Computational Fluid Dynamics

(CFD)
BTD3233 / BHA4532
Lab: Steady flow past a
cylinder
Problem Specification

• steady flow 𝐷 =1m

• Re = 20
• 𝑣𝑥 = 1 m/s
• 𝜌 = 1 kg/m^3 x
• 𝜇 = 0.05kg/m*s
Solution domain
D = 64 m
• External flow
• Need to decide the outer boundary
• For this simulation, we use a
circular domain
• Outer boundary must be far away
from the flow field – the effects of
the cylinder on the flow should not
reach the boundary D=1m

cylinder

boundary
Boundary conditions

velocity inlet wall (no slip) pressure outlet

𝑣𝑥 = 1 m/s 𝑃𝑔𝑎𝑢𝑔𝑒 = 0 kPa
Create flow domain
Change analysis type to 2D
Sketch two circles on the xy-plane
Create surface from sketch

1. Concept > Surface from Sketches

2. Select the sketch as Base Objects
i. Click on the sketch
ii. Click Apply
3. Click Generate
Imprint vertical line (for meshing)

1. Create new sketch

2. Draw vertical line
3. Use Modify > Trim to trim
unnecessary lines
4. Create Line Body from the sketch
i. CreateConcept > Lines from
sketches
ii. Choose the line (Base
object)
iii. Apply
iv. Generate
5. Project Line to the Surface
i. Tool > Projection
ii. Type: Edges on body
iii. Edges: Lines
iv. Target: Surface
6. Suppress the line bodies
7. Change domain to Fluid
Create mesh
Create structured mesh

1. Mesh > Face Meshing

2. Geometry: Select both
Faces
3. Click Apply
4. Click Update
1. Mesh Control > Sizing
2. We want to control sizing on
the edges
3. Geometry: 4 semi-circle
edges > Apply
4. Type: Number of divisions =
96
5. Behaviour: Hard (It means
that Ansys cannot change
this)
Create new Sizing
Create new Sizing

Click Update once everything

is done
Label the boundaries

In Meshing
1. Select Edge or Face etc
2. Right click
3. Create Named Selection
4. Enter appropriate name cylinder_wall
outlet
inlet

flow_domain
Physics setup
1. Perform mesh check
i. Make sure there is no error
2. Specify material properties
3. Specify boundary conditions
i. Velocity inlet
ii. Pressure outlet
iii. Cylinder wall
4. Set reference value for density
Numerical Solution
1. Solution > Solution Methods > Spatial
Discretization
i. Momentum: Second Order Upwind
2. Convergence Criterion
i. Solutions > Monitors > Residuals > Edit
ii. Solutions > Monitors > Create > Drag
3. Initialize
i. Solution > Solution Initialization > Standard
Initialization
ii. Compute From: Inlet
4. Run Simulation