Parallel numerical solution of incompressible full Navier‐Stokes in 3‐D: Applications to free and mixed convection problems

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and test an implicit scheme, accurate to the second order, for solving full Navier‐Stokes equations for three dimensional problems, using parallel algorithm.

Design/methodology/approach

Parallel solution to the 3‐D incompressible full Navier‐Stokes equations is presented, based on two fractional steps in time and finite element in space. The accuracy of the scheme is second order in both time and space domains. Large time‐step sizes, with Courant‐Friedrichs‐Lewy (CFL) numbers much larger than unity, are taken since the momentum equation is solved implicitly. A fourth order artificial viscosity term is added. In order to stabilize the numerical solution, fourth order artificial viscosity term is used for high Reynolds number flows. The domain decomposition technique is implemented for parallel solution to the problem with matching and non‐overlapping sub‐domains. It is aimed to study both a 3D free and mixed convection problems using the developed scheme. The segregate solution for temperature field is calibrated by a 3‐D free convection problem. Then the flow case where the forced convection is one order of magnitude higher than the free convection is studied.

Findings

It is observed that the long time solution to the flow field shows oscillatory behaviour as the Reynolds number of the flow doubled while keeping the ratio of the forced to free convection fixed. The solution using a parallel algorithm gives satisfactory results, in terms of computation time and accuracy, for the natural convection problem in cubic cavity, and, the forced cooling of a room with chilled ceiling having a parabolic geometry as presented at the end. It is observed that doubling the Reynolds number, while keeping all the parameters unchanged, varies the flow behaviour completely.

Originality/value

A code previously developed and published by the author only solved momentum equation and studied the velocity field. In this study, full Navier Stokes equation is solved and the code is calibrated with a well‐known 3D free‐convection for two different Rayleigh number cases and then 3D mixed convection problem is studied for two cases. Re=2000 case results, solved both by the scheme in this study and by commercial code, presented an interesting physics of the problem. For Re=2000 case, continuous cooling of the room is not possible. Doubling the Reynolds number, raising it from 1000 to 2000, while keeping all the parameters unchanged, varies the flow behaviour completely.

Citation

Üstoğlu Ünal, V. (2013), "Parallel numerical solution of incompressible full Navier‐Stokes in 3‐D: Applications to free and mixed convection problems", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 553-574. https://doi.org/10.1108/09615531311323737