Computational Fluid Dynamics

& Heat transfer

An Introduction
Approach to fluid mechanics problem
1. Pure experiment
Real time
behaviour of the
model can be
studied.
2. Pure theory
By theory, the behaviour of the model can be mathematically represented and
utilized for further development.
An Example
An Example
 Suppose a bungee jumping company hires you!.
 You’re given the task the task of predicting the velocity of the jumper.

Mathematical modelling
𝐹𝑈
Physical Mathematical
phenomena equations

Law governing this physical phenomena is Newton’s

second law
𝑭 = 𝒎𝒂
where
𝐹𝐷
F - the net force acting on the body (N, or kg m/s2),
m - the mass of the object (kg), and
a - its acceleration (m/s2).
Second law can be recast as

𝐹
𝑎=
𝑚

On expressing acceleration as time rate of change of velocity

𝑑𝑣 𝐹
𝑑𝑡
=𝑚 𝑣 – velocity (m/s)

The net force is composed of two opposing forces: the downward pull of gravity FD and the
upward force of air resistance FU.

𝐹 = 𝐹𝐷 + 𝐹𝑈

Downward force is acceleration due to gravity

𝐹𝐷 = 𝑚𝑔 downward force is assigned +ve sign

For upward force good approximation would be to assume that it is proportional to the
square of the velocity,

𝐹𝑈 = −𝐶𝑑 𝑣 2 upward force is assigned -ve sign

Combining the above equations we are getting a differential equation

𝑑𝑣 𝐶𝑑 2
= 𝑔− 𝑣
𝑑𝑡 𝑚

Analytical solution
For example, if the jumper is initially at rest (v = 0 at t = 0), calculus can be
used to solve the above equation

1 1
Hint 1 : 1−𝑥2 = (1+𝑥)(1−𝑥)
Time to recall your Hint 2 : Use partial fractions
calculus 1
Hint 3 : ‫ = 𝑥𝑑 𝑥 ׬‬ln(𝑥)
𝑒 𝑥 −𝑒 −𝑥
Hint 4 : tanh 𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑥 +𝑒 −𝑥

Times
up
Final solution
𝑔𝑚 𝑔𝐶𝑑
𝑣 𝑡 = tanh 𝑡
𝐶𝑑 𝑚

This is analytical or closed form solution.

Problem statement
A bungee jumper with a mass of 68.1 kg leaps from a stationary hot air
balloon. Use the above equation to compute velocity for the first 12 s of free fall. Also
determine the terminal velocity that will be attained for an infinitely long cord (or
alternatively, the jumpmaster is having a particularly bad day!). Use a drag coefficient
of 0.25 kg/m.

Terminal
velocity
Numerical solution

• Analytical solution for a mathematical problem is not always possible.

• Alternative is to develop numerical solution that approximates the exact solution.

• Numerical methods reformulating the problem to solve through arithmetic

operations.
The equation needs to be solved

𝑑𝑣 𝐶𝑑 2
= 𝑔− 𝑣
𝑑𝑡 𝑚

The time rate of change can be approximated by

𝑑𝑣 ∆𝑣 Finite Difference
≅
𝑑𝑡 ∆𝑡 approximation

∆𝑣 𝑣 𝑡𝑖+1 −𝑣(𝑡𝑖 )
where ∆𝑡 = 𝑡𝑖+1 −𝑡𝑖
Finite Difference approximation
On applying approximation

This equation can then be rearranged to yield

Numerical Solution to the Bungee Jumper Problem

Problem Statement. Perform the same computation as in Example 1 but use finite
difference to compute velocity with Euler’s method. Employ a step size of 2 s for the
calculation.
What you will learn in this course

• Virtual box
• Octave
• OpenFoam
Course outcome
Assignment 1
1. Find the differentiation for the following
a) x
b) sin 3𝑥
c) 𝑒 5𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑥
d) 𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑔7𝑥
e) log 𝑥 2
2. Find the integration for the following
a) 𝑥 2
1
b) 𝑥
c) sin 3𝑥
3. Solve the ODE by integration
a) 𝑦 ′ = − sin 𝜋𝑥
b) 𝑦 ′ = 𝑒 −3𝑥