Assignment 1

Q.1 (a) What are the three most important equations used in CFD?
(b) What are the three basic steps in CFD?

g
(c) What are Dirichlet condition and Neumann condition?
(d) Write down the boundary appropriate conditions on ABCD for the simulation of the following flow field.

un
U

Ke
A B
h
y
C D

ok
x

Answer:
(a) The three most important equations used in CFD are Continuity Equation (Conservation of Mass), Momentum
Kw
Equation (Conservation of Momentum or called Navier-Stokes equation) and Energy Equation (Conservation of
Energy).

(i) Continuity Equation:

∂ρ
+ ∇i( ρ u ) = 0
O

∂t
(ii) Momentum Equation:
H

 ∂u 
ρ + ui∇u  = −∇p + µ∇ 2 u + f
 ∂t 
(iii) Energy Equation:
by

 ∂T 
ρC p  + ui∇T  = ∇i( k ∇T ) + q
 ∂t 

(b) The three basic steps in CFD are (i) pre-processing, (ii) analysis or solving of the governing equations and (iii)
ne

post-processing.
The pre-processing involves the creating of geometry of the objects concerned and the setting up of boundary or
initial conditions. The results are usually stored in an data file for input to the main program.
Do

The analysis or solving of the governing equations involves in modeling the flow situations by suitable governing
equations. The equations are the discretized by various numerical techniques, such as FDM, FEM, FVM, etc. This
is the main program and solver which the results are output as a data file for post-processing.
The post-processing is usually a graphic package involving curve-fitting, data reductions so that the results of fluid
properties such as velocity, pressure, forces, streamlines etc. can be visualized easily.

1 of 5
(c) For the Dirichlet boundary condition, we have known constant value on boundary, i.e.
u ( 0, t ) = U A u ( L, t ) = U B
For Neumann boundary condition, we have known derivative values on boundary, i.e.

g
∂u ( 0, t ) ∂u ( L, t )
= U ′A = U′B
∂x ∂x

un
(d) Assume the point C be the reference point with coordinate (0, 0), i.e. x = 0 and y = 0 at point C and the length of CD
be L0.
The boundary conditions can then be written as below:

Ke
 h
u  0,  = Ui
 2
u ( x, 0 ) = 0 and u ( x, h ) = 0 for 0 ≤ x ≤ L0

ok
Q2 (a) Show that the conservative form equation can be transformed to the continuity equation, momentum equation
and energy equation by choosing the suitable values of φ. Write down the equations and explain the meaning
Kw
of each term.
∂ ( ρφ )
+ div ( ρφ u ) = div ( Γ∇φ ) + Sφ
∂t
(b) Show that the two dimensional N-S equation can be transformed to a vorticity transport equation.
O

Answer:
(a) Recall the transport equation
∂ ( ρφ )
H

+ div ( ρφ u ) = div ( Γ∇φ ) + Sφ

∂t

∂ ( ρφ )
The first term, , is rate of change term. It is the rate of increase of φ by fluid element.
∂t
by

The second term, div ( ρφu ) , is convective term. It is the net rate of flow of φ out of fluid element.
The third term, div ( Γ∇φ ) , is diffusive term. It is the rate of increase of φ due to diffusion.
The last term, Sφ , is source term. It is the rate of increase of φ due to source.
ne

(i) Continuity Equation

When choosing φ = 1, Γ = 0 and Sφ = 0 , the equation become

∂ρ
+ div ( ρ u ) = 0
Do

∂t
It is the continuity equation.

∂ρ
The first term, , is the rate of increase of density ρ of fluid element.
∂t
The second term, div ( ρu ) , is the net rate of flow of density ρ out of fluid element.

2 of 5
 (ii) Momentum Equation
∂p ∂p ∂p
When choosing Γ = µ, and φ = u, v, w and Sφ = − + f x , − + f y , − + f z in x-direction, y-direction and
∂x ∂y ∂z

g
z-direction respectively, the equations become
∂ ( ρu ) ∂p

un
+ div ( ρ uu ) = div ( µ∇u ) − + fx
∂t ∂x

∂ ( ρv) ∂p
+ div ( ρ vu ) = div ( µ∇v ) − + fy
∂t ∂y

Ke
∂ ( ρ w) ∂p
+ div ( ρ wu ) = div ( µ∇w ) − + fz
∂t ∂z
Rearranging the above three equations and rewritten in vector form, we have the momentum equation
∂ ( ρu )
+ ui∇ ( ρ u ) = div ( µ∇u ) − ∇p + f
∂t

ok
∂ ( ρu )
The first term, , is rate of increase of momentum of fluid element.
∂t
The second term, ui∇ ( ρ u ) , is net rate of flow of momentum out of fluid element.
Kw
The third term, div ( µ∇u ) , is the viscous force on the element due to surface stress.
The fourth term, − ∇p , is the pressure force acting on the element.
Sum of third term and fourth term, −∇p + div ( µ∇u ) , is net force on the element due to surface stress.
The last term, f, is the body force, external force and/or source force on the element.
O

(iii) Energy Equation

k q
When choosing φ = T, Γ = and Sφ = , the equation become
H

Cp Cp

∂ ( ρT )  k  q
+ div ( ρTu ) = div  ∇T  +
∂t C  C
 p  p
by

Rearranging the above equation, we have the energy equation

∂ ( ρ C pT )
+ ui∇ ( ρ C pT ) = div ( k ∇T ) + q
∂t
∂ ( ρ C pT )
The first term, , is the rate of increase of enthalpy of fluid element.
ne

∂t

The second term, ui∇ ( ρ C pT ) , is the net rate of flow of enthalpy out of fluid element.

The third term, div ( k ∇T ) , is the rate of heat addition to the fluid particle due to heat conduction across element
Do

boundaries.
The last term, q , is the rate of increase of energy due to source.

3 of 5
(b) Recall the two dimensional Naiver-Stokes equation and continuity equation of incompressible fluid,
∂u ∂u ∂u 1 ∂p  ∂2u ∂2u 
N-S equation: +u +v =− +ν  2 + 2  (1)
∂t ∂x ∂y ρ ∂x  ∂x ∂y 

g
∂v ∂v ∂v 1 ∂p  ∂2v ∂2v 
+u +v =− +ν  2 + 2  (2)
∂t ∂x ∂y ρ ∂y  ∂x ∂y 

un
∂u ∂v
Continuity equation: + =0 (3)
∂x ∂y

µ
where ν = is kinematic viscosity.
ρ

Ke
By differentiating equation (1) w.r.t. y, we have
∂  ∂u  ∂u ∂u ∂  ∂u  ∂v ∂u ∂  ∂u  1 ∂2 p  ∂ 2  ∂u  ∂ 2  ∂u  
 + +u  + +v  =− +ν  2   + 2    (4)
∂t  ∂y  ∂x ∂y ∂x  ∂y  ∂y ∂y ∂y  ∂y  ρ ∂x∂y  ∂x  ∂y  ∂y  ∂y  

ok
By differentiating equation (2) w.r.t. x, we have
∂  ∂v  ∂u ∂v ∂  ∂v  ∂v ∂v ∂  ∂v  1 ∂2 p  ∂2  ∂v  ∂  ∂v  
2

 + +u  + +v  =− +ν  2   + 2   (5)
∂t  ∂x  ∂x ∂x ∂x  ∂x  ∂y ∂x ∂y  ∂x  ρ ∂x∂y  ∂x  ∂x  ∂y  ∂x  
Kw
(5) – (4)

∂  ∂v ∂u  ∂u  ∂v ∂u  ∂  ∂v ∂u  ∂v  ∂v ∂u  ∂  ∂v ∂u 
 − +  − +u  − +  − +v  − 
∂t  ∂x ∂y  ∂x  ∂x ∂y  ∂x  ∂x ∂y  ∂y  ∂x ∂y  ∂y  ∂x ∂y 
 ∂ 2  ∂v ∂u  ∂ 2  ∂v ∂u  
=ν  2  −  + 2  − 
 ∂x  ∂x ∂y  ∂y  ∂x ∂y  
O

∂v ∂u
Since the vorticity is defined as ω = − , the above equation can be rewritten as below
∂x ∂y
H

∂ω ∂u ∂ω ∂v ∂ω  ∂ 2ω ∂ 2ω 
+ω +u +ω +v =ν  2 + 2 
∂t ∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y  ∂x ∂y 

∂ω  ∂u ∂v  ∂ω ∂ω  ∂ 2ω ∂ 2ω 
⇒ +ω  +  + u +v =ν  2 + 2 
∂t  ∂x ∂y  ∂x ∂y  ∂x ∂y 
by

∂u ∂v
Since by continuity equation + = 0 , the equation can then be further reduced to
∂x ∂y

∂ω ∂ω ∂ω  ∂ 2ω ∂ 2ω 
+u +v =ν  2 + 2 
∂t ∂x ∂y  ∂x ∂y 
ne

∂ω
⇒ + ( ui∇ ) ω = ν ∇ 2ω
∂t

D ∂
= + ( ui∇ )
Do

Since the total derivative

Dt ∂t

Dω
∴ = ν ∇ 2ω
Dt
It is called Vorticity Transport Equation.

4 of 5
 Alternative Method:

Recall the Navier-Stokes equation of incompressible fluid

∂u  p
+ ( ui∇ ) u = −∇   + ν∇ 2 u

g
∂t ρ

un
1
Since ( ui∇ ) u = ∇ ( uiu ) − u × ( ∇ × u ) , we have the following equivalent form of Navier-Stokes equation
2

∂u 1   p
+ ∇  uiu  − u × ( ∇ × u ) = −∇   + ν∇ 2 u
∂t  2  ρ

Ke
The vorticity equation is obtained by taking the curl of above equation
∂u  1    p 
∇× + ∇ ×  ∇  uiu   − ∇ × ( u × ( ∇ × u ) ) = −∇ ×  ∇    + ∇ × (ν∇ 2 u )
∂t  2    ρ 
∂ (∇ × u )  1    p 
⇒ + ∇ ×  ∇  uiu   − ∇ × ( u × ω ) = −∇ ×  ∇    + ν∇ 2 ( ∇ × u )
∂t  2    ρ 

ok
Since the curl of the gradient of any scalar φ is zero, i.e.,
∇ × ( ∇φ ) = 0

 1    p 
Kw
⇒ ∇ ×  ∇  uiu   = 0 and ∇×∇  = 0
  2    ρ 
The vorticity equation become

∂ω
− ∇ × ( u × ω ) = ν∇ 2ω
∂t
Using a vector identity, the second term on the left-hand side may be expanded to
O

∇ × ( u × ω ) = u ( ∇iω ) − ω ( ∇iu ) − ( ui∇ ) ω + ( ωi∇ ) u

But ∇iω = 0 , since the divergence of the curl of any vector is zero and ∇iu = 0 from the continuity equation.
H

Hence the vorticity equation becomes

∂ω
+ ( ui∇ ) ω = ( ωi∇ ) u + ν∇ 2 ω
∂t
For two-dimensional flows, the vorticity vector ω will be perpendicular to the plane of the flow, so that ( ωi∇ ) u = 0 .
by

Then

∂ω
+ ( ui∇ ) ω = ν∇ 2 ω
∂t
ne

D ∂
Since the total derivative = + ( ui∇ )
Dt ∂t

Dω
∴ = ν∇ 2 ω
Dt
Do

5 of 5