Using FlowLab, A Computational Fluid Dynamics Tool, to Facilitate the Teaching of Fluid Mechanics

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Cimbala ◽  
Shane Moeykens ◽  
Ashish Kulkarni ◽  
Ajay Parihar
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Fluid Mechanics ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Learning Objective ◽  
Structured Learning ◽  
Complex Flow ◽  
Homework Problem ◽  
Flow Phenomena ◽  
Computer Based

Traditional fluid mechanics textbooks are generally written with problem sets comprised of closed, analytical solutions. However, it is recognized that complex flow fields are not easily represented in terms of a closed solution. A tool that allows the student to visualize complex flow phenomena in a virtual environment can significantly enhance the learning experience. Such a visualization tool allows the student to perform open-ended analyses and explore cause-effect relationships. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) brings these benefits into the learning environment for fluid mechanics. With these benefits in mind, FlowLab was introduced by Fluent Inc. in 2002. FlowLab may be described as a virtual fluids laboratory - a computer-based analysis and visualization package. Using this software, students solve predefined CFD exercises, either as homework or in a supervised laboratory or practicum setting. Predefined exercises facilitate the teaching of fluid mechanics and provide students with hands-on CFD experience, while avoiding many of the difficulties associated with learning a generalized CFD package. A new fluid mechanics textbook is scheduled for release in early 2005. This book includes FlowLab as a textbook companion, where student-friendly CFD exercises are employed to convey important concepts to the student. Because of the unique design of end-of-chapter homework problems in this book and the intimate coupling between these problems and the CFD software, students are introduced to engineering problems and concepts, as well as to CFD, via a structured learning process. The CFD exercises are not meant to stand alone; rather, they are designed to support and emphasize the theory and concepts taught in the textbook, which is the primary learning vehicle. Each homework problem has a specific fluid mechanics learning objective. Through use of the software, a second learning objective is also achieved, namely a CFD objective. The scope, content, and presentation of these CFD exercises are discussed in this paper. Additionally, one of the exercises is explained in detail to show the value of using CFD to teach introductory fluid mechanics to undergraduate engineers.

Fluid Dynamics of Axial Turbomachinery: Blade- and Stage-Level Simulations and Models

2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard D. Sandberg ◽  
Vittorio Michelassi
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Fluid Mechanics ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Complex Flow ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Flow Phenomena ◽  
The Rich

The current generation of axial turbomachines are the culmination of decades of experience, and detailed understanding of the underlying flow physics has been a key factor for achieving high efficiency and reliability. Driven by advances in numerical methods and relentless growth in computing power, computational fluid dynamics has increasingly provided insights into the rich fluid dynamics involved and how it relates to loss generation. This article presents some of the complex flow phenomena occurring in bladed components of gas turbines and illustrates how simulations have contributed to their understanding and the challenges they pose for modeling. The interaction of key aerodynamic features with deterministic unsteadiness, caused by multiple blade rows, and stochastic unsteadiness, i.e., turbulence, is discussed. High-fidelity simulations of increasingly realistic configurations and models improved with help of machine learning promise to further grow turbomachinery performance and reliability and, thus, help fluid mechanics research have a greater industrial impact. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, Volume 54 is January 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Enhancing the Teaching of Fluid Mechanics and Transport Phenomena via FlowLab: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Tool

Volume 1 ◽  
2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Sinclair Curtis ◽  
Kimberly Henthorn ◽  
Shane Moeykens ◽  
Murali Krishnan
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Fluid Mechanics ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Chemical Engineering ◽  
Transport Phenomena ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Structured Learning ◽  
Post Processing ◽  
Engineering Problems

Introducing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to engineering students at the undergraduate level has become more common in recent years, although there are significant barriers for doing so using a generalized CFD solver. A common constraint is the quantity of material to be covered in a fixed amount of time in a given course, which leaves little time left for learning the use of a generalized CFD package. With this consideration in mind, FlowLab (www.flowlab.fluent.com) was introduced by Fluent Inc. FlowLab may be described as a virtual fluids laboratory—a computer based analysis and visualization package. Using FlowLab, students solve predefined CFD exercises. These predefined exercises facilitate teaching and provide students with hands-on CFD experience. Through the design of each FlowLab exercise, students are introduced to engineering problems and concepts as well as CFD via a structured learning process. In the fall 2003 semester at Purdue University, FlowLab was used in CHE 540, a transport phenomena course offered within the School of Chemical Engineering. This course is open to advanced undergraduate engineering students and graduate students. Students were exposed to eight separate FlowLab exercises in this course. This paper gives a detailed summary of one of these specific exercises, developing flow in a pipe with and without heat transfer. The paper emphasizes how the use of CFD via FlowLab enhanced the teaching of specific concepts in transport phenomena as well as concepts in CFD such as creating a parametric geometry, discretizing the geometry, specifying boundary conditions, material properties and operating conditions, numerical solution techniques and post-processing. Experiences from this course are that FlowLab is a positive force for creating student interest and excitement in the area of fluid mechanics and transport phenomena. Using FlowLab’s post-processing capabilities, students were able to visualize complex flow fields and make direct comparison to analytical theory and experimental correlation. In addition, FlowLab provided a structured learning experience which reinforced proper pedagogy for applying CFD to engineering problems. Upon completion of the course, a student survey was performed in CHE 540 focusing on FlowLab integration and usage, and survey responses are summarized in this paper.

scholarly journals Fluid mechanics of human fetal right ventricles from image-based computational fluid dynamics using 4D clinical ultrasound scans

2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (6) ◽  
pp. H1498-H1508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadi Wiputra ◽  
Chang Quan Lai ◽  
Guat Ling Lim ◽  
Joel Jia Wei Heng ◽  
Lan Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Fluid Mechanics ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Complex Flow ◽  
Congenital Heart Malformations ◽  
Wall Shear ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

There are 0.6–1.9% of US children who were born with congenital heart malformations. Clinical and animal studies suggest that abnormal blood flow forces might play a role in causing these malformation, highlighting the importance of understanding the fetal cardiovascular fluid mechanics. We performed computational fluid dynamics simulations of the right ventricles, based on four-dimensional ultrasound scans of three 20-wk-old normal human fetuses, to characterize their flow and energy dynamics. Peak intraventricular pressure gradients were found to be 0.2–0.9 mmHg during systole, and 0.1–0.2 mmHg during diastole. Diastolic wall shear stresses were found to be around 1 Pa, which could elevate to 2–4 Pa during systole in the outflow tract. Fetal right ventricles have complex flow patterns featuring two interacting diastolic vortex rings, formed during diastolic E wave and A wave. These rings persisted through the end of systole and elevated wall shear stresses in their proximity. They were observed to conserve ∼25.0% of peak diastolic kinetic energy to be carried over into the subsequent systole. However, this carried-over kinetic energy did not significantly alter the work done by the heart for ejection. Thus, while diastolic vortexes played a significant role in determining spatial patterns and magnitudes of diastolic wall shear stresses, they did not have significant influence on systolic ejection. Our results can serve as a baseline for future comparison with diseased hearts.

COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS AND ITS INTEGRATION IN THE LEARNING OF FLUID MECHANICS FOR CIVIL ENGINEERS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Mora-Melia ◽  
Marco Alsina ◽  
Pablo Ballesteros-Pérez ◽  
Gonzalo Pincheira-Orellana
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Fluid Mechanics ◽  
Civil Engineers

Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of the Blood Flow in the Human Aortic Arch: Effects of Three Branches of the Arch on the Flow

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Mori ◽  
Tomoaki Hayasaka ◽  
Takami Yamaguchi
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Aortic Arch ◽  
Vascular Diseases ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Large Arteries ◽  
Vessel Structure ◽  
Flow Phenomena

The vascular diseases occurred in large arteries are suggested to relate with the blood flow as well as the vessel structure, which significantly influences the flow. In order to investigate these interactions, we have to understand the detailed flow phenomena in the complex vessel configuration.

scholarly journals Computational fluid dynamics for turbomachinery internal air systems

2007 ◽  
Vol 365 (1859) ◽  
pp. 2587-2611 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W Chew ◽  
Nicholas J Hills
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Cfd Models ◽  
Geometrical Features ◽  
Air System ◽  
Buoyancy Driven Flows ◽  
Flow Phenomena

Considerable progress in development and application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for aeroengine internal flow systems has been made in recent years. CFD is regularly used in industry for assessment of air systems, and the performance of CFD for basic axisymmetric rotor/rotor and stator/rotor disc cavities with radial throughflow is largely understood and documented. Incorporation of three-dimensional geometrical features and calculation of unsteady flows are becoming commonplace. Automation of CFD, coupling with thermal models of the solid components, and extension of CFD models to include both air system and main gas path flows are current areas of development. CFD is also being used as a research tool to investigate a number of flow phenomena that are not yet fully understood. These include buoyancy-affected flows in rotating cavities, rim seal flows and mixed air/oil flows. Large eddy simulation has shown considerable promise for the buoyancy-driven flows and its use for air system flows is expected to expand in the future.

Comparison of Three Rotor Designs for Rubber Mixing Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suma R. Das ◽  
Pashupati Dhakal ◽  
Abhilash J. Chandy
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Mixing Process ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Rubber Compounds ◽  
Mixing Dynamics ◽  
Flow Phenomena ◽  
Distribution Index ◽  
Increasing Demand

ABSTRACT In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for efficient mixers with high-quality mixing capabilities in the rubber product industry, with the focus of producing fuel-efficient tires. Depending on the functional characteristics of the tire and thus the compounding ingredients, different types of mixers can be used for the rubber mixing process. Hence, the choice of an appropriate mixer is critical in achieving the proper distribution and dispersion of fillers in rubber and a consistent product quality, as well as the attainment of high productivity. With the availability of high-performance computing resources and high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics tools over the last two decades, understanding the flow phenomena associated with complex rotor geometries such as the two- and four-wing rotors has become feasible. The objective of this article is to compare and investigate the flow and mixing dynamics of rubber compounds in partially filled mixing chambers stirred with three types of rotors: the two-wing, four-wing A, and four-wing B rotors. As part of this effort, all the 3D simulations are carried out with a 75% fill factor and a rotor speed of 20 rpm using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. Mass flow patterns, velocity vectors, particle trajectories, and other mixing statistics, such as cluster distribution index and length of stretch, are presented here. All the results showed consistently that the four-wing A rotor was superior in terms of dispersive and distributive mixing characteristics compared with the other rotors. The results also helped to understand the mixing process and material movement, thereby generating information that could potentially improve productivity and efficiency in the tire manufacturing process.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis of a Single-Stage Downhole Turbine

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajani Satti ◽  
Narasimha Rao Pillalamarri ◽  
Eckard Scholz
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Operating Regime ◽  
Single Stage ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Performance Characteristics ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Complex Flow ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd

In this study, the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is explored to predict the performance characteristics in a typical single-stage downhole turbine. The single-stage turbine model utilized for this study consists of a stator and a rotor. A finite-volume based CFD approach was implemented to simulate the complex flow field around the turbine. The analysis is based on transient, three-dimensional, isothermal turbulent flow in an incompressible fluid system. The inlet flow rates and angular velocity of the rotor were varied to encompass the operating regime. Comparison with experimental data revealed excellent agreement, proving reliability of the model in predicting the performance characteristics. Motivated by the successful model validation, a parametric study (considering blade tip clearance and blade count) was also conducted to understand the effects of the design parameters on the performance of the turbine. Detailed flow visualizations and efficiency calculations were also done to provide further insight into the overall performance of the turbine. As part of the present study, significant efforts were also spent in the following areas: standardization of CFD methodology and assessment of commercial software to develop an integrated CFD-driven design process.

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