An Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics: The Finite Volume Method Approach

It is the purpose of this book to fill a gap in the available literature for novice CFD users who, whilst developing CFD skills by using commercially available software, need a reader that provides the fundamentals of the fluid dynamics behind complex engineering flows and of the numerical solution algorithms on which the CFD codes are based. Although the material has been developed from first principles wherever possible, the book should be of greatest benefit to those who are familiar with the ideas of calculus, elementary vector and matrix algebra and basic numerical methods. Furthermore, we assume a knowledge of the conservation laws for mass, momentum and energy and an awareness of their application to fluid flow problems. Although commercial CFD codes based on the finite element method have more recently entered the fray, the market is currently dominated by four codes, PHOENICS, FLUENT, FLOW3D and STAR-CD, that are all based on the finite volume method. This book intends to provide the theoretical background required for the effective use of this type of commercial code and covers the following subject areas: fluid dynamics - governing equations of viscous fluid flows, boundary conditions, introduction to the physics of turbulence, turbulence modelling in CFD; the finite volume method and its implementation in CFD codes - finite volume discretization for the key transport phenomena in fluid flows: diffusion, convection and sources, discretization procedures for unsteady phenomena, iterative solution processes (SIMPLE and its derivatives) to ensure correct coupling between all the flow variables, solution algorithms for systems of discretized equations (TDMA), implementation of boundary conditions. The basic numerical techniques have been developed around a series of worked examples, which can be easily programmed on a PC. As an illustration of the power of CFD the text presents a set of industrially relevant applications ranging from a benchmark simulation to very complex fire modelling. Throughout, one of the key messages is that CFD cannot be professed adequately without continued reference to experimental validation. It provides a set of connection points with up-to-date research literature giving the reader access to source material for code validation and further study.

Table of Contents:
*Introduction. *Conservation Laws of Fluid Motion and Boundary Conditions. *Turbulence and its Modelling. *The Finite Volume Method for Diffusion Problems. *The Finite Volume Method for Convection-Diffusion Problems. *Solution Algorithms for Pressure-Velocity Coupling in Steady Flows. *Solution of Discretised Equations. *The Finite Volume Method for Unsteady Flows. *Implementation of Boundary Conditions. *Advanced topics and applications. Appendices. References. Index.