continuous partial differential equations (the
governing equations) are discretized into a
system of linear algebraic equations that can
be solved on a computer

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Introduction To CFD
CFD Modeling Overview Training Manual

• Problem Identification
Problem Identification 1. Define your modeling goals
1. Define goals 2. Identify the domain you will model
2. Identify domain
• PreProcessing and Solver Execution
Pre-Processing 3. Create a solid model to represent the
domain
3. Geometry
4. Design and create the mesh (grid)
4. Mesh
5. Set up the physics
5. Physics • Physical models, domain properties,
9. Update Model
6. Solver Settings boundary conditions, …
3. Define solver settings
• numerical schemes, convergence
Solve controls, …
7. Compute solution 3. Compute and monitor the solution

Post Processing • Post-Processing

8. Examine the results
8. Examine results
9. Consider revisions to the model
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Introduction To CFD
1. Define Your Modeling Goals Training Manual

Problem Identification
1. Define goals
2. Identify domain

• What results are you looking for (i.e. pressure drop, mass flow rate),
and how will they be used?
– What are your modeling options?
• What physical models will need to be included in your analysis (i.e. turbulence,
compressibility, radiation)?
• What simplifying assumptions do you have to make?
• What simplifying assumptions can you make (i.e. symmetry, periodicity)?
• Do you require a unique modeling capability?
– User-defined functions (written in C) in FLUENT or User FORTRAN functions in CFX

• What degree of accuracy is required?

• How quickly do you need the results?

• Is CFD an appropriate tool?

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Introduction To CFD
2. Identify the Domain You Will Model Training Manual

Problem Identification
1. Define goals
2. Identify domain
Gas
• How will you isolate a piece of the
Domain of interest
complete physical system?
Cyclone

• Where will the computational

domain begin and end?
– Do you have boundary condition Riser
information at these boundaries?
– Can the boundary condition types
accommodate that information?
– Can you extend the domain to a point
where reasonable data exists?

L-valve
• Can it be simplified or approximated
as a 2D or axisymmetric problem?
Gas
Cyclone Separator
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Introduction To CFD
3. Create a Solid Model of the Domain Training Manual

Pre-Processing
3. Geometry
4. Mesh
5. Physics
6. Solver Settings

• How will you obtain a solid model of the

fluid region?
– Make use of existing CAD models?
– Create from scratch?

• Can you simplify the geometry?

– Remove unnecessary features that would
complicate meshing (fillets, bolts…)?
– Make use of symmetry or periodicity?

• Do you need to split the model so that

boundary conditions or domains can be Solid model of a
created? Headlight Assembly

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Introduction To CFD
4. Design and Create the Mesh Training Manual

Pre-Processing • What degree of mesh resolution is required in

3. Geometry each region of the domain?
4. Meshing – The mesh must resolve geometric features of
5. Physics interest and capture gradients of concern
6. Solver Settings • e.g. velocity, pressure, temperature gradients
– Can you predict regions of high gradients?
– Will you use adaption to add resolution?

Triangle Quadrilateral
• What type of mesh is most appropriate?
– How complex is the geometry?
– Can you use a quad/hex mesh or is a tri/tet or
hybrid mesh suitable?
Tetrahedron Hexahedron – Are mesh interfaces needed?

• Do you have sufficient computer resources?

– How many cells/nodes are required?
– Which physical models will be used?
Pyramid Prism/Wedge

A mesh divides a geometry into many elements. These

are used by the CFD solver to construct control volumes
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Introduction To CFD
Tri/Tet vs. Quad/Hex Meshes Training Manual

• For flow-aligned geometries,

quad/hex meshes can provide
higher-quality solutions with fewer
cells/nodes than a comparable tri/tet
mesh
– Quad/Hex meshes show reduced false
diffusion when the mesh is aligned with
the flow.
– It does require more effort to generate a
quad/hex mesh

• Meshing tools designed for a

specific application can streamline
the process of creating a quad/hex
mesh for some geometries.
– E.g. TurboGrid, IcePak, AirPak

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Introduction To CFD
Tri/Tet vs. Quad/Hex Meshes Training Manual

• For complex geometries, quad/hex meshes

show no numerical advantage, and you
can save meshing effort by using a tri/tet
mesh or hybrid mesh
– Quick to generate
– Flow is generally not aligned with the mesh
• Hybrid meshes typically combine tri/tet
elements with other elements in selected
regions
– For example, use wedge/prism elements
to resolve boundary layers
– More efficient and accurate
than tri/tet alone

Wedge (prism)
mesh
Tetrahedral mesh

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Introduction To CFD
Multizone (or Hybrid) Meshes Training Manual

Model courtesy of ROI Engineering

• A multizone or hybrid mesh uses
different meshing methods in different
regions, e.g:
– Hex mesh for fan and heat sink
– Tet/prism mesh elsewhere

• Multizone meshes yield a good

combination of accuracy, efficient
calculation time and meshing effort.

• When the nodes do not match across

the regions, a General Grid Interface
(GGI) can be used.

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Introduction To CFD
Non-Matching Meshes Training Manual

• Non matching meshes are useful Non-matching

for meshing complex geometries interface
– Mesh each part then join together
• Non matching mesh interfaces are
also used in other situations
– Change in reference frames
– Moving mesh applications

3D Film Cooling
Coolant is injected into a duct from a
plenum. The plenum is meshed with
tetrahedral cells while the duct is
meshed with hexahedral cells
Compressor and Scroll
The compressor and scroll are joined through a General
Grid Interface. This serves to connect the hex and tet
meshes and also allows a change in reference frame

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Introduction To CFD
Set Up the Physics and Solver Settings Training Manual

Pre-Processing • For a given problem, you will need to:

3. Geometry
– Define material properties
4. Mesh
5. Physics
• Fluid
6. Solver Settings • Solid
• Mixture
For complex problems
solving a simplified or 2D – Select appropriate physical models
problem will provide • Turbulence, combustion, multiphase, etc.
valuable experience with the – Prescribe operating conditions
models and solver settings
– Prescribe boundary conditions at all
for your problem in a short
amount of time. boundary zones
– Provide initial values or a previous solution
– Set up solver controls
– Set up convergence monitors

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Introduction To CFD
Compute the Solution Training Manual

Solve • The discretized conservation equations are

7. Compute solution solved iteratively; some number of iterations is
required to reach a converged solution.

• Parallel processing can provide faster solutions

and access to more memory (solve larger cases)

• Convergence is reached when:

– Changes in solution variables from one iteration
to the next are negligible
– Overall property conservation is achieved
– Quantities of interest (e.g. drag, pressure drop)
have reach steady values

A converged and mesh- • The accuracy of a converged solution is

independent solution on dependent upon:
a well-posed problem – Appropriateness and accuracy of physical models
will provide useful – Mesh resolution and independence
engineering results! – Numerical errors

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Introduction To CFD
Examine the Results Training Manual

9. Update Model
• Examine the results to review solution
and extract useful data
Post Processing – Visualization tools can be used to
8. Examine results answer such questions as:
• What is the overall flow pattern?
• Is there separation?
• Where do shocks, shear layers, etc. form?
• Are key flow features being resolved?

– Numerical Reporting Tools can be used

to calculate quantitative results:
• Forces and Moments
• Average heat transfer coefficients
• Surface and Volume integrated quantities
• Flux Balances
Examine results to ensure
property conservation and
correct physical behavior. High
residuals may be attributable to
only a few cells of poor quality.
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Introduction To CFD
Consider Revisions to the Model Training Manual

9. Update Model
• Are the physical models appropriate?
– Is the flow turbulent?
Post Processing
– Is the flow unsteady?
8. Examine results
– Are there compressibility effects?
– Are there 3D effects?

• Are the boundary conditions correct?

– Is the computational domain large enough?
– Are boundary conditions appropriate?
– Are boundary values reasonable?

• Is the mesh adequate?

– Can the mesh be refined to improve results?
– Does the solution change significantly with a refined
mesh, or is the solution mesh independent?
– Does the mesh resolution of the geometry need to be
improved?

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