No one generates a mesh just to generate a mesh. The proof of a mesh’s suitability is successful use in a CFD simulation. That success can be predicated on many factors including the availability of a broad range of mesh types, algorithms that produce well-shaped mesh cells, a scripting language that allows the process to be automated, flexibility to integrate into your simulation process, and more. These six recent case studies demonstrate what you can do with the right mesh in applications ranging from nuclear power generation, to biomedical pumps, to fan acoustics, truck aerodynamics, and a boiler.

Accurate CFD for Nuclear Reactor Rod Bundles

Accurate CFD results are needed for the design of nuclear reactor rod bundle cooling, which requires a high-quality, detailed mesh of the complex bundle and wrapped wire geometry to capture the physics appropriately. Michael Böttcher of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology used multiple Pointwise structured and unstructured meshing techniques to model the complex geometry of the rods and the wrapped wires to achieve the required level of accuracy in the CFD solution. The flexibility afforded by a breadth of meshing capabilities made the difference in a mesh that cannot be achieved with automatic, “free” meshing alone. Continue reading →

Turbulence Model Influence on Flow in the FDA Benchmark Blood Pump

Previous work explored hybrid and multi-block structured meshing strategies and their impact on steady-state solution accuracy for the FDA’s centrifugal blood pump. The focus of this study was to extend the previous work by examining the influence of the turbulence model. The k-ω SST, standard k-ε, and realizable k-ε turbulence models were used. Results from all six pump test conditions were compared for each turbulence model. Continue reading →

Simulation of Fan Acoustics using LES on Overset Grids

Professor Kozo Fujii recently shared preliminary results of a large-eddy simulation of an axial fan that were computed on overset structured grids. Decomposition techniques were then used to compute the fan’s acoustic signature. A journal article and conference presentation are currently in-work and will contain more detail on the simulations and a broader range of results. Continue reading →

Understanding Tractor Trailer Aerodynamics Using a Time Accurate Approach

In the United States, 70 percent of freight tonnage is transported by tractor trailers each year. Tractor trailers spend much of their time at highway speeds, resulting in 65 percent of their fuel consumption being used to overcome aerodynamic drag. Consequently, it is essential to understand the source of this aerodynamic drag and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is the perfect tool to identify and diagnose these issues. SU2 was used for a transient simulation conducted to capture near body drag and wake drag phenomena with a Delayed Detached Eddy model based on the Shear Stress Transport turbulence. The control over mesh topology and boundary layer generation within Pointwise provided a mesh best suited for this simulation. Continue reading →

Reducing Boiler Emissions Through Shape Optimization

In this work, a flexible framework for discrete adjoint-based reactive flow optimization in SU2 is presented. The implementation is based on a low-Mach number solver and a flamelet progress variable model for strongly cooled laminar premixed flames. Besides the combustion model and the required solvers, methodologies to handle geometrically constrained deformation and an automated re-meshing procedure using Pointwise are shown. Furthermore, validation of the implementation and design optimization of a simplified 2D burner and heat exchanger configuration are presented. Continue reading →

It’s all in the numbering – mesh renumbering may improve simulation speed

We all know that the mesh plays a vital role in CFD simulations. Yet, not many realize that renumbering (ordering) of the cells in the Finite Volume Method (FVM) can affect the performance of the linear solver and thus the speed of the simulation. In some circumstances, a poorly numbered mesh may result in solver divergence and failure of the simulation. In this blog, we use Pointwise and OpenFOAM® to illustrate the effect of mesh renumbering on the matrix structure. Continue reading →

Try Pointwise for Yourself

I doubt you’re generating meshes just to generate meshes. If any of these case studies have piqued your interest, why not request a free trial license of Pointwise today and see what meshing challenges you can overcome?