Fluent

Overview

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Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview

ME 437/537/637

Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview

Solution Parameters
Choosing the Solver
Discretization Schemes
Initialization
Convergence
Monitoring Convergence
Stability
Setting Under-relaxation
Setting Courant number
Accelerating Convergence
Accuracy
Grid Independence
Adaptation

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Set Solution Parameters

Initialize
Enable Solution Monitors
Calculate a Solution
Modify the Solution
Parameters or the Mesh

Converged?

Yes

No

Accurate?

No

Yes

Stop

Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview
Menu is laid out such that order of operation is
generally left to right.
Import (scale) the mesh file

Select physical models

Define material properties

Prescribe operating
conditions

Prescribe boundary
conditions

Provide an initial solution

Set solver controls

Set up convergence
monitors

Compute and monitor

solution
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Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview

Mouse button functionality depends on

solver and can be configured in the
solver
Display Menu Mouse Buttons...
Default Settings:
2D Solver
Left button translates (dolly)
Middle button zooms
Right button selects/probes
3D Solver
Left button rotates about 2-axes
Middle button zooms
Right button selects/probes

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Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview

Components are defined in

preprocessor
Cell = control volume into which
cell
domain is broken up
center
computational domain is defined by
mesh that represents the fluid and
solid regions of interest.
Face = boundary of a cell
Edge = boundary of a face
Node = grid point
Zone = group of nodes, faces, and/or
cells
Boundary data assigned to face
zones.
Material data and source terms
assigned to cell zones.

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node

face
cell
2D mesh

node
edge
face

cell

3D mesh
Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview
How to
File Menu Read Case

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Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview

Fluent assumes that all physical dimensions are initially in

meters.
The default unit system in Fluent is Metric (SI) units.

How to
Grid Menu
Check
Grid Menu
Scale
Grid Menu
Translate

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Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview
How to
Display Menu Grid

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Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview

How to

Define Menu
Models Solver
Define Menu
Models Viscous

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Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview
How to

Define Menu Materials Fluent Database

Physical models may require

additional material
properties need to be
defined.

Single-Phase, Single
Species Flows
Define fluid/solid
properties
Real gas model
Multiple Phase Flows
(Single Species)
Define properties for
all fluids and solids.
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Multiple Species
(Single Phase) Flows
Mixture Material concept
employed
Mixture properties
(composition
dependent)
defined separately
from constituents
properties.
Component properties
must be defined.
Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview
How to

Define Menu
Materials Fluent
Database

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Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview
To formulate a problem that results in a
unique solution, the relevant variables at
the domain boundaries must be defined.
Specifying velocity, temperature and
pressure or fluxes of mass, momentum,
energy.

Defining boundary conditions involves:

i. identifying the location of the
boundaries (e.g., inlets, walls,
symmetry)
ii. supplying information at the boundaries

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Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview
How to Define Menu Boundary Conditions
Select Zones

Boundary Condition Types of External Faces

General: Pressure inlet, Pressure outlet
Incompressible: Velocity inlet, Outflow
Compressible flows: Mass flow inlet, Pressure farfield
Special: Inlet vent, outlet vent, intake fan, exhaust
fan
Other: Wall, Symmetry, Periodic, Axis
Boundary Condition Types of Cell Boundaries
Fluid and Solid
Boundary Condition Types of Double-Sided Face
Boundaries
Fan, Interior, Porous Jump, Radiator, Walls
Ahmadi/Nazridoust
ME 437/537/637

Fluent
Overview
How to
Define Menu
Boundary Conditions
Select Zones

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Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview

How to

Solve Menu Initialize

Initialize

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Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview
How to
Solve Menu Monitors
Residuals

The convergence of
solution can also be
changed

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Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview

How to

Solve Menu Iterate

Iterate

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Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview

How to
Display Menu
Contours
Display Menu Vectors

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Ahmadi/Nazridoust

Fluent
Overview
Flow in a Channel

Steady State
Inlet Velocity is known
Outlet is open to atmospheric pressure
No Slip on all walls
Fluid is Water
Desired Grid Resolution is 1500 Hexahedral Cells
x-Velocity = 0.85 m/s
y-Velocity = 0.00 m/s

Outflow

15cm

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60cm

Ahmadi/Nazridoust