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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 109 records · Page 6

Equivalence of Fluctuation Splitting and Finite Volume for One-Dimensional Gas Dynamics

The equivalence of the discretized equations resulting from both fluctuation splitting and finite volume schemes is demonstrated in one dimension. Scalar equations are considered for advection, diffusion, and combined advection/diffusion. Analysis of systems is performed for the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations of gas dynamics. Non-uniform mesh-point distributions are included in the analyses.

Wood, William A.↗

Unstructured Finite Volume Computational Thermo-Fluid Dynamic Method for Multi-Disciplinary Analysis and Design Optimization

This paper describes a finite volume computational thermo-fluid dynamics method to solve for Navier-Stokes equations in conjunction with energy equation and thermodynamic equation of state in an unstructured coordinate system. The system of equations have been solved by a simultaneous Newton-Raphson method and compared with several benchmark solutions. Excellent agreements have been obtained in each case and the method has been found to be significantly faster than conventional Computational Fluid Dynamic(CFD) methods and therefore has the potential for implementation in Multi-Disciplinary analysis and design optimization in fluid and thermal systems. The paper also describes an algorithm of design optimization based on Newton-Raphson method which has been recently tested in a turbomachinery application.

Majumdar, Alok↗

Thermodynamic evaluation of transonic compressor rotors using the finite volume approach

The development of a computational capability to handle viscous flow with an explicit time-marching method based on the finite volume approach is summarized. Emphasis is placed on the extensions to the computational procedure which allow the handling of shock induced separation and large regions of strong backflow. Appendices contain abstracts of papers and whole reports generated during the contract period.

Moore, John↗

A High-Order Eulerian–Lagrangian Runge–Kutta Finite Volume (EL–RK–FV) Method for Scalar Nonlinear Conservation Laws

Abstract We present a class of high-order Eulerian–Lagrangian Runge–Kutta finite volume methods that can numerically solve Burgers’ equation with shock formations, which could be extended to general scalar conservation laws. Eulerian–Lagrangian (EL) and semi-Lagrangian (SL) methods have recently seen increased development and have become a staple for allowing large time-stepping sizes. Yet, maintaining relatively large time-stepping sizes post shock formation remains quite challenging. Our proposed scheme integrates the partial differential equation on a space-time region partitioned by linear approximations to the characteristics determined by the Rankine–Hugoniot jump condition. We trace the characteristics forward in time and present a merging procedure for the mesh cells to handle intersecting characteristics due to shocks. Following this partitioning, we write the equation in a time-differential form and evolve with Runge–Kutta methods in a method-of-lines fashion. High-resolution methods such as ENO and WENO-AO schemes are used for spatial reconstruction. Extension to higher dimensions is done via dimensional splitting. Numerical experiments demonstrate our scheme’s high-order accuracy and ability to sharply capture post-shock solutions with large time-stepping sizes.

Chen, Jiajie↗

Finite-volume Euler and Navier-Stokes solvers for three-dimensional and conical vortex flows over delta wings

A unified central-difference finite-volume Euler and Navier-Stokes solver with four-stage Runge-Kutta time stepping is presented. The computer code developed for this purpose is capable of solving the standard set and nonstandard sets (zero-total-pressure loss) of Euler equations and the thin-layer and full Navier-Stokes equations. Applications are presented for conical supersonic flows with weak shocks using the standard and nonstandard sets of Euler equations, and the thin-layer and full Navier-Stokes equations for sharp and round-edged delta wings. Applications are also presented for three-dimensional transonic and subsonic flows using the standard set of Euler equations for sharp-edged delta wings. The computational results of the different sets of equations are compared with each other and with the experimental results and conclusions on the validity of these sets to these applications, are presented.

Kandil, Osama A.↗

Extending an Economical Third-Order Inviscid Nodal-Gradient Cell-Centered Finite-Volume Method to Mixed-Element Grids

In this paper, we extend an economical third-order nodal-gradient cell-centered finite-volume method, originally developed for tetrahedral grids, to mixed-element grids. It is shown that the efficient quadratic interpolation formula essential to eliminating second derivatives from a third-order accurate discretization can be easily extended to an arbitrary cell type. For the surface flux integration, we consider a split-face approach, where a quadrilateral face is split into two triangles, and the third-order method for tetrahedra is directly applied. Also, we derive a second-derivative-free, high-order, volume quadrature formula for an arbitrary cell. Numerical results are presented for accuracy verification and applications with three-dimensional nontetrahedral grids.

Computational Fluid Dynamics↗

An explicit finite-volume time-marching procedure for turbulent flow calculations

A method was developed which calculates two-dimensional, transonic, viscous flow in ducts. The finite-volume, time-marching formulation is used to obtain steady flow solutions of the Reynolds-averaged form of the Navier-Stokes equations. The entire calculation is performed in the physical domain. Control volumes are chosen so that smoothing of flow properties, typically required for stability, is not required. Different time steps are used in the different governing equations. A new pressure interpolation scheme is introduced which improves the shock capturing ability of the method. A multi-volume method for pressure changes in the boundary layer allows calculations which use very long and thin control volumes (length/height - 1000). The method is compared with two test cases. Essentially incompressible turbulent boundary layer flow in an adverse pressure gradient is calculated and the computed distributions of mean velocity and shear are in good agreement with the measurements. Transonic viscous flow in a converging diverging nozzle is calculated; the Mach number upstream of the shock is approximately 1.25. The agreement between the calculated and measured shock strength and total pressure losses is good.

Nicholson, Stephen↗

An explicit finite-volume time-marching procedure for turbulent flow calculations

A method was developed which calculates two-dimensional, transonic, viscous flow in ducts. The finite-volume, time-marching formulation is used to obtain steady flow solutions of the Reynolds-averaged form of the Navier-Stokes equations. The entire calculation is performed in the physical domain. Control volumes are chosen so that smoothing of flow properties, typically required for stability, is not required. Different time steps are used in the different governing equations. A new pressure interpolation scheme is introduced which improves the shock capturing ability of the method. A multi-volume method for pressure changes in the boundary layer allows calculations which use very long and thin control volumes (length/height - 1000). The method is compared with two test cases. Essentially incompressible turbulent boundary layer flow in an adverse pressure gradient is calculated and the computed distributions of mean velocity and shear are in good agreement with the measurements. Transonic viscous flow in a converging diverging nozzle is calculated; the Mach number upstream of the shock is approximately 1.25. The agreement between the calculated and measured shock strength and total pressure losses is good.

Nicholson, Stephen↗

Fractional-Step, Finite-Volume Computation Of Flow

Method of solving Navier-Stokes equations of incompressible flow in general nonorthogonal curvilinear coordinates incorporates fractional-step and finite-volume approaches. Developed in continuing effort to achieve accuracy without need for excessive computation time in numerical simulation of time-dependent, three-dimensional flows bounded by surfaces of complicated shape.

Kwak, Dochan↗

Supersonic flow computations using a rectangular-coordinate finite-volume method

A numerical procedure has been developed for the computation of supersonic flows over complex conical geometries. The full potential equation is solved using a finite-volume method with a non-body-fitted rectangular grid. The only mapping done is the transformation of the spherical cross-flow plane to a flat surface using a stereographic projection. A new procedure for very thin fins is described which does not require the resolution of the fin thickness. Applications for simple cones, conical wing-bodies, wave riders and finned geometries compare favorably with existing solutions with body-fitted grids and available experimental data.

Grossman, B.↗

Explicit finite-volume time-marching calculations of total temperature distributions in turbulent flow

A method was developed which calculates two-dimensional, transonic, viscous flow in ducts. The finite volume, time-marching formulation is used to obtain steady flow solutions of the Reynolds-averaged form of the Navier-Stokes equations. The entire calculation is performed in the physical domain. This paper investigates the introduction of a new formulation of the energy equation which gives improved transient behavior as the calculation converges. The effect of variable Prandtl number on the temperature distribution through the boundary layer is also investigated. A turbulent boundary layer in an adverse pressure gradient (M = 0.55) is used to demonstrate the improved transient temperature distribution obtained when the new formulation of the energy equation is used. A flat plate turbulent boundary layer with a supersonic free-stream Mach number of 2.8 is used to investigate the effect of Prandtl number on the distribution of properties through the boundary layer. The computed total temperature distribution and recovery factor agree well with the measurements when a variable Prandtl number is used through the boundary layer.

Nicholson, Stephen↗

Explicit finite-volume time-marching calculations of total temperature distributions in turbulent flow

A method was developed which calculates two-dimensional, transonic, viscous flow in ducts. The finite volume, time-marching formulation is used to obtain steady flow solutions of the Reynolds-averaged form of the Navier-Stokes equations. The entire calculation is performed in the physical domain. This paper investigates the introduction of a new formulation of the energy equation which gives improved transient behavior as the calculation converges. The effect of variable Prandtl number on the temperature distribution through the boundary layer is also investigated. A turbulent boundary layer in an adverse pressure gradient (M = 0.55) is used to demonstrate the improved transient temperature distribution obtained when the new formulation of the energy equation is used. A flat plate turbulent boundary layer with a supersonic free-stream Mach number of 2.8 is used to investigate the effect of Prandtl number on the distribution of properties through the boundary layer. The computed total temperature distribution and recovery factor agree well with the measurements when a variable Prandtl number is used through the boundary layer.

Nicholson, Stephen↗

Edge-Based Viscous Method for Mixed-Element Node-Centered Finite-Volume Solvers

A novel, efficient, edge-based viscous (EBV) discretization method has been recently developed, implemented in a practical, unstructured-grid, node-centered, finite-volume flow solver, and applied to viscous-kernel computations that include evaluations of meanflow viscous fluxes, turbulence-model and chemistry-model diffusion terms, and the corresponding Jacobian contributions. Initially, the EBV method had been implemented for tetrahedral grids and demonstrated multifold acceleration of all viscous-kernel computations. This paper presents an extension of the EBV method for mixed-element grids. In addition to the primal edges of a given mixed-element grid, virtual edges are introduced to connect cell nodes that are not connected by a primal edge. The EBV method uses an efficient loop over all (primal and virtual) edges and features a compact discretization stencil based on the nearest neighbors. This study verifies the EBV method and assesses its efficiency on mixed-element grids by comparing the EBV solution accuracy and iterative convergence with those of well-established solutions obtained using a cell-based viscous (CBV) discretization method. The EBV solver’s memory footprint is optimized and often smaller than the memory footprint of the CBV solver. A multifold speedup is demonstrated for all viscous-kernel computations resulting in significant reduction of the time to solutions for several benchmark mixed-element-grid computations, including simulations of a flow around NASA’s juncture-flow model and a hypersonic, chemically reacting flow around a blunt body.

Edge-based viscous method↗

Direct Numerical Simulation of Acoustic Waves Interacting with a Shock Wave in a Quasi-1D Convergent-Divergent Nozzle Using an Unstructured Finite Volume Algorithm

Numerical simulation of a very small amplitude acoustic wave interacting with a shock wave in a quasi-1D convergent-divergent nozzle is performed using an unstructured finite volume algorithm with a piece-wise linear, least square reconstruction, Roe flux difference splitting, and second-order MacCormack time marching. First, the spatial accuracy of the algorithm is evaluated for steady flows with and without the normal shock by running the simulation with a sequence of successively finer meshes. Then the accuracy of the Roe flux difference splitting near the sonic transition point is examined for different reconstruction schemes. Finally, the unsteady numerical solutions with the acoustic perturbation are presented and compared with linear theory results.

Bui, Trong T.↗

A Simplified FANG Cell-Centered Finite-Volume Method and Comparison with Other Methods for Trouble-Prone Grids

We propose a simplication of the face-averaged nodal-gradient (FANG) method for a cell-centered finite-volume Euler/Navier-Stokes solver on arbitrary grids, and compare it with other gradient methods for trouble-prone grids in two dimensions. The implementation of the FANG method is simplified by adding the face-neighbor cells of the cells around a node to a least-squares gradient stencil. The resulting method is stable for both triangular and quadrilateral grids. Although it increases the residual stencil for triangular grids, it allows the solver to work seamlessly for mixed grids and greatly simplifies the implementation, especially in three dimensions. For comparison, only explicit weighted/unweighted least-squares cell-centered and nodal gradient methods are considered. These gradients are used in both inviscid and viscous schemes, and we investigate their impact on the iterative convergence of an implicit defect-correction solver on difficult grids such as highly-curved-and-thin grids and highly distorted anisotropic grids. Finally, we will also consider a face-stencil-based limiter and compare it with a conventional cell-stencil-based limiter.

Hiroaki Nishikawa↗

A nonoscillatory, characteristically convected, finite volume scheme for multidimensional convection problems

A new, nonoscillatory upwind scheme is developed for the multidimensional convection equation. The scheme consists of an upwind, nonoscillatory interpolation of data to the surfaces of an intermediate finite volume; a characteristic convection of surface data to a midpoint time level; and a conservative time integration based on the midpoint rule. This procedure results in a convection scheme capable of resolving discontinuities neither aligned with, nor convected along, grid lines.

Yokota, Jeffrey W.↗

A nonoscillatory, characteristically convected, finite volume scheme for multidimensional convection problems

A new, nonoscillatory upwind scheme is developed for the multidimensional convection equation. The scheme consists of an upwind, nonoscillatory interpolation of data to the surfaces of an intermediate finite volume; a characteristic convection of surface data to a midpoint time level; and a conservative time integration based on the midpoint rule. This procedure results in a convection scheme capable of resolving discontinuities neither aligned with, nor convected along, grid lines.

Yokota, Jeffrey W.↗

A finite-volume numerical method to calculate fluid forces and rotordynamic coefficients in seals

A numerical method to calculate rotordynamic coefficients of seals is presented. The flow in a seal is solved by using a finite-volume formulation of the full Navier-Stokes equations with appropriate turbulence models. The seal rotor is perturbed along a diameter such that the position of the rotor is a sinusoidal function of time. The resulting flow domain changes with time, and the time-dependent flow in the seal is solved using a space conserving moving grid formulation. The time-varying fluid pressure reaction forces are then linked with the rotor center displacement, velocity and acceleration to yield the rotordynamic coefficients. Results for an annular seal are presented, and compared with experimental data and other more simplified numerical methods.

Athavale, M. M.↗