Unsteady Flow Past A Cylinder Cornell

FLUENT 12.
1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Problem Specification - Simulation - Confluence
06-08-2012
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FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Problem Specification

Added by John Matthew Singleton Jr , last edited by Ethan Aaron Richenberg on Jul 17, 2011 14:27
Labels: None
Author: John Singleton and Rajesh Bhaskaran
Problem Specification
1. Pre-Analysis & Start-Up
2. Geometry
3. Mesh
4. Setup (Physics)
5. Solution
6. Results
7. Verification and Validation
Exercises
Under Construction!!
Consider the unsteady state case of a fluid flowing past a cylinder, as illustrated above. For this tutorial we will use a Reynolds
Number of 120. In order to simplify the computation, the diameter of the pipe is set to 1 m, the x component of the velocity is set to 1
m/s and the density of the fluid is set to 1 kg/m^3. Thus, the dynamic viscosity must be set to 8.333x10^-3 kg/m*s in order to obtain
the desired Reynolds number.
For this Unsteady Case, the governing equation becomes non linear due to the addition of a time derivative term:
The methods implemented by FLUENT to solve a time dependent system are very similar to those used in a steady-state case. In
this case, the domain and boundary conditions will be the same as the Steady Flow Past a Cylinder. However, because this is a
transient system, initial conditions at t=0 are required. To solve the system, we need to input the desired time range and time step
into FLUENT. The program will then compute a solution for the first time step, iterating until convergence or a limit of iterations is
reached, then will proceed to the next time step, "marching" through time until the end time is reached.
Go to Step 1: Pre-Analysis and Start-Up
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FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Pre-Analysis & Start-Up

Added by John Matthew Singleton Jr , last edited by Ethan Aaron Richenberg on May 01, 2012 16:04
Labels: None


2. Geometry
3. Mesh
4. Setup (Physics)
5. Solution
6. Results
Exercises

Please complete the "Steady Flow past a Cylinder tutorial before completing this tutorial. Click here to go to the problem statement of
the "Steady Flow Past a Cylinder" tutorial.
Alternatively, click here to download the completed project files for the "Steady Flow Past a Cylinder" tutorial.
The pre-analysis is the same for both steady and unsteady flow past a cylinder. Click [here] to go to the pre-analysis of the "Steady
Flow Past a Cylinder" tutorial.
To start-up, open your completed "Steady Flow Past a Cylinder" project file. (If using the completed version in the zip file above,
extract the files and open "Cylinder.wbpj".)
Right-click on Fluid Flow (FLUENT) and then click Duplicate. Enter "Unsteady Flow" in the highlighted field to rename it. Your
Project Schematic should now appear as below.
Go to Step 2: Geometry
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FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Geometry - Simulation - Confluence
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FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Geometry

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2. Geometry
3. Mesh
4. Setup (Physics)
5. Solution
6. Results
Exercises
Geometry
We can skip the geometry step, because it is the same as the "Steady Flow Past a Cylinder" geometry and we have already
duplicated that project.
Go to Step 3: Mesh
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FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Mesh - Simulation - Confluence
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FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Mesh

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2. Geometry
3. Mesh
4. Setup (Physics)
5. Solution
6. Results
Exercises
Mesh
We can skip the mesh step as well, because it is the same as the "Steady Flow Past a Cylinder" mesh and we have already
duplicated that project.
Go to Step 4: Setup (Physics)
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FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Setup (Physics)

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2. Geometry
3. Mesh
4. Setup (Physics)
5. Solution
6. Results
Exercises
4. Setup (Physics)
Launch FLUENT.
( D o u b l e
C inl "Unsteady
i c k ) Flow",
S ethetduplicate
u p project. Select D o u b l e
multiple cores, select parallel, and set the number of cores to be used.
P, and
r ife using
c i ascomputer
i o n with
Then click O K
Transient
In this step here we will, tell FLUENT to solve for the unsteady flow. As you can see, by default FLUENT will solve for the steady flow.
P r o b l e m
S e t. Set
u Tp i m
>to Te Gr ea n .es ri ea nl t
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FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Setup (Physics) - Simulation - Confluence
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Specify Material Properties

To achieve a Reynolds number of 120, as required in the problem statement, we will change the material viscosity, to 8.333*10^-3
kg/m*s.
P r o b l e m
S e t u p
>
M a t e r. Set
i athel vs i s> c oto
F 8.333*10^-3
sl ui ti yd kg/m*s.
>
CClick
r eC a ht ae n/ E
g ed ./i C
t . r . e. a
Then click C l o. s e
Save Project
Go to Step 5: Solution
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FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Solution

Labels: None

2. Geometry
3. Mesh
4. Setup (Physics)
5. Solution
6. Results
Exercises
5. Solution
Convergence Criterion: Turn off Drag, Turn on Lift
S o l u t i o n
>D M
r ao gn i >.t Then
oE runcheck
ds i t > .P . r . i n t
t o andCuncheck
o n Ps lo . oClick
l te o .k
S o l u t i o n
> L iM f ot n >i. Then
t Eo check
r si tP .>r . i . n t
d
t o, P Cl and
oo t nW sr o.i Click
tl ee o .kThe last option writes the lift
coefficient data to a file that is buried in one of the subfolders that FLUENT creates in the working folder. You'll have to dig around to
find it.
Solution Initialization
First, let's set the initial condition in all of the cells to a velocity of 1 m/s in the X-direction. S o l u t i o n
Set C o m p u t to
e f aF r r f oi. Click
m
e l Id n1 i . t .i a l i z e
>
S o l .u t i o n
Next, we'll change the velocity in some of the cells to more quickly reach a sinusoidal variation of the lift coefficient. A d a p t
R e g i .o n . . .
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>
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Then set X
Mto i0.5n m, set X
M toa32xm, set Y
06-08-2012
Mtoi0 nm, and set Y
M toa32m.
x
Click M a then
r k click C l o. This
s ewill select the cells bounded by these four points, so we can change the initial condition in them.
Next, click P a t. c h
Complete the patching menu as shown below. This will change the initial Y component of velocity in the selected region from 0 to 0.2
m/s.
Click P a t,then
c hclick c l o. s e
Setting Up Data Export to Create Animation

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We would like to create an animation of the vorticity magnitude after the solution has been calculated. To do so, we will need to export
data from FLUENT to CFD-Post, the post processor used to view results. To do so, go to Solution > Calculation Activities >
Automatic Export > Create > Solution Data Export....
Next, change File Type to CFD-Post compatible, as this is the program we will use for post processing. Then, select Vorticity
Magnitude from the list of variables on the right, so we can make an animation of contours of vorticity. Finally, click Browse, and
choose a convenient file location to place the data files. Make note of this location for later use.
Advance Solution in Time

S o l u t i o n
>
R . Set
u nT i Cm ae l cS uttole0.2
apseconds
t i So i nand
z eset the N u m b e r
O f to T400.
i m e
S t e p s
Now, click C a l c .u(You

l amay
t have
e to hit C a l c utwice.)
l a Now,
t e have a cup of coffee. When complete, close FLUENT to return
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06-08-2012
to the main project window.
Save Project
Go to Step 6: Results
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FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Results

Labels: None

2. Geometry
3. Mesh
4. Setup (Physics)
5. Solution
6. Results
Exercises
Results
Open CFD-Post
We'll create a separate CFD-Post module, as this is the easiest way to load the results for this project.
On the left of the main project window, expand Component Systems and double-click Results.
Your project schematic window should now appear as below.
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06-08-2012
Double click on the Results module that was just created to open CFD-Post.
Results
Now, we need to load the results of our FLUENT simulation.
After opening CFD-Post, click the Load Results button in the upper left corner of the screen.
Next, browse to the location where you chose to save the FLUENT data files. Select the .cas file that is in this folder, which should be
named "FFF-1-0001.cas", or similar. In the bottom right of this window, select Load complete history as: and Single Case. Finally,
click Open.
Click OK in the popup window if one appears.

h4. Load Timesteps
Click Tools > Time Step Selector to open the Time Step Selector.
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06-08-2012
Select the first time step, and click Apply. Leave the Time Step Selector window open, but continue to the next step.
h4. Create Vorticity Contour
Now, let's insert a contour of vorticity, in order to animate it.
While leaving the Time Step Selector window open, click Insert > Contour. Name it "Vorticity Contour".
Under Details of Vorticity Contour, select symmetry 1 from Locations.
Next, ensure that Variable is set to Vorticity.
Change Range to User Specified. Set the Min to 0.01 s^-1 and Max to 2 s^-1.
Enter 25 for Number of Contours. You should now see the following:
Click Apply to create the contour.

Next, let's set up the view we would like for the animation. You can see that we are currently viewing the 2D surface from a 3D,
isometric perspective. To fix this, click the Z-axis in the axes triad in the lower corner.
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06-08-2012
Now let's zoom in to the are of interest. Select the zoom box tool from the upper toolbar.
Using the zoom box tool, click and drag a box that roughly encompasses the area shown below to zoom in on it.
Now we're ready to animate the vorticity contour over this zoomed-in area.
h4. Create Animation
Return to the Time Step Selector Window, which should still be open. Click the Animate Timesteps button.
Select Keyframe Animation, and click the insert new keyframe button,
. Change the number of frames to equal the number of
data files we saved to animate, in this case 400. Your Animation window should look like this:
16 / 21
06-08-2012
Keeping the Animation window open, click back to the Time Step Selector window. Select time step #400, and click Apply. The
Vorticity Contour on the right half of your screen should now have changed. Click back to the Animation window, and insert another
new keyframe. This time, leave the number of frames set to 10.
We're now ready to set up the saving options for the animation. Click the arrow in the bottom right of the window to expand the
options.
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06-08-2012
Check the box labeled Save Movie, and use the folder icon to set the desired file location and type.
Next, maximize your CFD-Post window, and click the play button in the Animation window to create the animation!
Your video should turn out similar to the one below.
Go to Step 7: Verification & Validation

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FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Verification & Validation

Added by John Matthew Singleton Jr , last edited by Benjamin J Mullen on Apr 27, 2011 18:09
Labels: None

2. Geometry
3. Mesh
4. Setup (Physics)
5. Solution
6. Results

Exercises
Go to Exercises
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FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Exercises

Added by John Matthew Singleton Jr , last edited by Benjamin J Mullen on Apr 27, 2011 18:09
Labels: None

2. Geometry
3. Mesh
4. Setup (Physics)
5. Solution
6. Results
Exercises
Return To Problem Specification

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FLUENT 12.

1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Problem Specification - Simulation - Confluence

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Problem Specification

Author: John Singleton and Rajesh Bhaskaran

See and rate the complete Learning Module

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Pre-Analysis & Start-Up

Author: John Singleton and Rajesh Bhaskaran

1. Pre-Analysis & Start-Up

2. Pre-Analysis & Start-Up

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Geometry - Simulation - Confluence

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Geometry

Author: John Singleton and Rajesh Bhaskaran

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Mesh - Simulation - Confluence

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Mesh

Author: John Singleton and Rajesh Bhaskaran

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Setup (Physics)

Author: John Singleton and Rajesh Bhaskaran

Specify Material Properties

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Solution - Simulation - Confluence

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Solution

Author: John Singleton and Rajesh Bhaskaran

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Solution - Simulation - Confluence

Mto i0.5n m, set X

Mtoi0 nm, and set Y

Setting Up Data Export to Create Animation

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Solution - Simulation - Confluence

Advance Solution in Time

Now, click C a l c .u(You

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Solution - Simulation - Confluence

to the main project window.

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Results - Simulation - Confluence

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Results

Author: John Singleton and Rajesh Bhaskaran

Your project schematic window should now appear as below.

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Results - Simulation - Confluence

Click OK in the popup window if one appears.

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Results - Simulation - Confluence

Click Apply to create the contour.

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Results - Simulation - Confluence

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Results - Simulation - Confluence

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Results - Simulation - Confluence

Go to Step 7: Verification & Validation

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Results - Simulation - Confluence

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Verification & Validation

Author: John Singleton and Rajesh Bhaskaran

7. Verification and Validation

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Exercises - Simulation - Confluence

FLUENT 12.1 - Unsteady Flow Past a Cylinder - Exercises

Author: John Singleton and Rajesh Bhaskaran

Return To Problem Specification

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