TRANSITIONAL PAGE

Direct Simulation Monte Carlo

(DSMC)
by:
Behzad Mohajer
(M.Sc. Student)
Supervisor:
Dr. Mehrzad Shams
K. N. Toosi University of Technology
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions
Knudsen number

mean free path
characteristic length

Represents the rarefaction rate and validity of the continuum models
Knudsen number limits on the mathematical models
Euler Equations Kn 0 (Re ) Inviscid Flow
Navier-Stokes Equations
(using no-slip boundary conditions)
Kn 10
-3
Continuum Regime
Navier-Stokes Equations
(using slip boundary conditions)
10
-3
Kn 10
-1
Slip Regime
Boltzmann Equation
(Considering Molecular Collisions)
10
-1
Kn 10 Transition Regime
Boltzmann Equation
(Without Molecular Collisions)
Kn 10 ( Re 0 )
Free Molecular
Regime
Introduction of Micro/Nano Scale Flows
Macroscopic
Models
Microscopic
Models
Navier-Stokes Equations
Boltzmann Equation
Numerical Methods
2/20
Flow Considered as a
number of molecules
Described by the position,
velocity, and internal state of
every molecule
Consists of density, pressure
and velocity gradient terms
(in time and position)
Flow considered continuum
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions
Boltzmann Equations
Collisionless Boltzmann Equation
Dependant Variable Fraction of molecules in a given location and state (Molecule Distribution
Function )
Independent Variable Time, Velocity Components, Spatial Positions of Molecules
Solution Domain Phase Space (multi-dimensional space formed by the combination of
physical space and velocity space)
3/20
Numerical Methods
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions
Large number of independent variables
Extremely large computational cost for collision term
Numerical Methods for Boltzmann Equation
1) Direct Boltzmann CFD
2) Molecular Method (Direct Simulation Monte Carlo)
using a statistical description in terms of probability distributions

simulating the gas flow as a group of individual molecules which
have their own positions, velocities, internal energy, index, etc
ok
4/20
Numerical Methods
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions
Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC)
The primary principle of DSMC is to decouple the motion
and collision of particles during one time step
DSMC method was first introduced by G. Bird in 1976
DSMC models the real gas by a large number of simulated
molecules in a computer.
Each simulated molecule represents a number of real
molecules. This number vary from the order of hundreds to
millions.
5/20
DSMC is a numerical tool to solve the Boltzmann equation
based on direct statistical simulation of the molecular
processes described by the kinetic theory
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions
DSMC Algorithm
1) Grid Generation

The first step in DSMC is breaking down the computational domain into a
collection of grid cells

The size of each cell should be sufficiently small to result in small changes in
thermodynamic properties across each cell.

The cells are divided into sub-cells in each direction

The subcells are then utilized to facilitate the selection of collision pairs.

6/20
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions
Time Step ) 2
The mean collision time
The mean residence time
7/20
Molecules in each cell do not cross more than one cell during one time step
%25 of the length of the cell is usually used to calculate t
DSMC Algorithm
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions
3) Initial Positions of The Simulated Molecules
The initial positions are set using random numbers
4) Initial Velocity of The Simulated Molecules
The velocity components are calculated using the velocity distribution function
The most probable molecular velocity
8/20
DSMC Algorithm
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions
5) Molecular Movements
Molecules move in cell by constant velocity (u, v, w)
6) Gas-Surface Interaction
Specular Reflection
Diffuse Reflection
9/20
The most probable molecular velocity
DSMC Algorithm
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions
7) The Probability of Molecular Collision in a Cell
The proportion of the volume swept out by relative velocity between
a pair of molecules to the volume of the cell:
Among all probable collisions, the collisions would happen which
apply to:
The number of Probable Collisions
10/20
DSMC Algorithm
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions
8) Velocity Components after Collision
Diffuse assumption:
11/20
DSMC Algorithm
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions
9) Molecular Indexing
10) Sampling of The Macroscopic Properties
The indexing of the simulated molecules must be changed according to
their new spatial positions(cell and subcell)
12/20
After achieving steady flow condition, sampling of molecular
properties within each cell is fulfilled during sufficient time to avoid
statistical scattering. All thermodynamic parameters such as temperature,
density, and pressure are then determined from this time averaged data.
DSMC Algorithm
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions
Boundary Conditions in DSMC Method
Supersonic
Flow
Inlet
Boundary
Conditions
Free Stream
Mach Number
Inlet
Temperature
Outlet
Boundary
Conditions
Vacuum
Moleceules are not allowed to return to the domain
13/20
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions
Subsonic
Flow
Type 2
Specified
Outlet Pressure
Specified Mass
Flow Rate
Type 1
Specified Outlet and
Inlet Pressure
Molecules at outlet are allowed to return to the domain
Molecules are allowed to return to upstream
14/20
Boundary Conditions in DSMC Method
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions
The End
20/20
Introduction
Numerical
Methods
DSMC
DSMC
Algorithm
Boundary
Conditions