Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


ucin1342728475.pdf (5.37 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Characterization of Fluidic Instabilities in Vortex-Dominated Flows Using Time-Accurate Open Source CFD

Clark, Adam W.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1342728475

Abstract Details

2012, MS, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Aerospace Engineering.
The CFD software market of today has become saturated with two very different approaches; single purpose software codes written to model a specific type of flow, or jack-of-all-trades 'universal' commercial packages. Academics often argue that the commercial packages offer too little control over the details of the simulations, and companies frequently rail against the excessive cost and time commitments to develop their own specific-built CFD codes. The present study attempts to bridge this gap by examining the capabilities of OpenFOAM, an open source numerical solver, in a highly turbulent, vortex-dominated flow. The highly complex flowfield in the region immediately downstream of the backward facing step has provided a benchmark for numerical simulations since turbulence modeling began. A range of turbulence models within OpenFOAM are considered and compared against experimental data and literature. Two-equation models resulted in steady flow, albeit with reasonable average flowfield properties. The more advanced Reynolds Stress Transport Model resulted in an unsteady simulation with free shear layer properties in general agreement with both experimental and published data. This behavior mirrors other publications and codes, where it has been hypothesized that numerical perturbations caused by the discretization scheme excite the primary mode of instability of the free shear layer for the Reynolds Stress Models, but the overly dissipative nature of the two-equation models is sufficiently high to damp these stochastic fluctuations. With attention to the proper settings and turbulence model, OpenFOAM appears to perform relatively well in this complex and unsteady flowfield. The extreme level of control afforded by OpenFOAM would appear to meet the needs of academics and researchers while also satisfying corporate clients searching for a readily available package exhibiting a wide range of off-the-shelf capabilities.
Shaaban Abdallah, PhD (Committee Chair)
Grant Schaffner, PhD (Committee Member)
Mark Turner, ScD (Committee Member)
164 p.
Aerospace Materials
OpenFOAM; open source; CFD; backstep; backward facing step; turbulence modeling;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Clark, A. W. (2012). Characterization of Fluidic Instabilities in Vortex-Dominated Flows Using Time-Accurate Open Source CFD [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1342728475

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Clark, Adam. Characterization of Fluidic Instabilities in Vortex-Dominated Flows Using Time-Accurate Open Source CFD. 2012. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1342728475.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Clark, Adam. "Characterization of Fluidic Instabilities in Vortex-Dominated Flows Using Time-Accurate Open Source CFD." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1342728475

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1342728475
906
© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.