KKKM 4213 COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS

2014/2015
MINI PROJECT II
FLUID FLOW PAST A CYLINDER
PREPARED BY :
MOHAMMAD FAID BIN MOHD GHAZALI (A137105)
MUHAMMAD HAFIZ BIN MOHD PAZLI (A137399)

Contents
1.0

INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ 1

1.1

Flow Regime.............................................................................................. 1

1.2

Vortex Shedding........................................................................................ 2

1.3

GOVERNING EQUATION............................................................................. 2

1.4

Conservation of mass................................................................................ 3

1.5

Conservation of linear momentum............................................................3

1.6

Conservation of energy............................................................................. 4

2.0

OBJECTIVE.................................................................................................... 4

3.0

ASSUMPTION................................................................................................ 4

4.0

METHODOLOGY............................................................................................ 4

4.1
5.0

Wind tunnel dimension.............................................................................. 6

RESULT......................................................................................................... 7

5.1

Test 1(Reynolds number = 1000, Velocity = 0.05 m/s).............................7

5.2

Test 2 (Reynolds number = 100000, Velocity = 5 m/s............................10

5.3

Test 3(Reynolds number = 1000000, Velocity = 60 m/s) .......................13

5.0

DISCUSSION............................................................................................... 16

6.0

COMPARISON WITH EXISTING DATA............................................................17

7.0

CONCLUSION.............................................................................................. 19

8.0

APPENDIX................................................................................................... 20

9.0

REFERENCE................................................................................................ 21

1.0

INTRODUCTION

The flow around cylinders has been extensively studied due to its importance in many
practical applications, such as heat exchangers, chimneys, and off-shore platforms. In specific
terms, the flow around cylinders includes a variety of fluid dynamics phenomena such as
separation, vortex shedding and the transition to turbulence. The mechanism of vortex
shedding and its suppression have significant effects on the various fluid-mechanical
properties of practical interest: flow-induced forces, vibrations and noises, and the efficiency
of heat and mass transfer.
Flows around circular cylinders are important topic in marine hydrodynamics. Many
off-shore structures are of cylindrical shape, such as riser and pipelines. The use of this
structures have been increased and they will used also in the future. It is important to
understand the flow field around these structures and the force acting on them.
In this project, the flow around a two dimensional cylinder in steady current and in
shear flow for Re = 130 was investigated. All analysis are three dimensional and the flow
regime is subcritical and thus turbulent.
1.1
Flow Regime
The flow regime around a smooth circular cylinder in infinite fluid described by the nondimensional Reynolds number:
=

where

UcD

Uc

is the flow velocity, D is the diameter of cylinder,

is the kinematic

viscosity. When Reynolds number is increased from zero, the flow undergoes great changes.
The make will extend over a distance comparable to the cylinder diameter D, and the
boundary layer extend over a small thickness.

For the flow regime Re <

3 10

, the boundary layer over the cylinder surface remains

laminar. This flow regime called the subcritical flow regime. In the range of
<

3 10

< Re

3.5 105 , the boundary layer becomes turbulent at the separation point, but this occurs

only at one side of the cylinder. This means that the boundary layer separation is turbulent on
one side of the cylinder and laminar on the other. This flow regime is called the critical (or
lower transition) flow regime. For Re <

1.5 10 6

, the flow regime is the supercritical

flow regime. Here the boundary layer separation becomes fully turbulent on one side of the
cylinder.
1.2
Vortex Shedding
When Re > 40 the boundary layer over the cylinder surface will separate due to adverse
pressure gradient. This pressure gradient arise because of the divergent environment of the
flow at the rear side of the cylinder. The result of this is a shear layer. The boundary layer
along the cylinder contains a significant amount of vorticity. The vorticity will continue into
the shear layer downstream of the separation point and cause the shear layer to roll up into a
vortex.

1.3
GOVERNING EQUATION
The cornerstone of computational fluid dynamics is the fundamental governing equations of
fluid dynamics. Following fundamental laws can be used to derive governing differential
equations that are solved in a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).

conservation of mass
conservation of linear momentum
conservation of energy

In this project we'll consider the motion of single phase fluid (gas) and we'll treat them as
continuum. The three primary unknowns that can be obtained by solving these equations are:

velocity vector, v
pressure, P
temperature, T

But in the governing equation that we solve numerically following four additional variables
appear:

density,

enthalpy, h
viscosity,

thermal conductivity, k

1.4

Conservation of mass

+ . (
V )=0
t
D
)=0
+ ( .V
Dt
These equation are known to be conservative and non-conservative form of mass
conservation, respectively. Conservation form can be obtained by applying the underlying
physical principle to a fluid element fixed in space.
1.5

Conservation of linear momentum

Equation for the conservation of linear momentum is also known as the Navier-Stokes
equation. It is can be write in forms:

( u ) + . ( h
V )= . + g
t
where
is density
u is flow velocity

is the del operator

p is the pressure
I

is the identity matrix

is the deviatoric stress tensor

g is the body acceleration

1.6
Conservation of energy
Energy equation can be write in the way of
h
D
+ . ( u u+ pI )=
+ . ( k T )+
t
Dt

where

is the specific enthalpy which is related to specific internal energy as

h=e+ p / .
T is the absolute temperature and

is the dissipation function representing the work done

against viscous force.

2.0

OBJECTIVE
1. To study the flow around cylinder for 3 different Reynolds number
2. To related the study with the real situation

3.0

ASSUMPTION
1. Flow is steady

2. Density of air is constant

3. Effect of temperature negligible

4.0

METHODOLOGY
A cylinder is designed using CAD software and analyse in CFD software. For
this project, Autodesk Inventor will be used to build up the model and the model will
be design according to the actual dimension to make sure it can produce an
approximately accurate. The cad design can refer to the appendix.
During this project, Star CCM+ will be used to analyse the model based on
two different value of input Reynolds number or velocity. The chosen Reynolds
number is 1000000 and 1000. The correspond velocity for the Reynolds number
calculated from Reynolds number equation before is:
Test 1: Reynolds number = 1000, Velocity = 0.05 m/s.
Test 2: Reynolds number = 100000, Velocity = 5 m/s
Test 3: Reynolds number = 1000000, Velocity = 50 m/s
By using Star CCM+, the boundary types of the cylinder and tunnel is set. The mesh

is generated by selecting meshing model which are surface remesher, tetrahedral mesher, and
prism layer mesher. The base size for overall mesh is 0.01m. The mesh around the cylinder
model is then redefined to 1.0

E7 to obtain more accurate result.

After that, physic model is being set up. Physic models define the primary
variables of the simulation, including pressure, temperature, and velocity, and the
mathematical formulation. The continua model that has been chosen is as below:

Physics model

Gas
Steady
Coupled energy
Coupled flow
Ideal gas
K-epilson two layer

Reynold average navier stoke

Turbulent
Three dimensional
K-epilson turbulent
Two layer all + wall treatment

Initial conditions is then specified in a continuum specify the initial field of

data for simulation.

Next, the most important part is setting the boundary condition. Although the concept
of a boundary type is fairly unambiguous, models need additional information to deal with
the type. The inlet conditions and values and the slip wall condition is then set.
Before running the simulation, the solver parameters and the stopping criteria is set in
order to define the maximum step. Report that defines the quantity of interest and the region
parts that are monitored also was being set up.

4.1

Wind tunnel dimension

The wind tunnel dimension is follow as outlined in recent research which suggested more
than 5 d in the inflow direction, more than 15 d in the outflow direction, and more than 10 d
in the lateral direction. Where d is the diameter of the cylinder (Sato & Kobayashi, 2012).
Below is the picture of wind tunnel and cylinder that has undergone volume meshing proses
as stated in the methodology.

Figure 4.1: Wind Tunnel

Figure 4.2: Cylinder (zoom in)

5.0

RESULT

5.1

Test 1(Reynolds number = 1000, Velocity = 0.05 m/s)

Figure 5.0: Pressure value at the front of cylinder surface

Figure 5.1: Pressure at the back surface of the cylinder

As shown in the picture above, the maximum pressure is 0.00496, the average pressure is
almost 0.0 and the lowest is -0.00723.

Figure 5.2: Streamline for the whole tunnel.

The streamline velocity in the region is as stated which is around 0.05, but around the
cylinder, the velocity pattern change. To analyse the pattern, the picture for streamline around
the cylinder is zoom in as below.

10

Figure 5.3: Streamline around cylinder.

The impingement of flow on the cylinder creates a stagnation point on the approaching
surface. The departure of the flow away from the cylinder creates another stagnation point on
the trailing surface.
In low Reynolds number value, there are no separation occur at the back of the cylinder so
the flow can be consider as steady flow or laminar flow.
Drag Coefficient

Figure 5.4: Drag coefficient versus iteration graph for test 1

The drag coefficient value for test 1 is 3.177
as zero.

Lift Coefficient

which is very small and can be consider

11

Figure 5.5: Lift coefficient versus iteration graph for test 1

The lift coefficient value for test 1 is 1.177
5.2

E9 and can be consider as zero

Test 2 (Reynolds number = 100000, Velocity = 5 m/s

Figure 5.6: Pressure profile on the front surface of the cylinder

12

Figure 5.7: Pressure profile on back surface of the cylinder

In test 2, the highest pressure is 15.001, average pressure is around -16.00 and the lowest
pressure is -51.223.

Figure 5.8: Strealine profile along the wind tunnel.

Velocity magnitude along the region is 5 m/s which has been set for reynolds number of
100000. To get the beter view for streamline around the cylinder, the picture is zoom in to see
the flow.

13

Figure 5.9: Streamline profile around the cylinder.

One stagnation point is created in front of the cylinder. The inertia of the fluid as it rounds the
top and bottom of the trailing surface causes the flow to separate at these locations. This
creates a disturbed wake (Von-Karman Vortex Street) downstream from the cylinder.
Drag Coefficient

Figure 5.10: Drag coefficient versus iteration graph for test 2

The drag coefficient for test 2 is 0.0011. The graph become stable after 300 iteration

Lift Coefficient

14

Figure 5.11: Drag coefficient versus iteration graph for test 2

5
Lift coefficient for test 2 is -2.44 E . The graph become stable after 700 iteration

5.3

Test 3(Reynolds number = 1000000, Velocity = 60 m/s)

Figure 5.12: Pressure at the front surface of the cylinder

15

Figure 5.13: Pressure at the back surface of the cylinder in test 3

Based on the picture above, we can see that the highest pressure is 2206, average pressure is
-1559 and the lowest pressure is -5324.1

Figure 5.14 Streamline for the whole wind tunnel

16

The velocity that used in for Reynolds number 100000 is 50 m/s. The streamline for the
whole wind tunnel show a constant colour which is green and the streamline shows change in
colour around the cylinder. To analyse the flow, the picture is zoom in to get a clear view.

Figure 5.15: Close picture of the streamline around the cylinder

The pattern for the streamline around the cylinder for Reynolds number 1000000 is the same
as Reynolds number 100000 where one stagnation point is created in front of the cylinder.
The inertia of the fluid as it rounds the top and bottom of the trailing surface causes the flow
to separate at these locations. This creates a disturbed wake (Von-Karman Vortex Street)
downstream from the cylinder.
Drag Coefficient

Figure 5.16: Drag coefficient versus iteration graph for test 1

Drag coefficient for test 3 is 0.150

17

Lift Coefficient

Figure 5.17: Drag coefficient versus iteration graph for test 1

Lift coefficient is -0.00211. The graph start stable at 600 iteration

5.0
DISCUSSION
From all three test that have been run, we can see that the pressure at wall for in test
3(Reynolds number =1000000) is the highest and cause wake region to occur. By theory, if
the there is any pressure different between wall and the air around it, it will create a
separation point and the wake region will occur (refer to figure 5.18) This explain why in test
1(Reynolds number = 1000) no separation point thus no vortex but in test 2 and test 3 has
separation point.
Drag value is increasing from test 1 to test 3 while the lift coefficient is decreasing.

18

Figure 5.18: Formation of separation point

Figure 5.19: Wake in 2D diagram

6.0
COMPARISON WITH EXISTING DATA
In order to compare the result that have been obtain, we have do a bit research and we have
found existing research regarding flow around cylinder. Based on the research that we have
found, Reynolds number less than 1000 will produce a steady flow in front and at the back of
the cylinder. There are no wake produce. Reynolds number greater than 1000 will produce a
wake at the back of the cylinder (elert, 2015). The picture below is the summary for the result
of the research.

19

Figure 5.19: Relationship between flow and Reynolds Number (elert, 2015)
Therefore, we compare the result from our simulation and the existing research. We have
chosen Reynolds number of 1000 for laminar flow and 1000000 for turbulent flow. Below is
the result from our simulation

Reynold Number = 1000

Reynolds number = 1000000

20

From the simulation result, we can see for Reynolds number = 1000, the flow is laminar and
for Reynolds number 1000000 the flow is turbulent as there is vortex at the back of the
cylinder. Therefore the result from our simulation and existing research is same.

7.0

CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, we can say that the objective of this project has been achieved. We have
made a simulation of a cylinder in three different values of Reynolds numbers which is 1000,
100000 and 1000000. We also have made a comparison between existing researches on
cylinder and compare the result.
We also learn that at low Reynolds number, there is no wake region that occurs. As
the Reynolds number is increasing fixed pair of vortices forms in the wake of the cylinder,
and the length of the vortices will increase with increasing Re.

8.0

APPENDIX

21

Figure 8.0: Cad Diagram

22

Figure 8.1: Cylinder design in inventor

9.0

REFERENCE

elert, G. (2015). The physics hypertexbook. from http://physics.info/turbulence/

Sato, M., & Kobayashi, T. (2012). A fundamental study of the flow past a circular
cylinder using Abaqus/CFD.