EEN-E2001 Computational Fluid Dynamics D

Exercise 4: Backward-facing step

March 5, 2024

Theory exercise 20/100

For the linear 1D convection diffusion equation

∂c ∂c ∂2c
+u =Γ 2 (1)
∂t ∂x ∂x
write the discrete operators D and L such that

cn+1 = cn + δt(−uDcn + ΓLcn ) (2)

can be used to progress the solution in time. Assume 2nd order central
differencing and make sure that the boundary conditions c(x = 0) = T1
and c(x = L) = T2 are satisfied. Consider both assumptions for the
boundary condition placement, 1) at the cell center and 2) at the face
center.

Simulation exercise 80/100

no-slip
inlet
h = 5.2 mm
U = 0.561 m/s
H = 10.1 mm outlet

no-slip

Figure 1: Flow past a backward-facing step.

The backward-facing step flow consists of an inlet channel that leads to

a sudden, asymmetrical expansion i.e. a step. Figure 1 illustrates the
geometry and specifies the boundary conditions. The Reynolds number
characterising the flow defined using the inlet velocity U and the double
the inlet channel height h:
2U h
Re = . (3)
ν

1
In this exercise the fluid is air.

A. Prepare three cases for a backward-facing step study. The purpose

is to study the effect of the outlet boundary on the results. Therefore,
you should test 40 mm, 75 mm and 100 mm between the outlet and the
step. In addition, make sure that also the length of the inlet channel
is sufficient for the flow to be fully developed before the step. For the
inlet, you can fix the velocity to the value U = 0.561 m/s, think of the
other boundary conditions yourself. In your report, present the bound-
ary conditions, amount of cells, (convection) discretization schemes and
illustrative figures of one of the meshes.

B. Run a total of three simulations for the case. Make sure the so-
lution converges (steady-state is reached). In your report, present the
following figures:

• Velocity profiles (ux (y)) of the streamwise velocity component at

distances 0, 12.75, 17.85, 24, 30.6, and 38.8 mm downstream of
the step. The reference data from [1] is given in MyCourses.

• Streamlines of all three simulations. (three figures)

• Velocity fields of all three simulations. (three figures)

Based on your results, answer to the following questions:

1. Which solver did you use? Is it a transient or steady-state solver?

2. How does the distance between the outlet and the step affect the
results?

3. How does zero-gradient boundary condition affect the flow near

the boundary?

4. Based on what did you choose the length of the entrance channel?

5. Based on your results, How would the insufficient length of the

inlet channel affect flow?

References
[1] F. Armaly, F. Durst, J. C. F. Pereira, and B. Schönung: “Experimen-
tal and theoretical investigation of backward-facing step flow”, Jour-
nal of Fluid Mechanics 127, 473–496, (1983).