Section5 Module5 Unsteady Flow

Fluid Flow: Unsteady Flow
2011 Autodesk
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Section 5 Fluid Flow
Objectives
Module 5: Unsteady Flow Page 2
Understand unsteady flow.

Examine the unsteady form of the NavierStokes Equation. Study the Courant Number for unsteady flow. Learn from an example: Unsteady flow past a cylinder
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Unsteady Flow: Part I
Flow conditions such as pressure, velocity or even domain boundaries change with time. Relatively complex and time consuming to solve. It is important to choose a reasonable time step size. The rate of progress in time depends upon the steepness of the time gradient. The smaller the time step, the higher the stability and accuracy.
However, more computational resources are required with smaller steps.
Accuracy
Stability
Computational Resources
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Unsteady Flow: Part II
Time steps can be as large as hours, days or months when studying effect of anthropogenic greenhouse gases in Earths atmosphere. Time steps can be microseconds when studying shock wave phenomena. In order to work out an ideal time step, the Courant Number is generally kept under one (for implicit scheme). All turbulent flows are essentially unsteady, laminar flows on the other hand can be steady as well as unsteady. A good example of unsteady flow is seen in reciprocating devices such as piston engines and compressors.
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Unsteady Flow: Part III
Consider the example of a four stroke internal combustion engine, focusing on the exhaust cycle.
As the piston rises and the valve opens, the flow velocity at the outlet valve increases, approaches a maximum and then decreases. This is one of the most common cases of unsteady flow that is solved by CFD.
It gives an insight into flow that is difficult to get through prototype testing.
This information is used to design the exhaust manifold. Setting up the right time-step is crucial.
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NavierStokes Equation
Time derivative takes prominence and the strength of the time derivative will dictate the size of the time step used for analysis.
The time step refers to the size of the leap in temporal domain when progressing in time.
The higher the time derivative, the smaller the time step for numerical analysis.
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Courant Number
Also termed as the CourantFriedrichsLewy condition (CFL condition), the Courant Number is a useful tool to evaluate the time step size for unsteady flow cases. The Courant Number for a 1 dimensional case can be given as:
u.t C 1 x
Where: u is the flow speed, t is the time step x is the grid size
For a solution to be stable, the Courant number should be less than or equal to 1
The Courant Number for a 2 dimensional case can be given as:
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Example: Flow Across a Cylinder: Part I

y

Flow shows different behavior at different flow speeds.
A Von Karman Vortex Street (a fascinating phenomenon for fluid flow enthusiasts) can be observed at 40 < Re < 200,000.
Re = Reynolds Number
A two-part video for this module on unsteady flow covers setting up, solving and viewing results for a Von Karman Vortex Street.
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Example: Flow Across a Cylinder: Part II

Various patterns of flow across a cylinder are seen at different Reynolds numbers.
Creeping Flow Re<10 Attached Vortices 10<Re<40 Von Karman vortex trail 40<Re<200,000 Fully turbulent wake Re>200,000
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Summary
Unsteady fluid flows occur in a variety of real life situations.

From starting and stopping phases of engines and wind turbines to vehicles for transport, unsteady flow patterns are frequently encountered. When analyzing flow variation with time, the analysis is conducted for a series of time steps, which progress in time. The size of these time steps depends upon the time gradient. The higher the time gradient, the lower the time step should be.
2011 Autodesk
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Summary
The Courant Number helps estimate the proper time step. If the duration of the time step is very low, the amount of computation required becomes extremely high. Thus a compromise must be sought which depends upon the available time and computer resources as well as required accuracy.
2011 Autodesk
Education Community

Section5 Module5 Unsteady Flow

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Fluid Flow: Unsteady Flow

Section 5 Fluid Flow

Module 5: Unsteady Flow Page 2

Understand unsteady flow.

Section 5 Fluid Flow

Unsteady Flow: Part I

Module 5: Unsteady Flow Page 3

However, more computational resources are required with smaller steps.

Section 5 Fluid Flow

Unsteady Flow: Part II

Module 5: Unsteady Flow Page 4

Section 5 Fluid Flow

Unsteady Flow: Part III

Module 5: Unsteady Flow Page 5

Section 5 Fluid Flow

Module 5: Unsteady Flow Page 6

Section 5 Fluid Flow

Module 5: Unsteady Flow Page 7

The Courant Number for a 2 dimensional case can be given as:

Example: Flow Across a Cylinder: Part I

Section 5 Fluid Flow

Flow shows different behavior at different flow speeds.

Example: Flow Across a Cylinder: Part II

Section 5 Fluid Flow

Section 5 Fluid Flow

Module 5: Unsteady Flow Page 10

Unsteady fluid flows occur in a variety of real life situations.

Section 5 Fluid Flow

Module 5: Unsteady Flow Page 11

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