Master in Maritime Operation

Scientific Approach of Complex Problems

Omid Tajamiri Rostami

Student number: 7024338

Due date: 07.07.2023

1
 Table of contents

Introduction ........................................................................................................................3
CFD base ........................................................................................................................4
Investigation of Turbulence ................................................................................................5
CAD geometry .....................................................................................................................6
Model grid and its local refinement ...................................................................................7
Boundary conditions ...........................................................................................................7
The dynamics of the water surface in the vicinity of the study body ................................9
The streamlines ................................................................................................................... 12
Comparison ........................................................................................................................15
References ........................................................................................................................16

2
 Introduction

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has experienced significant growth and recognition in
industrial applications and academic research. Initially, this field was primarily associated with
high-technology engineering sectors such as aeronautics and astronautics. However, it has
rapidly gained popularity and become a widely adopted methodology for solving complex
engineering problems. Drawing from various fluid mechanics and heat transfer disciplines, CFD
has expanded its reach into previously uncharted territories, including process, chemical, civil,
and environmental engineering. Using computational simulations, CFD facilitated the
construction of new and improved system designs and the optimization of existing equipment,
resulting in enhanced efficiency and reduced operating costs.
Given the growing global warming concerns and the ever-increasing world population, the
power generation industry heavily relies on CFD to minimize development and retrofitting
expenses. Computational studies are currently being conducted to address critical issues
related to clean and renewable power technologies and meet tough regulatory challenges
regarding emissions control and substantial reduction of environmental pollutants. CFD has
evolved into a new interdisciplinary branch integrating fluid mechanics with mathematics and
computer science.
Fluid mechanics, encompassing the study of fluids in dynamic and stationary states, forms the
foundation of CFD. However, CFD is specifically dedicated to understanding and analyzing fluids
in motion, examining how fluid flow behavior influences processes such as heat transfer and
potentially chemical reactions in combusting flows. Furthermore, CFD has emerged as one of
the three fundamental methods or approaches employed to solve problems in fluid dynamics
and heat transfer.
(https://books.google.de/books?id=_3OyEAAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&ots=IQ1MKUlUfv&dq=computati
onal%20fluid%20dynamics&lr&pg=PR10#v=onepage&q&f=true)
In this report, I will talk about the hybrid model investigation of my experimental body. The
desired parts of the portfolio will be described with the use of tables and pictures.

3
 Briefly and in your own words, on which conservation equations the CFD
investigation is based:

CFD investigations rely on essential conservation equations that depict how fluids behave.
These equations establish a mathematical framework for simulating and examining fluid
dynamics. The critical conservation equations in CFD are as follows:
1. Continuity Equation: This equation is based on the principle that mass remains constant
within a control volume, emphasizing the conservation of mass. It connects the rate of
mass change within the control volume to the divergence of the fluid's velocity field.
2. Navier-Stokes Equations: These equations, derived from Newton's second law of
motion, describe preserving momentum in fluid flow. They consider the influence of
pressure, viscosity, and external forces on the fluid. The Navier-Stokes equations
encompass three components: keeping momentum in the x, y, and z directions.
3. Energy Equation: The energy equation signifies energy preservation in fluid flow. It
accounts for heat transfer, work done by the fluid, and alterations in internal energy.
The energy equation incorporates parameters like temperature, specific heat, and
thermal conductivity.
4. Species Transport Equations: In situations involving multi-component flows like
combustion or chemical reactions, species transport equations are employed. These
equations elucidate the preservation of individual species (e.g., mass fractions) within
the fluid, considering diffusion, convection, and chemical reactions.

These conservation equations are the fundamental basis for CFD simulations, enabling
engineers and scientists to model and analyze diverse fluid flow phenomena. They find
application in scenarios such as airflow around vehicles, aerodynamics, combustion processes,
and fluid-structure interactions.

4
 Why the investigation of turbulence in the numerical model as well as in the
laboratory model should be treated with such caution:

The investigation of turbulence in numerical and laboratory models requires a cautious

approach for several reasons:
1. Turbulence Complexity: Turbulence is a complex phenomenon characterized by chaotic
and random fluid motion at various scales, involving intricate interactions between
vortices and eddies. This complexity poses challenges in accurately modeling and
simulating turbulence. Therefore, interpreting and extrapolating results from numerical
and laboratory models necessitates caution.
2. Sensitivity to Initial Conditions and Assumptions: Turbulence is highly sensitive to initial
conditions and modeling assumptions. Even small changes in these factors can lead to
significant variations in predicted turbulent behavior. Consequently, it is crucial to
carefully calibrate, validate, and verify models before concluding the results.
3. Computational Limitations: Numerical models for simulating turbulence have limitations
from grid resolution, time step size, and numerical algorithms. A sufficient resolution or
adequate computational resources can result in accurate representations of turbulent
flow dynamics. Ensuring proper validation and verification against experimental data is
essential to evaluate the reliability of numerical models.
4. Scale Effects and Reynolds Number: Turbulence exhibits scale-dependent behavior,
meaning its characteristics vary with different lengths and time scales. It is essential to
ensure that numerical and laboratory models capture the appropriate range of scales
relevant to the problem. Additionally, matching the Reynolds number, a dimensionless
parameter characterizing the flow regime, between the models is crucial for obtaining
consistent and comparable results.
5. Experimental Limitations: Laboratory experiments investigating turbulence face
inherent limitations, including measurement errors, limited spatial and temporal
resolution, and difficulty reproducing realistic flow conditions. These limitations

5
 introduce uncertainties in the collected data. To minimize these uncertainties, careful
experimental design, instrumentation, and data analysis techniques are necessary.

Considering the complexities and limitations discussed above, it is crucial to exercise caution
when interpreting and extrapolating results from numerical and laboratory models studying
turbulence. A comprehensive and cautious approach involving thorough validation, verification,
and sensitivity analyses is essential to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the findings.

CAD geometry

Free CAD, a parametric 3D modeling software, is designed for creating objects in various sizes
and is available as an open-source tool. Users can conveniently modify their designs by
revisiting the model history and adjusting parameters through parametric modeling. Free CAD
allows one to create 2D shapes with geometric constraints, serving as a foundation for
constructing additional objects. The software offers numerous features for dimension
adjustments and extracting design specifics from 3D models, facilitating the creation of detailed
production-ready drawings. (https://www.freecad.org/)

We need Free CAD software to prepare the cylinder shape and its dimension.

Figure 1: Cylinder Figure 2: Cylinder (Meshed)

6
Picture one is the cylinder with the given dimension, and the second is the meshed cylinder.
The number of sizes is as below:

PLACEMENT NUMBER CYLINDER NUMBER

X 5.3 mm RADIUS 0.1 mm
Y 0.3 mm HEIGHT 0.8 mm
Z 0.0 mm ANGLE 3600

Model grid and its local refinement & boundary condition

In this part, I will talk about the characteristics of the canal and the refinements data I have
done. The Canal dimension is 16*0.6*0.8, figure 5, which is block mesh data, and I did three
refinements which are 100%, 200%, and 300%, respectively. The refinement data are shown in
Figure 4. We will get more accurate data by expanding the refinement with more percentages
but processing the data will take longer.

Figure 3: Refinement

7
Figure 4: refinement data Figure 5: block mesh data

In the lab, we run the pumps with a flow rate of 0.160 m3/s water speed of 0.66 m/s. The
channel width is 600 mm, and the height of water at the beginning of the inflow area of the
flume is 400 mm. To calculate the cross-section area of the flume, we should multiply the
channel width by the height of water to find the area of the cross-section:

Channel width x height of the water at the beginning

= 600x400

=0.24 m2

Velocity= flow rate/cross-section area ➔ 0.160/0.24 = 0.66 meters per second

8
 The dynamics of the water surface in the vicinity of the study body

In this part, I will show how the water surface would be at different timing: before and after the
water passed the pile. At each time, the water surface will act differently. In some parts, such as
near the pile, the water surface will turn after impact, and the water speed will decrease
slightly. The velocity of the water will be increased on the pile’s side. The blue parts in the
figures are the positions where the water velocity decreased, and the red parts are the parts
where the velocity of water increased. The water surface after the pile is almost wavy due to
impact.

Figure 6: side view of water flow, x-direction, Time 1s

Figure 7: Top side view of water flow, x-direction, time 1 s

9
 Figure 8: water level at time 8 s, x-direction

Figure 9: Top-side view at time 8 s, x-direction

10
 Figure 10: Top-side view at time 2.5 s, x-direction

Figure 11: Top-side view at time 12 s, x-direction

Figure 12: Up-side view of the channel, Time 4 s, x-direction

11
 Figure 13: wireframe up-side view, Time 1 s, x-direction

Figure 14: wireframe up-side view, Time 12 s, x-direction

The streamlines

Streamlines are a visualization tool in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) used to represent
fluid particles' paths and flow patterns within a computational domain. Defined as tangent lines
to velocity vectors, streamlines offer insights into fluid flow behavior by indicating flow
direction and magnitude at different points. They are valuable for identifying recirculation,
separation, or convergence areas and revealing flow patterns around obstacles like vortices or
eddies. However, streamlines are time-independent, do not show temporal evolution, and rely

12
on the steady-state assumption. Alternative techniques like path lines or streak lines are more
suitable for unsteady flow. In summary, streamlines aid in understanding and qualitatively
observing complex flow phenomena by visualizing and analyzing flow patterns, direction, and
magnitude in CFD simulations.

Figure 15: Stream tracer top-side view, Time 1 s, x-direction

Figure 16: Stream tracer top-side view, Time 5s, x-direction

Figure 17: Stream tracer top-side view, time 12.5 s, x-direction

13
 Figure 18: Stream tracer side view, Time 1 s, z-direction

Figure 19: Stream tracer side view, Time 5 s, z-direction

Figure 20: Stream tracer side view, Time 12.5 s, z-direction

14
A comparison with the quasi-stationary water level course measured in the pilot
plant

CFD is used in many engineering fields, including Marine and offshore, energy, and power. We
used it to calculate the water speed and effect on the pile in the channel and how the water
behavior will be changed when it impacts the pile. In each second, the water’s shape and
behavior are different. In some parts, the water speed will decrease, and in others, it will
increase. The important factors in this experiment are the height, width, and length of the
channel, the velocity of water, and the amount of water in the channel.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) offers insights into the complex behavior of fluid flow,
encompassing turbulence, boundary layer effects, and vortices. One can discern the influence
of different flow patterns on various systems by comprehending the fundamental principles of
fluid dynamics. CFD facilitates the development of problem-solving skills, enabling the analysis
and optimization of fluid flow systems. Learners become adept at identifying and resolving
flow-related issues, optimizing designs for enhanced performance, and evaluating the impact of
changes in operating conditions or geometries. Familiarity with these methods empowers
individuals to tackle fluid flow problems computationally.

The data we obtained in the lab regarding the water level and what I got from the Para view, in
some points, are different with slight differences. All the data are tabulated in the below table.

Distance from Water level (mm) Water level obtained by Paraview

Cylinder (m) obtained in the lab (mm)
obtained in the lab
3.8 389 498
4 392 497
4.2 386 498
4.4 385 476
4.6 391 475

15
4.8 388 472
4.85 375 474
4.9 397 471
4.95 383 475
5 389 477
5.05 384 485
5.1 391 487
5.15 394 495
5.2 409 473
5.25 421 457
5.35 276 430
5.4 358 425
5.45 337 425
5.5 333 428
5.55 328 425
5.6 329 421
5.65 336 419
5.7 348 413
5.75 351 412
5.8 355 412
6 364 427
7 357 491

16
 References

1. (https://books.google.de/books?id=_3OyEAAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&ots=IQ1MKUlUfv&dq=co
mputational%20fluid%20dynamics&lr&pg=PR10#v=onepage&q&f=true
2. (https://www.freecad.org/)

17