MECH3780

Fluid Mechanics 2 and CFD

Computation Fluid Dynamics

(CFD)
Lecture 5 - Consistent, Stability,
Convergence & Boundary
Conditions
Reference: CFD Lecture Notes by Assoc Prof Dr Kamarul Arifin Ahmad
Objectives

• To introduce the Consistent, Stability,

Convergence & Boundary Conditions
• To give overview about the Consistent,
Stability, Convergence & Boundary Conditions
 Definitions

Convergence is the property of a numerical method to produce a

solution which approaches the exact solution as the
grid spacing, control volume size, is reduced to zero

Consistent Numerical schemes produce systems of algebraic

equations which can be demonstrated to be
equivalent to the original governing equation as the
grid spacing tends to zero

Stability associated with damping errors as the numerical

method proceeds. If a technique is not stable even
roundoff errors in the initial data can cause wild
oscillations or divergence
 Equivalence Theorem of Lax

Convergence is usually very difficult to establish

theoretically therefore we will use Lax theorem:
For linear problems a necessary and sufficient
condition for convergence is that the method is
both consistent and stable.
Convergence is essential.

NB. This type of convergence is different from the convergence of

residuals.
 Alternative

Conservativeness

Boundedness

Transportiveness
 Conservativeness

Finite volume approach guarantees local

conservation of a fluid property Φ for each
control volume, also ensure global
conservation for the entire domain.
 Boundedness

Similar to stability and requires that in a

linear problem without sources the solution
is bounded by maximum and minimum
boundary values of flow variable. It can be
achieved by placing restrictions on the
magnitude and signs of the coefficients of
the algebraic equations.
 Transportiveness

All flow processes contain effects due to convection and

diffusion. In diffusive phenomena, such as heat
conduction, a change of temperature at one location
affects the temperature in more or less equal measure in
all directions around it. Convective phenomena involve
influencing exclusively in the flow direction so that a point
only experiences effects due to the changes at upstream
locations.
Finite volume schemes with the transportiveness property
must account for the directionality of influencing in terms
of the relative strength of diffusion to convection.
 Compressible and Incompressible

There are two major classes of methods solving

incompressible flow. The traditional method solves an elliptic
problem for the divergence constraint and couples it to a
hyperbolic treatment of the momentum equations. These
methods are called pressure based or segregated.
Each iteration in effect becomes a two-stage procedure:
1. An intermediate update for the velocities is calculated
using a marching discretisation for the momentum equations.
2. The elliptic problem is solved using a relaxation method.
This corrects the intermediate update of the velocity and
pressure field to satisfy the divergence constraint.
 Compressible and Incompressible

Alternatively, if the steady state solution is sought, one can

introduce an artificial compressibility which decreases as
the solution advances in time, vanishing when the
incompressible state solution is reached. These methods
are called density based or coupled and lead to a fully
hyperbolic system just as in the genuine compressible
case which can be marched in time.
In general, commercial flow packages offer a choice of all
methods. For purely incompressible methods pressure-
based discretisations are generally preferred because they
converge faster. Key differences between incompressible
and compressible flows will also arise in the choice of
boundary conditions.
 Boundary Conditions

Velocity Inlet Velocity inlet boundary conditions are used to define the velocity
and scalar properties of the flow at inlet boundaries.

Pressure Inlet Pressure inlet boundary conditions are used to define the total
pressure and other scalar quantities at flow inlets.

Mass Flow Inlet are used in compressible flows to prescribe a mass flow rate at
an inlet. It is not necessary to use mass flow inlets in incompressible flows
because when density is constant, velocity inlet boundary conditions will
fix the mass flow.
 Boundary Conditions
Pressure Outlet Pressure outlet boundary conditions are used to define the
static pressure at flow outlets (and also other scalar variables, in case of
backflow). The use of a pressure outlet boundary condition instead of an
outflow condition often results in a better rate of convergence when backflow
occurs during iteration.

Pressure Far-Field Pressure far-field boundary conditions are used to

model a free-stream compressible flow at infinity, with free-stream Mach
number and static conditions specified. This boundary type is available only
for compressible flows.

Outflow Outflow boundary conditions are used to model flow exits where the
details of the flow velocity and pressure are not known prior to solution of the
flow problem. They are appropriate where the exit flow is close to a fully
developed condition, as the outflow boundary condition assumes a zero
normal gradient for all flow variables except pressure. They are not
appropriate for compressible flow calculations.
 Boundary Conditions

Wall Wall boundary conditions are used to bound fluid and solid
regions. In viscous flows, the no-slip boundary condition is enforced
at walls by default, but you can specify a tangential velocity
component in terms of the translational or rotational motion of the
wall boundary, or model a “slip” wall by specifying shear.

Symmetry Symmetry boundary conditions are used when the

physical geometry of interest, and the expected pattern of the
flow/thermal solution, have mirror symmetry. They can also be used
to model zero-shear slip walls in viscous flows.

Periodicity Periodic boundary conditions are used when the physical

geometry of interest and the expected pattern of the flow/thermal
solution have a periodically repeating nature.