An Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics

The use of Computational Fluid Dynamics to simulate and predict fluid flows, heat transfer and associated phenomena continues to grow throughout many engineering disciplines. On the back of ever more powerful computers and graphical user interfaces CFD provides engineers with a reliable tool to assist in the design of industrial equipment often reducing or eliminating the need for performing trial-and-error experimentation.

An Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics is the ideal text for the newcomer to the area whether they be undergraduates, graduates, or professionals. It provides thorough yet accessible coverage of commercial finite volume based CFD codes within the context of the underlying theory, giving the reader a full appreciation of CFD and its numerous engineering applications.

Key features

• Offers essential support for novice users of commercial CFD codes such as ANSYS CFX, FLUENT, STAR-CD and PHOENICS.
• Covers fluids and turbulence physics together with computational modelling techniques
• Uses a step-by-step approach to introduce the methodology
• Chapter summaries and worked examples throughout to reinforce understanding of the key concepts

New to this edition

• A new chapter describing unstructured meshing techniques
• A new chapter on CFD uncertainty
• New coverage of the fundamentals of Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) and Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) techniques
• Summaries of TVD techniques and multi-grid solution techniques
• Added examples of the SIMPLE algorithm for pressure-velocity coupling
• Two new chapters with advanced material covering combustion and radiative heat transfer modelling

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

2 Conservation laws of fluid motion and boundary conditions

3 Turbulence and its modelling

4 The finite volume method for diffusion problems

5 The finite volume method for convection—diffusion problems

6 Solution algorithms for pressure—velocity coupling in steady flows

7 Solution of discretised equations

8 The finite volume method for unsteady flows

9 Implementation of boundary conditions

10 Errors and uncertainty in CFD modelling

11 Methods for dealing with complex geometries

12 CFD modelling of combustion

13 Numerical calculation of radiative heat transfer

Appendix A Accuracy of a flow simulation

Appendix B Non-uniform grids

Appendix C Calculation of source terms

Appendix D Limiter functions used in Chapter 5

Appendix E Derivation of one-dimensional governing equations for steady, incompressible flow through a planar nozzle

Appendix F Alternative derivation for the term (n . grad φAi) in Chapter 11

Appendix G Some examples

About the Authors

H K Versteeg and W Malalasekera are both senior lecturers in Thermo-Fluids, at Loughborough University.