Solution of three-dimensional unsteady external flow using a coupled arbitrary Lagrangian FEM-BEM model
Journal
Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements
Journal Volume
28
Journal Issue
6
Pages
711-723
Date Issued
2004
Author(s)
Abstract
A computational model has been developed in this paper to solve three-dimensional unsteady incompressible viscous flow problems in external flow fields. The model is based on primitive variables in Navier-Stokes equations under transient conditions. The model can be used to solve infinite boundary value problems by extracting the boundary effects on a specified finite computational domain using projection method of the Navier-Stokes equations. The momentum equation of fluid motion is solved using the three-step finite element method. The external flow field is simulated using the boundary element method by solving a pressure Poisson equation by considering the pressure to be zero at the infinite boundary. Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian method is incorporated in the present model to solve the moving boundary problems. The model has been applied initially to simulate a cubic cavity flow problem for verification purpose and further used to simulate the flow past a square cylinder in two dimensions. Finally, the external flow problem of flow induced by the movement of a sphere inside a viscous flow field in three dimensions has also been considered. The simulation results are found to be reasonable and satisfactory. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Type
journal article