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Article
Publication date: 13 February 2020

Haichao Cui, Qiang Gao, Xiaolan Li and Huajiang Ouyang

This paper aims to propose an efficient and accurate method to analyse the transient heat conduction in a periodic structure with moving heat sources.

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose an efficient and accurate method to analyse the transient heat conduction in a periodic structure with moving heat sources.

Design/methodology/approach

The moving heat source is modelled as a localised Gaussian distribution in space. Based on the spatial distribution, the physical feature of transient heat conduction and the periodic property of structure, a special feature of temperature responses caused by the moving heat source is illustrated. Then, combined with the superposition principle of linear system, within a small time-step, computation of results corresponding to the whole structure excited by the Gaussian heat source is transformed into that of some small-scale structures. Lastly, the precise integration method (PIM) is used to solve the temperature responses of each small-scale structure efficiently and accurately.

Findings

Within a reasonable time-step, the heat source applied on a unit cell can only cause the temperature responses of a limited number of adjacent unit cells. According to the above feature and the periodic property of a structure, the contributions caused by the moving heat source for the most of time-steps are repeatable, and the temperature responses of the entire periodic structure can be obtained by some small-scale structures.

Originality/value

A novel numerical method is proposed for analysing moving heat source problems, and the numerical examples demonstrate that the proposed method is much more efficient than the traditional methods, even for larger-scale problems and multiple moving heat source problems.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 30 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 May 2015

Martin Joseph Guillot and Steve C McCool

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of numerical boundary condition implementation on local error and convergence in L2-norm of a finite volume discretization…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of numerical boundary condition implementation on local error and convergence in L2-norm of a finite volume discretization of the transient heat conduction equation subject to several boundary conditions, and for cases with volumetric heat generation, using both fully implicit and Crank-Nicolson time discretizations. The goal is to determine which combination of numerical boundary condition implementation and time discretization produces the most accurate solutions with the least computational effort.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper studies several benchmark cases including constant temperature, convective heating, constant heat flux, time-varying heat flux, and volumetric heating, and compares the convergence rates and local to analytical or semi-analytical solutions.

Findings

The Crank-Nicolson method coupled with second-order expression for the boundary derivatives produces the most accurate solutions on the coarsest meshes with the least computation times. The Crank-Nicolson method allows up to 16X larger time step for similar accuracy, with nearly negligible additional computational effort compared with the implicit method.

Practical implications

The findings can be used by researchers writing similar codes for quantitative guidance concerning the effect of various numerical boundary condition approximations for a large class of boundary condition types for two common time discretization methods.

Originality/value

The paper provides a comprehensive study of accuracy and convergence of the finite volume discretization for a wide range of benchmark cases and common time discretization methods.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 25 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 1990

R.K. Singh, T. Kant and A. Kakodkar

This paper demonstrates the capability of staggered solution procedure for coupled fluid‐structure interaction problems. Three possible computational paths for coupled problems…

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Abstract

This paper demonstrates the capability of staggered solution procedure for coupled fluid‐structure interaction problems. Three possible computational paths for coupled problems are described. These are critically examined for a variety of coupled problems with different types of mesh partitioning schemes. The results are compared with the reported results by continuum mechanics priority approach—a method which has been very popular until recently. Optimum computational paths and mesh partitionings for two field problems are indicated. Staggered solution procedure is shown to be quite effective when optimum path and partitionings are selected.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 7 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Article
Publication date: 14 September 2023

Yazhou Wang, Dehong Luo, Xuelin Zhang, Zhitao Wang, Hui Chen, Xiaobo Zhang, Ningning Xie, Shengwei Mei, Xiaodai Xue, Tong Zhang and Kumar K. Tamma

The purpose of this paper is to design a simple and accurate a-posteriori Lagrangian-based error estimator is developed for the class of backward differentiation formula (BDF…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design a simple and accurate a-posteriori Lagrangian-based error estimator is developed for the class of backward differentiation formula (BDF) algorithms with variable time step size, and the adaptive time-stepping in BDF algorithms is demonstrated for efficient time-dependent simulations in fluid flow and heat transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

The Lagrange interpolation polynomial is used to predict the time derivative, and then the accurate primary result is obtained by the Gauss integral, which is applied to evaluate the local error. Not only the generalized formula of the proposed error estimator is presented but also the specific expression for the widely applied BDF1/2/3 is illustrated. Two essential executable MATLAB functions to implement the proposed error estimator are appended for practical applications. Then, the adaptive time-stepping is demonstrated based on the newly proposed error estimator for BDF algorithms.

Findings

The validation tests show that the newly proposed error estimator is accurate such that the effectivity index is always close to unity for both linear and nonlinear problems, and it avoids under/overestimation of the exact local error. The applications for fluid dynamics and coupled fluid flow and heat transfer problems depict the advantage of adaptive time-stepping based on the proposed error estimator for time-dependent simulations.

Originality/value

In contrast to existing error estimators for BDF algorithms, the present work is more accurate for the local error estimation, and it can be readily extended to practical applications in engineering with a few changes to existing codes, contributing to efficient time-dependent simulations in fluid flow and heat transfer.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 33 no. 12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 June 2017

Chao Wang, Jinju Sun and Yan Ba

The purpose of this paper is to develop a Vortex-In-Cell (VIC) method with the semi-Lagrangian scheme and apply it to the high-Re lid-driven cavity flow.

259

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a Vortex-In-Cell (VIC) method with the semi-Lagrangian scheme and apply it to the high-Re lid-driven cavity flow.

Design/methodology/approach

The VIC method is developed for simulating high Reynolds number incompressible flow. A semi-Lagrangian scheme is incorporated in the convection term to produce unconditional stability, which gets rid of the constraint of the convection Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy (CFL) condition; the adaptive time step is used to maintain the numerical stability of the diffusion term; and the velocity boundary condition is readily converted to the vorticity formulation to suit discontinuous boundary treatment. The VIC simulation results are compared with those produced by other gird methods reported in open literature studies.

Findings

The lid-driven cavity flow is simulated from Re = 100 to 100,000. Similar vortex birth mechanisms are exhibited though, but distinct flow characteristics are revealed. At Re = 100 to 7,500, the cavity flow is confirmed steady. At Re = 10,000, 15,000 and 20,000, the cavity flow is periodical with a primary vortex held spatially at the center. In particular, at Re = 100,000 highly turbulent characteristics is first revealed and an analogous primary vortex is formed but in motion rather than stationary, which is caused by the considerable flow separation at all the boundaries.

Originality/value

In the lid-driven cavity, the flow becomes extremely complex and highly turbulent at Re = 100,000, and the analogous primary vortex structure is observed. Boundary layer separation is observed at all walls, producing small vortices and causing the displacement of the analogous primary vortex. Such a finding original and has not yet been reported by other investigators. It may provide a basis for conducting in-depth studies of the lid-driven cavity flow.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 27 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 February 2022

Yazhou Wang, Ningning Xie, Likun Yin, Tong Zhang, Xuelin Zhang, Shengwei Mei, Xiaodai Xue and Kumar Tamma

The purpose of this paper is to describe a novel universal error estimator and the adaptive time-stepping process in the generalized single-step single-solve (GS4-1) computational…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a novel universal error estimator and the adaptive time-stepping process in the generalized single-step single-solve (GS4-1) computational framework, applied for the fluid dynamics with illustrations to incompressible Navier–Stokes equations.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed error estimator is universal and versatile that it works for the entire subsets of the GS4-1 framework, encompassing the nondissipative Crank–Nicolson method, the most dissipative backward differential formula and anything in between. It is new and novel that the cumbersome design work of error estimation for specific time integration algorithms can be avoided. Regarding the numerical implementation, the local error estimation has a compact representation that it is determined by the time derivative variables at four successive time levels and only involves vector operations, which is simple for numerical implementation. Additionally, the adaptive time-stepping is further illustrated by the proposed error estimator and is used to solve the benchmark problems of lid-driven cavity and flow past a cylinder.

Findings

The proposed computational procedure is capable of eliminating the nonphysical oscillations in GS4-1(1,1)/Crank–Nicolson method; being CPU-efficient in both dissipative and nondissipative schemes with better solution accuracy; and detecting the complex physics and hence selecting a suitable time step according to the user-defined error threshold.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, for the first time, this study applies the general purpose GS4-1 family of time integration algorithms for transient simulations of incompressible Navier–Stokes equations in fluid dynamics with constant and adaptive time steps via a novel and universal error estimator. The proposed computational framework is simple for numerical implementation and the time step selection based on the proposed error estimation is efficient, benefiting to the computational expense for transient simulations.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 32 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 April 2015

Mário Rui Tiago Arruda and Dragos Ionut Moldovan

– The purpose of this paper is to report the implementation of an alternative time integration procedure for the dynamic non-linear analysis of structures.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the implementation of an alternative time integration procedure for the dynamic non-linear analysis of structures.

Design/methodology/approach

The time integration algorithm discussed in this work corresponds to a spectral decomposition technique implemented in the time domain. As in the case of the modal decomposition in space, the numerical efficiency of the resulting integration scheme depends on the possibility of uncoupling the equations of motion. This is achieved by solving an eigenvalue problem in the time domain that only depends on the approximation basis being implemented. Complete sets of orthogonal Legendre polynomials are used to define the time approximation basis required by the model.

Findings

A classical example with known analytical solution is presented to validate the model, in linear and non-linear analysis. The efficiency of the numerical technique is assessed. Comparisons are made with the classical Newmark method applied to the solution of both linear and non-linear dynamics. The mixed time integration technique presents some interesting features making very attractive its application to the analysis of non-linear dynamic systems. It corresponds in essence to a modal decomposition technique implemented in the time domain. As in the case of the modal decomposition in space, the numerical efficiency of the resulting integration scheme depends on the possibility of uncoupling the equations of motion.

Originality/value

One of the main advantages of this technique is the possibility of considering relatively large time step increments which enhances the computational efficiency of the numerical procedure. Due to its characteristics, this method is well suited to parallel processing, one of the features that have to be conveniently explored in the near future.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 32 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 November 2018

Nikhil Kalkote, Ashwani Assam and Vinayak Eswaran

The purpose of this paper is to solve unsteady compressible Navier–Stokes equations without the commonly used dual-time loop. The authors would like to use an adaptive…

250

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve unsteady compressible Navier–Stokes equations without the commonly used dual-time loop. The authors would like to use an adaptive time-stepping (ATS)-based local error control instead of CFL-based time-stepping technique. Also, an all-speed flow algorithm is implemented with simple low dissipation AUSM convective scheme, which can be computed without preconditioning which in general destroys the time accuracy.

Design/methodology/approach

In transient flow computations, the time-step is generally determined from the CFL condition. In this paper, the authors demonstrate the usefulness of ATS based on local time-stepping previously used extensively in ordinary differential equations (ODE) integration. This method is implemented in an implicit framework to ensure the numerical domain of dependence always contains the physical domain of dependence.

Findings

In this paper, the authors limit their focus to capture the unsteady physics for three cases: Sod’s shock-tube problem, Stokes’ second problem and a circular cylinder. The use of ATS with local truncation error control enables the solver to use the maximum allowable time-step, for the prescribed tolerance of error. The algorithm is also capable of converging very rapidly to the steady state (if there is any) after the initial transient phase. The authors present here only the first-order time-stepping scheme. An algorithmic comparison is made between the proposed adaptive time-stepping method and the commonly used dual time-stepping approach that indicates the former will be more efficient.

Originality/value

The original method of ATS based on local error control is used extensively in ODE integration, whereas, this method is not so popular in the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) community. In this paper, the authors investigate its use in the unsteady CFD computations. The authors hope that it would provide CFD researchers with an algorithm based on an adaptive time-stepping approach for unsteady calculations.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 29 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 1998

Soucheng OuYang and Yi Lin

In this paper, some issues about model formulation and solving methods for the Lorenz’s model are discussed, which also deals with fundamental characteristics of non‐linear…

Abstract

In this paper, some issues about model formulation and solving methods for the Lorenz’s model are discussed, which also deals with fundamental characteristics of non‐linear models. Mainly, there existed problems that Lorenz’s model was formulated based on the weak nonlinear, and spectral expansion which changed the fundamental properties of prototype of the N‐S equations. Furthermore, its solving methods, which are based on continuously smoothing schemes, not only distorted the fundamental characteristics of non‐linear models, but also led to misunderstanding of the concept of “schaos”, which has already caused confusion to people’s way of thinking. In essence, Lorenz’s chaos is an “error volute” which is trapped into “calculation of error values”. Whether it can be named “chaos” may need to be discussed with questions.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 27 no. 6/7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 May 2016

Rhodri LT Bevan, Etienne Boileau, Raoul van Loon, R.W. Lewis and P Nithiarasu

The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyse a class of finite element fractional step methods for solving the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The objective is not…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyse a class of finite element fractional step methods for solving the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The objective is not to reproduce the extensive contributions on the subject, but to report on long-term experience with and provide a unified overview of a particular approach: the characteristic-based split method. Three procedures, the semi-implicit, quasi-implicit and fully explicit, are studied and compared.

Design/methodology/approach

This work provides a thorough assessment of the accuracy and efficiency of these schemes, both for a first and second order pressure split.

Findings

In transient problems, the quasi-implicit form significantly outperforms the fully explicit approach. The second order (pressure) fractional step method displays significant convergence and accuracy benefits when the quasi-implicit projection method is employed. The fully explicit method, utilising artificial compressibility and a pseudo time stepping procedure, requires no second order fractional split to achieve second order or higher accuracy. While the fully explicit form is efficient for steady state problems, due to its ability to handle local time stepping, the quasi-implicit is the best choice for transient flow calculations with time independent boundary conditions. The semi-implicit form, with its stability restrictions, is the least favoured of all the three forms for incompressible flow calculations.

Originality/value

A comprehensive comparison between three versions of the CBS method is provided for the first time.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 26 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

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