International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids

doi: 10.1002/fld.1336pmid: N/A

de Niet, A. C.; Wubs, F. W.

doi: 10.1002/fld.1401pmid: N/A

In this paper two preconditioners for the saddle point problem are analysed: one based on the augmented Lagrangian approach and another involving artificial compressibility. Eigenvalue analysis shows that with these preconditioners small condition numbers can be achieved for the preconditioned saddle point matrix. The preconditioners are compared with commonly used preconditioners from literature for the Stokes and Oseen equation and an ocean flow problem. The numerical results confirm the analysis: the preconditioners are a good alternative to existing ones in fluid flow problems. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Omri, Ahmed; Hajri, Imene; Nasrallah, Sassi Ben

doi: 10.1002/fld.1402pmid: N/A

This paper presents a numerical model to study the laminar flows induced in confined spaces by natural convection. A control volume finite‐element method (CVFEM) with equal‐order meshing is employed to discretize the governing equations in the pressure–velocity formulation. In the proposed model, unknown variables are calculated in the same grid system using different specific interpolation functions without pressure correction. To manage memory storage requirements, a data storage format is developed for generated sparse banded matrices. The performance of various Krylov techniques, including Bi‐CGSTAB (Bi‐Conjugate Gradient STABilized) with an incomplete LU (ILU) factorization preconditioner is verified by applying it to three well‐known test problems. The results are compared to those of independent numerical or theoretical solutions in literature. The iterative computer procedure is improved by using a coupled strategy, which consists of solving simultaneously the momentum and the continuity equation transformed in a pressure equation. Results show that the strategy provides useful benefits with respect to both reduction of storage requirements and central processing unit runtime. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Zeidan, D.; Romenski, E.; Slaouti, A.; Toro, E. F.

doi: 10.1002/fld.1404pmid: N/A

We propose a new model and a solution method for two‐phase two‐fluid compressible flows. The model involves six equations obtained from conservation principles applied to a one‐dimensional flow of gas and liquid mixture completed by additional closure governing equations. The model is valid for pure fluids as well as for fluid mixtures. The system of partial differential equations with source terms is hyperbolic and has conservative form. Hyperbolicity is obtained using the principles of extended thermodynamics. Features of the model include the existence of real eigenvalues and a complete set of independent eigenvectors. Its numerical solution poses several difficulties. The model possesses a large number of acoustic and convective waves and it is not easy to upwind all of these accurately and simply. In this paper we use relatively modern shock‐capturing methods of a centred‐type such as the total variation diminishing (TVD) slope limiter centre (SLIC) scheme which solve these problems in a simple way and with good accuracy. Several numerical test problems are displayed in order to highlight the efficiency of the study we propose. The scheme provides reliable results, is able to compute strong shock waves and deals with complex equations of state. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Wilson, Robert V.; Carrica, Pablo M.; Stern, Fred

doi: 10.1002/fld.1406pmid: N/A

An unsteady single‐phase level set RANS method is used to resolve and investigate bow wave breaking around a surface combatant advancing in calm water, including induced vortices and free surface scars. A level set free surface capturing approach was extended and combined with local overset grid refinement for resolution of complex interfacial topologies and small‐scale free surface features. Although the focus of the paper is on wave breaking at Fr=0.35, results over three speeds (Fr=0.28, 0.35, and 0.41) show that the method can accurately predict the changes in resistance and free surface topology, with the two highest speeds showing bow wave breaking. For the Fr=0.35 case, comparison of wave elevation results shows good agreement with the data, including the development and thickening of the bow wave sheet, sequential formation of two overturning plungers with reconnections, and the formation of two free surface scars at the reconnection sites. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solution shows a steep shoulder wave, similar to the experiment, but does not predict the experimentally observed weak spilling breaking shoulder wave. Although the current predictions converge to steady state, the region of unsteady free surface measured experimentally can be reasonably well predicted from the region of the simulation where the wave slope exceeds 17°. Comparisons of velocity components and axial vorticity at four cross planes show that the method can accurately predict the wake of low axial velocity and vortical cross flow associated with the breaking bow wave. In addition, the simulation is used to explain the initial development of the overturning bow wave, induced vortices and scars and to fill in the relatively sparse experimental data set by providing a global picture of the axial vortex structure near the free surface. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Bourchtein, A.; Bourchtein, L.

doi: 10.1002/fld.1410pmid: N/A

Time‐splitting technique applied in the context of the semi‐Lagrangian semi‐implicit method allows the use of extended time steps mainly based on physical considerations and reduces the number of numerical operations at each time step such that it is approximately proportional to the number of the points of spatial grid. To control time growth of the additional truncation errors, the standard stabilizing correction method is modified with no penalty for accuracy and efficiency of the algorithm. A linear analysis shows that constructed scheme is stable for time steps up to 2h. Numerical integrations with actual atmospheric fields of pressure and wind confirm computational efficiency, extended stability and accuracy of the proposed scheme. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.