Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

1st Exam of Computational Fluid Dynamics

January 24th, 2025, 8:00 AM
Room: IA
Closed Book Exam
Duration: 2 hours
Name: ________________________________________________________________________ Number: ______________

We are all expected to abide by the IST standards for academic excellence and integrity.

Problem 1 (0.75+0.75+0.75+1.25+1.0+1.0+0.5+1.0+0.5 = 7.5 Marks)

Consider the one dimensional bar, below, where a thermal conduction process takes place,
subjected to a uniform thermal source.
𝜕𝑇
In terms of boundary conditions, consider an adiabatic condition on the left (𝑥 = 0 → 𝜕𝑥 = 0) and
an imposed value on the right (𝑥 = 1 → 𝑇 = 100).
The RED points refer to the Finite Differences Domain and the BLACK points refer to the
centroids of the Control Volumes defined by the Black rectangular 1D Cells.

Under this conditions the ODE governing the process is:

∂T ∂T 𝜕2 𝑇
= ∇ ∙ (∇𝑇) + 6 → = +6
∂t ∂t 𝜕𝑥2
Regarding the Finite Differences approach:

a) Discretize the equation at point i with a second order central scheme in space and first
order explicit Euler in time. Then fill the row 4 of the system of equations below.

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 𝑻𝟏

𝑻𝟐

𝑻𝟑 =
𝑻𝟒

𝑻𝟓

𝑻𝟔

𝑻𝟕

b) Discretize the equation at point i with a second order central scheme in space and first
order Implicit Euler in time. Then fill the row 4 of the system of equations below.

𝑻𝟏

𝑻𝟐

𝑻𝟑 =
𝑻𝟒

𝑻𝟓

𝑻𝟔

𝑻𝟕

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c) If the expected result to be attained was a steady state thermal field, fully explain the
different procedures to be considered, under the different numerical approaches
explored in the previous items: Explicit vs Implicit.

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d) Consider now, only for this question, the PDE with no source term:
∂T 𝜕2 𝑇
=
∂t 𝜕𝑥2
Apply the von Neumann stability analysis for one of the previous items of your choice,
item a) or item b), and find the stability limit. Consider the parameter to be constrained,
Δ𝑡
the diffusive criterion, as 𝛾 = (Δ𝑥)2 .

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e) For the sake of simplicity, consider only the steady state version of the transport equation
under analysis, thus:

1) Discretize the first point on the left, where an adiabatic condition was considered. At
least 2 options are available.

2) Discretize the first point on the left, now i, according to the figure below, where an
adiabatic condition was considered. For that consider the existence of a ghost point,
i-1, but the final expression of the discretization may not have, of course, any reference
to the ghost point. At least 2 options are available. Hint: apply the PDE to point i and
manage to enforce the boundary condition.

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 Regarding the Finite Volumes approach:

f) Applying the Finite Volume method to a generic cell P, the process follows as referred in
the next 10 steps.
Fill the green column of the FV process with the label in the green table below.
𝜕𝑇
1 = ∇ ∙ (∇𝑇) + 6
𝜕𝑡
𝑡+Δ𝑡 𝑡+Δ𝑡 𝑡+Δ𝑡
𝜕𝑇
2 ∫ (∫ 𝑑𝑉) 𝑑𝑡 = ∫ (∫ ∇ ∙ (∇𝑇) 𝑑𝑉) 𝑑𝑡 + ∫ (∫ 6 𝑑𝑉) 𝑑𝑡
𝑡 𝑉 𝜕𝑡 𝑡 𝑉 𝑡 𝑉
𝑡+Δ𝑡 𝑡+Δ𝑡 𝑡+Δ𝑡
𝜕𝑇
3 ∫ (∫ 𝑑𝑉) 𝑑𝑡 = ∫ (∫ (∇𝑇) ∙ 𝑛⃗ 𝑑𝑆) 𝑑𝑡 + ∫ (∫ 6 𝑑𝑉) 𝑑𝑡
𝑡 𝑉 𝜕𝑡 𝑡 𝑆 𝑡 𝑉
𝑡+Δ𝑡 𝑡+Δ𝑡 𝑡+Δ𝑡
𝜕𝑇
4 Δ𝑥 × 1 ∫ 𝑑𝑡 = ∫ (∫ (∇𝑇) ∙ 𝑛⃗ 𝑑𝑆) 𝑑𝑡 + ∫ 6 Δ𝑥 × 1 𝑑𝑡
𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝑡 𝑆 𝑡
𝑡+Δ𝑡 𝑡+Δ𝑡
5 Δ𝑥(𝑇𝑃𝑛+1 − 𝑇𝑃𝑛 ) =∫ ((∫ (∇𝑇) ∙ 𝑛⃗ 𝑑𝑆)) 𝑑𝑡 + ∫ 6Δ𝑥 𝑑𝑡
𝑡 𝑆 𝑡
𝑛
6 Δ𝑥(𝑇𝑃𝑛+1 − 𝑇𝑃𝑛 ) = Δ𝑡 (∫ ((∇𝑇) ∙ 𝑛⃗) 𝑑𝑆) + Δ𝑡(6Δ𝑥 )
𝑆

7 Δ𝑥(𝑇𝑃𝑛+1 − 𝑇𝑃𝑛 ) = Δ𝑡 [ ∑ [(∇𝑇)𝑛𝑖 ∙ ⃗⃗⃗

𝑛𝑖 ]] + 6Δ𝑡Δ𝑥
𝑖∈𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑠
Δ𝑡
8 𝑇𝑃𝑛+1 = 𝑇𝑃𝑛 + ∑ [(∇𝑇)𝑛𝑖 ∙ ⃗⃗⃗
𝑛𝑖 ] + 6Δ𝑡
Δ𝑥
𝑖∈𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑠
Δ𝑡
9 𝑇𝑃𝑛+1 = 𝑇𝑃𝑛 + ((∇𝑇)𝑛𝑒 − (∇𝑇)𝑛𝑤 ) + 6Δ𝑡
Δ𝑥
Δ𝑡 𝑇𝐸𝑛 − 𝑇𝑃𝑛 𝑇𝑃𝑛 − 𝑇𝑊𝑛
10 𝑇𝑃𝑛+1 = 𝑇𝑃𝑛 + (( )−( )) + 6Δ𝑡
Δ𝑥 Δ𝑥 Δ𝑥

A B C D E F G H I J

Performing the inner

(up to second order)
Original formulation

discretization of the
Integrating in space

Exact integration of

Numerical fluxes
stationary mesh
integration on a
Explicit scheme

diffusive fluxes
Gauss theorem

Second order

Second order
Simplifying

and time

product
LHS

g) Fully explain what was done, and the considered principles, in the steps 4 and 5.

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h) Discretize the steady version of the PDE equation in the generic cell P and also in the first
and last Control Volumes.

i) Regarding the previous discretization, fill ALL the entries in the system of equations
below:

𝑻𝟏

𝑻𝟐

𝑻𝟑 =
𝑻𝟒

𝑻𝟓

𝑻𝟔

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Problem 2 (2.0 Marks)
In the context of the Finite Volume
Method, the first order upwind scheme
for the convective term, together, or not,
with the first order explicit Euler for time
discretization, present some specific
properties that may be good or bad,
depending on the context and the
expectations.
In the following you are asked to express
the pros and cons of this (these) first
order scheme (schemes).
Please address, at least, 6 of the following ‘keywords’ or ideas:
- boundedness - monotonicity
- dissipation - diagonal dominancy
- dispersion - order of accuracy
- exact solution for the advection - numerical diffusion
equation under specific conditions - Riemann solver
- flux limiter - accuracy and robustness

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Problem 3 (0.5+0.5+1.0+1.0 = 3.0 Marks)
Consider the duct network bellow, for an incompressible fluid, feeding an industrial meat facility
where each compartment is kept at the same constant pressure 𝑃 = 0.
The duct network comprises 5 pipes to be calculated with momentum equation given by:
−Δ𝑃 = 𝛽𝑉̇
̇
where 𝑃 is the pressure, 𝑉 is the volumetric flow rate and β = 5.
The continuity equation, to be solve in the unknown black nodes, can be taken as:
∑𝑉 ⃗ ̇ ∙ ⃗⃗⃗
𝑛𝑖 = 0

a) A staggered mesh to the solution of the problem is shown below. Justify the relevance of
considering a staggered mesh. Also justify this mesh for this problem, and which equation
(and why?) is to be considered in the green, yellow and purple CV’s.

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b) Conclude, with full detail, that the volumetric flow rate correction is related to the
pressure correction in the following way:
Δ𝑃′
𝑉̇ ′ = −
𝛽

c) Derive, with full detail, the ‘SIMPLE’ algorithm to obtain the following system of equations
for the pressure correction.

𝟐 −𝟏 𝟎 𝑷′𝟏 𝜷(𝟏𝟎𝟎 − 𝑽̇∗𝟐 − 𝑽̇∗𝑺 )

−𝟏 𝟑 −𝟏 𝑷′𝟐
= 𝜷(𝑽̇∗𝟐 − 𝑽̇∗𝟑 − 𝑽̇∗𝑷 )

𝟎 −𝟏 𝟐 𝑷′𝟑 𝜷(𝑽̇∗𝟑 − 𝑽̇∗𝑪 )

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d) Conduct one iteration of the process, justifying why one single iteration is enough. Thus,
define an initial guess for the pressure, estimate the velocity field and present the
pressure correction system of equations to be solved.

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Problem 4 (2.0+1.0+0.5 = 3.5 Marks)

Consider the unstructured mesh on the right, where a

detail is presented below with the pertinent points on
the surrounding properly labeled.
A local Coordinate system is also represented below.
All sides of the pentagons have a length of 1.

a) Considering the transport equation 0 = ∇ ∙ (∇(𝜙)), apply the Finite Volume method in a
simplified way, taking in mind the cell P. Discretize the transport equation in the control
volume P. Comment the expected order of accuracy of the diffusive term, and the need, or
not, to consider non-orthogonal corrections.

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b) Consider the general expressions below for the components of the Cell ‘average’ Gradient
for cell P:

̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
∇(𝜙)𝑃 |𝑥 = 𝛼1 𝜙𝑃 + 𝛼2 𝜙𝐴 + 𝛼3 𝜙𝐵 + 𝛼4 𝜙𝐶 + 𝛼5 𝜙𝐷 + 𝛼6 𝜙𝐸

̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
∇(𝜙)𝑃 |𝑦 = 𝛽1 𝜙𝑃 + 𝛽2 𝜙𝐴 + 𝛽3 𝜙𝐵 + 𝛽4 𝜙𝐶 + 𝛽5 𝜙𝐷 + 𝛽6 𝜙𝐸

Say, briefly justifying, with no need of calculations, which 𝛼 or 𝛽 above are zero. Comment
the expected order of accuracy for the Cell Gradient on cell P.

Formulae
1 1
̅̅̅̅̅̅
∇𝜙 𝑃 = ∫ ∇𝜙 𝑑𝑉 ̅̅̅̅̅̅
∇𝜙 𝑃 = ∫ 𝜙 𝑑𝑺
𝑉𝑃 𝑉𝑃 𝑉𝑃 𝜕𝑉𝑃
1
̅̅̅̅̅̅
∇𝜙 𝑃 𝑉𝑃 = ∑ ∫ 𝜙 𝑑𝑺 ̅̅̅̅̅̅
∇𝜙 𝑃 = ∑ ̅̅̅̅
𝜙𝑓 𝑺𝒇
𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑉𝑃
𝜕𝑉𝑃 𝑓=𝑛𝑏(𝑃)

c) Regarding cell A, comment the expected order of accuracy for the Cell Gradient. Also
comment the need of non-orthogonal corrections for the diffusive flux.

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Problem 5 (20 x 0.2 = 4.0 Marks) Wrong answers discount 50% (-0.1 Mark)

Indicate if the statements below are True or False.

T F
1 The Burger’s equation is hyperbolic even for small velocities, close to zero.
When discretizing the linear one-dimensional convection equation with an
2 explicit scheme, the application of a flux limiter makes the numerical scheme to
be non-linear.
3 Linear 1D advection equation only displays contact discontinuities, while 1D
Burger’s equation may display shocks and non-isentropic expansion waves.
Godunov method employs a piecewise-constant reconstruction and evolves
4 according to the exact Riemann problem solution at interfaces of the control
volumes and the time step is controlled so that the face Riemann problems are
not allowed to interact.
5 The SOR method with an over-relaxation factor 𝜆 > 2 can speed up the
convergence by a factor higher than 1.
6 For the linear one-dimensional advection equation, the analytical phase angle is
unitary.
7 PWIM method (Rhie and Chow) calculates the corrections for the velocity at the
faces of the control volumes.
8 If a scheme is stable and consistent, then the scheme will be convergent.
9 The outflow boundary conditions needed in the simulation of 3D Euler
compressible flows are not the same for subsonic and supersonic flow.
If you perform some numerical experiments computing discontinuous solutions
10 using Godunov’s method, you observe that Godunov’s method adds some
artificial smearing to the solution.
11 Godunov’s method is an exact Riemann’s solver and thus, in general, we may have
exact solutions of discontinuous fields.
12 When using the Grid Convergence Index (GCI) method, at least three meshes
must be used, hopefully out of the asymptotic range of convergence.
A polygonal mesh may be the dual mesh of a triangular mesh only if Delaunay
13 triangulation was employed.
The Gauss-Seidel method, for the numerical solution of linear systems of
14 equations, may be used for the convergence process of non-linear systems of
equations.
15 In 2D, a set of 3251 dispersed points, thus not collinear, always generate a
Delaunay triangulation.
In unstructured grids, we may consider solely the cell gradients to compute the
16 diffusive fluxes, with no non-orthogonal corrections. However numerical stability
problems may occur.
17 Five possible wave patterns exist in the solution of the Riemann problem for the
inviscid 1D Burgers equation, when evaluating the Godunov flux.
18 Coupled solvers are more suitable to compressible flows than segregated solvers.
19 The SIMPLE algorithm is a Projection Method with orthogonal projection of the
fields onto the solenoidal space.
20 The SIMPLEC algorithm does not consider the contribution of the neighbors to
the velocity correction.

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