Chapter 6

Solution of Navier-Stokes
Equations for
Incompressible Flows Using
SIMPLE and MAC
Algorithms

6.1 Introduction
In Cartesian coordinates, the governing equations for incompressible three-
dimensional flows are
∂u ∂v ∂w
+ + =0 (6.1)
∂x ∂y ∂z

∂u ∂(u2 ) ∂(uv) ∂(uw) 1 ∂2u ∂2u ∂2u

 
∂p
+ + + =− + + + (6.2)
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z ∂x Re ∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2
∂v ∂(uv) ∂(v 2 ) ∂(vw) 1 ∂2v ∂2v ∂2v
 
∂p
+ + + =− + + 2+ 2 (6.3)
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z ∂y Re ∂x2 ∂y ∂z
2 2 2
∂ 2w
 
∂w ∂(uw) ∂(vw) ∂(w ) ∂p 1 ∂ w ∂ w
+ + + =− + + + (6.4)
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z ∂z Re ∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2

In this chapter no assumption is made about the relative magnitude of the

velocity components, consequently the full forms of the Navier-Stokes equations
are solved. Methods described in this section will be based, basically, on finite-
volume and finite-difference discretizations and on the solution of a Poisson
equation to determine the pressure. It may be mentioned that these methods

1
6.2 Computational Fluid Dynamics

use primitive variables u, v, w and p as function of x, y, z, t and Re which are

preferable in flow calculations.

6.2 Staggered Grid

As it has been seen, the major difficulty encountered during solution of in-
compressible flow is the non-availability of any obvious equation for the pres-
sure. This difficulty can be resolved in the stream- function-vorticity approach.
This approach loses its advantage when three-dimensional flow is computed
because of the fact that a single scalar stream-function does not exist in three-
dimensional space. A three-dimensional problem demands a primitive-variable
approach. Efforts have been made so that two-dimensional as well as three-
dimensional problems could be computed following a primitive variable ap-
proach without encountering non-physical wiggles in the pressure distribution.
As a remedy, it has been suggested to employ a different grid for each of the
dependent variables.
Such a staggered grid for the dependant variables in a flow field was first
used by Harlow and Welch (1965), in their very well known MAC (Marker
and Cell) method. Since then, it has been used by many researchers. Specif-
ically, SIMPLE (Semi Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equations) proce-
dure of Patankar and Spalding (1972) has become popular. Figure 6.1 shows a
two-dimensional staggered where independent variables (ui,j ,vi,j and pi,j ) with
the same indices staggered to one another. Extension to three-dimensions is
straight-forward. The computational domain is divided into a number of cells,
which are shown as “main control volume” in Fig. 6.1. The location of the ve-
locity components are at the center of the cell faces to which they are normal.
If a uniform grid is used, the locations are exactly at the midway between the
grid points. In such cases the pressure difference between the two adjacent cells
is the driving force for the velocity component located at the interface of these
cells. The finite-difference approximation is now physically meaningful and the
pressure field will accept a reasonable pressure distribution for a correct velocity
field.
Another important advantage is that transport rates across the faces of the
control volumes can be computed without interpolation of velocity components.
The detailed outline of the two different solution procedures for the full Navier-
Stokes equations with primitive variables using staggered grid will be discussed
in subsequent sections. First we shall discuss the SIMPLE algorithm and then
the MAC method will be described.
 Solution of Navier-Stokes.. 6.3

= u velocity
= v velocity
variables with same = p pressure
indices staggered

11111
00000
main control volume
00000
11111
000001111
111110000
11111 00000
11111
000001111
0000
00000
11111
v velocity control
0000
1111
00000
11111
u volumes
0000
1111
00000
11111
Y
00000
11111

Figure 6.1: Staggered grid.

6.3 Semi Implicit Method for Pressure Linked

Equations (SIMPLE)
SIMPLE algorithm is based on finite-volume discretization of the Navier-Stokes
equations. The method was introduced by Patankar and Spalding (1972). The
discretization indicated below corresponds to a uniform grid. The more general
case of a non-uniform grid can be obtained from Patankar (1980). Consider the
continuity equation
∂u ∂v
+ =0
∂x ∂y
For the control volume shown in Fig. 6.2. The application of the finite-volume
method to the continuity equation produes the following discretized form of the
equation
un+1 n+1 n+1 n+1



i,j − ui−1,j ∆y + vi,j − vi,j−1 ∆x = 0 (6.5)

6.3.1 x - momentum equation

The Navier-Stokes equation in x-direction in conservative form (using continuity
equation) is given as

∂u ∂(u)2 1 ∂ 2 u ∂ 2u
 
∂(uv) ∂p
+ + + = + 2
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂x Re ∂x2 ∂y
6.4 Computational Fluid Dynamics

V i−1,j+1 V i,j+1 V i+1,j+1

U i−1,j+1 φi,j+1 U i,j+1 U i+1,j+1

V i−1,j V i,j V i+1,j

1111111
0000000
φ i−1,j 0000000
1111111
φ φ i+1,j
0000000
1111111
U i−1,j i,j U i,j U i+1,j

0000000
1111111
0000000
1111111
v, j, y V i,j−1
V i−1,j−1 V i+1,j−1

0000000
1111111
U i−1,j−1 φi,j−1 U i,j−1 U i+1,j−1

u, i, x

Figure 6.2: Control volume for continuity equation.

Integrating over the u-control volume (Fig. 6.3), we can write

ZZ     
∆x∆y n+1 n

∂ 2 1 ∂u ∂ 1 ∂u
ui,j − ui,j + u − + uv − dxdy
∆t
ZZ   ∂x Re ∂x ∂y Re ∂y
∂p
+ dxdy = 0
∂x
Application of Green’s theorem to the above expression leads to
∆x∆y n+1
 1   
ui,j − uni,j + Ei+ 1
,j
1
− Ei− 1
,j
1
∆y + Fi,j+ 1 − F
1
i,j− 1 ∆x
∆t 2 2 2 2

+ pn+1 n+1


i+1,j − pi,j ∆y = 0 (6.6)
where E 1 and F 1 are defined as
1 ∂u
E 1 = u2 −
Re ∂x
and
1 ∂u
F 1 = uv −
Re ∂y
E 1 and F 1 are axial and transverse fluxes of x-momentum.
Thus
1 2 1 (ui+1,j − ui,j )
Ei+ 1
,j = 0.25 (ui,j + ui+1,j ) −
2 Re ∆x
 Solution of Navier-Stokes.. 6.5

1 2 1 (ui,j − ui−1,j )
Ei− 1
,j = 0.25 (ui−1,j + ui,j ) −
2 Re ∆x
 
1 1 ui,j+1 − ui,j
Fi,j+ 1 = 0.25 (vi,j + vi+1,j ) (ui,j + ui,j+1 ) −
2 Re ∆y

 
1 1 ui,j − ui,j−1
Fi,j− 1 = 0.25 (vi,j−1 + vi+1,j−1 ) (ui,j−1 + ui,j ) −
2 Re ∆y
The linearized form of these equations are

n+1 n+1


1 ui+1,j − ui,j
1
uni,j uni+1,j un+1 un+1



Ei+ 1 = 0.25 + i,j + i+1,j −
2 ,j Re ∆x
n+1 n+1


1 ui,j − ui−1,j
1
uni−1,j uni,j un+1 un+1



Ei− 1 = 0.25 + + −
i−1,j i,j
2 ,j Re ∆x
n+1 n+1


1 n n

n+1 n+1

1 ui,j+1 − ui,j
Fi,j+ 1 = 0.25 vi,j + vi+1,j ui,j + ui,j+1 −
2 Re ∆y
n+1 n+1


1 ui,j − ui,j−1
1 n n
un+1 un+1



Fi,j− 1 = 0.25 vi,j−1 + vi+1,j−1 i,j−1 + i,j −
2 Re ∆y

v v
i,j i+1,j

u i−1,j p u
i,j
p
i+1,j
u i+1,j
i,j

y
v v i+1,j−1
i,j−1
x

Figure 6.3: Control volume for x-momentum equation.

Consequently, eq. (6.6) can be written as

 
∆x∆y X
+ ai,j un+1
u
aunb un+1 u n+1 n+1


i,j + nb + b + ∆y pi+1,j − pi,j =0 (6.7)
∆t
6.6 Computational Fluid Dynamics

X
In the above equation, aunb un+1
nb signifies all the convective and diffusive
contributions from the neighboring nodes (un+1 n+1 n+1 n+1
i+1,j , ui−1,j , ui,j+1 , ui,j−1 and their
u u
coefficients). The coefficients ai,j and anb contain grid sizes, and the solution of
u and v at nth time level. The term bu equals −∆x∆y uni,j /∆t. In the following
sub-section, equation (6.6) has been written term by term so that aui,j , aunb and
bu in equation (6.7) can be clearly determined.
Equation (6.6) can be expanded as
 
∆x∆y n+1 ∆x∆y n
ui,j − ui,j +
∆t ∆t

   
∆y ∆y
un+1
i,j
n n
0.25(ui,j + ui+1,j )∆y + n+1 n n
+ ui+1,j 0.25(ui,j + ui+1,j )∆y −
Re∆x Re∆x

   
∆y ∆y
−un+1
i,j
n n
0.25(ui−1,j + ui,j )∆y − n+1 n n
− ui−1,j 0.25(ui−1,j + ui,j )∆y +
Re∆x Re∆x

   
∆x ∆x
+un+1
i,j 0.25(v n
i,j + v n
i+1,j )∆x + + u n+1
i,j+1 0.25(v n
i,j + v n
i+1,j )∆x −
Re∆y Re∆y

  
∆x
−un+1
i,j 0.25(v n
i,j−1 + v n
i+1,j−1 )∆x − − u n+1 n n
i,j−1 0.25(vi,j−1 + vi+1,j−1 )∆x
Re∆y

∆x
+ pn+1 n+1


+ i+1,j − pi,j ∆y = 0
Re∆y
or,


∆x∆y
+ 0.25(uni,j + uni+1,j )∆y − 0.25(uni−1,j + uni,j )∆y + 0.25(vi,j
n n
+ vi+1,j )∆x
∆t


∆y ∆y ∆x ∆x
n
−0.25(vi,j−1 + n
vi+1,j−1 )∆x + + + + un+1
Re∆x Re∆x Re∆y Re∆y i,j

   
∆y ∆y
+un+1
i+1,j 0.25(u n
i,j + u n
i+1,j )∆y − + u n+1
i−1,j 0.25(u n
i−1,j + u n
i,j )∆y −
Re∆x Re∆x

  
∆x
+un+1
i,j+1 0.25(v n
i,j + v n
i+1,j )∆x − + u n+1 n n
i,j−1 −0.25(vi,j−1 + vi+1,j−1 )∆x
Re∆y

∆x ∆x∆y n
ui,j + ∆y pn+1 n+1


− − i+1,j − pi,j =0
Re∆y ∆t