14.

0Release

Lecture5
SolverSettings

SolutionProcedureOverview
Thesketchtotherightshowsthe
basicworkflowforanysimulation

Set the solution parameters

Thislecturewilllookatalltheitems
This lecture will look at all the items
inthechart

Initialize the solution

Solutionparameters
Choosingthesolver
Discretizationschemes
h

Enable the solution monitors of interest

Initialization
Convergence

Calculate a solution

Monitoringconvergence
Monitoring convergence
Stability

SettingUnderrelaxation
SettingCourantnumber
SettingPseudotimestep

Check for convergence

Yes

Acceleratingconvergence

No

Check for accuracy

Accuracy
GridIndependence
p
Adaption

Modify solution
parameters or grid

Yes
Stop

No

AvailableSolvers
TherearetwokindsofsolversavailableinFLUENT
Pressurebased (PBS)
Density based (DBS)
Pressure-Based
Segregated

Coupled

Density-Based
Coupled Implicit

Coupled-Explicit

Solve Mass
Mass,
Momentum,
Energy,
Species

Solve Mass,
Mass
Momentum,
Energy,
Species

Solve U-Momentum
Solve V-Momentum
V Momentum
Solve W-Momentum

Solve Mass
& Momentum

Solve Mass
Continuity;
Update Velocity
Solve Energy
S l Species
Solve
S i
Solve Turbulence Equation(s)

Solve Other Transport Equations as required

ChoosingaSolver

ChoosingaSolver PressureBased
Thepressurebasedsolver(segregated)isapplicableforawide
rangeofflowregimesfromlowspeedincompressibleflowto
highspeedcompressibleflow
g p
p
Requireslessmemory(storage)comparedtocoupledsolvers
Allowsflexibilityinthesolutionprocedure dampingofallequationsseparately
Examples:Goodforthemajorityofdaytodayapplications;forconvergence
issues switch to PBCS or DBCS
issuesswitchtoPBCSorDBCS

Thepressurebasedcoupledsolverisapplicableformostflows,
andyieldssuperiorperformancetothestandard(segregated)
and
yields superior performance to the standard (segregated)
pressurebasedsolver
NotavailablewithNITA,periodicmassflow,fixed
velocityoption
Requires1.52timesmorememorythanthe
segregatedsolver.
Examples:Moredemandingapplicationswhere
pressurevelocitycouplingrulesconvergence,e.g.
hi h i ti
highinertiaorbodyforces
b d f

Enabling
pressure-based
coupled solver
(PBCS)

PBS PressureVelocityCoupling
Pressurevelocitycouplingreferstothenumericalalgorithmwhichusesa

combinationofcontinuityandmomentumequationstoderiveanequationfor
pressurecorrectionwhenusingthePBS

FivealgorithmsareavailableinFLUENT
SemiImplicitMethodforPressureLinkedEquations
(SIMPLE)

Thedefaultscheme,robust(memoryefficient)

Coupled
EnablethePressurebasedcoupledSolver.(fasterconvergencethansegregated)

SIMPLEConsistent(SIMPLEC)
AllowsfasterconvergencethanSIMPLEforsimpleproblems(allowhighunderrelaxation
factors)
(e.g.,laminarflowswithnophysicalmodelsemployed)

PressureImplicitwithSplittingofOperators(PISO)
Pressure Implicit with Splitting of Operators (PISO)
Usefulforunsteadyflow problemsorformeshescontainingcellswithhigherthanaverage
skewness

FractionalStepMethod(FSM)forunsteadyflowsonly
UsedwiththeNITAscheme;similarcharacteristicsasPISO(usedinLESforexample)
Used with the NITA scheme; similar characteristics as PISO (used in LES for example)

PBSSegregatedProcedure UnderRelaxationFactors
ImplicitunderrelaxationfactorsareusedforSIMPLE,SIMPLEC,PISO
Theunderrelaxationfactor,, isincludedtostabilizetheiterativeprocessfor

thepressurebasedsolver
p
Thefinal,convergedsolutionisindependent
oftheunderrelaxationfactor
Onlythenumberofiterationsrequired
forconvergenceisdependent
for convergence is dependent

Defaultsettingsaresuitablefora
widerangeofproblems
id
f
bl
Youcanreducethevalueswhennecessary
Appropriatesettingsarebestlearned
fromexperience!

Note:Forthedensitybasedsolver,
underrelaxationfactorsforequations
outside the coupled set are modified
outsidethecoupledsetaremodified
asinthepressurebasedsolver

PressureBased Coupled Solver

2mainoptionstocontrolconvergence:
Piloted byCourantnumber:default=200
can be reduced formorecomplex
for more complex physics 10
1050
50
(multiphase,combustion)

Pseudotransient (similar toCFXsolver)

Pseudotimestep is determined from velocity and

domain size.
Userspecified:Characteristic physical timeis chosen

Pseudo-transient:
Better convergence
for meshes with
large aspect ratio
cells

PressureBased Coupled Solver:Convergence

Pressurebased coupled solver with defaultsettings
Rotating propeller 1500 rpm

SIMPLE: ~2250
2250 iterations

Coupled: ~120
120 iterations

Approximately 2250iterations
2250 iterations ofSIMPLE(default)in3.5hours
of SIMPLE (default) in 3.5 hours
Approximately 120iterations ofcoupled 13minutes

UsingthePseudotransientSolutionMethod
SolutionMethodpanel
SelectPseudoTransient

RunCalculationpanel
SelectTimestepmethod
Automatic(default)
UserSpecified
Internal Flow

ForAutomatic
SelectLengthScaleMethod(time=length/velocity)
Aggressive:
InternalFlow
Conservative: Max( Lext , LVol )
ExternalFlow
UserSpecified Min( Lext , LVol )
Conservativesettingisthedefault
SpecifyTimeStepScalingfactor:additionalusercontrol
toscaleautomaticmethod

Lext
Lvol = 3 Vol
External Flow
L

ChoosingaSolver DensityBased
Thedensitybased solverisapplicablewhenthereisastrongcoupling,or
interdependence,betweendensity,energy,momentum,and/orspecies

DensitybasedCoupledImplicit
Theimplicitoptionisgenerallypreferredoverexplicitsinceexplicithasaverystrictlimiton
timescalesize(CFLconstraint)asimplicitdoesnothave
time
scale size (CFL constraint) as implicit does not have
Examples:Highspeedcompressibleflowwithcombustion,hypersonicflows,shock
interactions

DensitybasedCoupledExplicit
Theexplicitapproachisusedforcaseswherethecharacteristictimescaleoftheflowison
thesameorderastheacoustictimescale
Example:propagationofhighMachshockwaves,shocktubeproblem

DBSIterativeProcedure CourantNumber
Apseudotransienttermisincludedinthedensitybasedsolverevenforsteady
stateproblems
TheCourantnumber(CFL)definesthe
The Courant number (CFL) defines the
timescalesize
Pseudotransientoptioncanalsobeusedas
pressurebasedcoupledsolver.

Fordensitybasedexplicitsolver:
Stabilityconstraintsimposeamaximumlimit
ontheCourantnumber(<2)
th C
t
b ( 2)

Fordensitybasedimplicitsolver:
TheCourantnumberistheoreticallynotlimited
The Courant number is theoretically not limited
bystabilityconstraints
Defaultvalueis5
(canbereducedforstartupto0.12)
Valuesof100
Values of 100 1000arecommoninexternalaero
1000 are common in external aero

PBS InterpolationMethodsforPressure
Interpolationisrequiredforcalculatingcellfacepressuresinordertocomputepressure
gradient(Gaussmethod):

P =

r
Pface Aface
face

Volcell

Area
Vector

Value (e g Pressure) computed here

Value(e.g.Pressure)computedhere
Butsolvermustestimate thevalueateach
faceinordertocomputepressuregradient
(Gauss method)
(Gaussmethod)

Standard Thedefaultscheme;reducedaccuracyforflowsexhibitinglargesurfacenormal

pressuregradientsnearboundaries(butshouldnotbeusedwhensteeppressurechanges
arepresentintheflow
are
present in the flow PRESTO!schemeshouldbeusedinstead)
PRESTO! scheme should be used instead)
PRESTO! Useforhighlyswirlingflows,flowsinvolvingsteeppressuregradients(porous
media,fanmodel,etc.),orinstronglycurveddomains
Linear Usewhenotheroptionsresultinconvergencedifficultiesorunphysicalbehavior
SecondOrder Useforcompressibleflows;nottobeusedwithporousmedia,jump,fans,
etc.orVOF/Mixturemultiphasemodels
BodyForceWeighted Usewhenbodyforcesarelarge,e.g.,highRanaturalconvectionor
highlyswirlingflows

Discretization(InterpolationMethods)
Fieldvariables(storedatcellcenters)mustbeinterpolatedtothe
facesofthecontrolvolumes

Interpolationschemesfortheconvectionterm:
FirstOrderUpwind Easiesttoconverge,onlyfirstorderaccurate
PowerLaw
Power Law MoreaccuratethanfirstorderforflowswhenRe
More accurate than first order for flows when Recell <5(typ.lowRe
< 5 (typ low Re
flows)

SecondOrderUpwind Useslargerstencilsfor2ndorderaccuracy,essentialwith
tri/tet meshorwhenflowisnotalignedwithgrid;convergencemaybeslower

MonotoneUpstreamCenteredSchemesforConservationLaws(MUSCL)
Monotone UpstreamCentered Schemes for Conservation Laws (MUSCL) Locally3rd
Locally 3rd
orderconvectiondiscretization schemeforunstructuredmeshes;moreaccuratein
predictingsecondaryflows,vortices,forces,etc.

QuadraticUpwindInterpolation(QUICK) Appliestoquad/hexandhybridmeshes,
usefulforrotating/swirlingflows,3rdorderaccurateonuniformQuadmesh

EffectsofDiscretization
RG

C 0

f
d0
dr

f =C0 + C0 dr0

Flow is misaligned
with mesh

C1

If =0wegetthe1stOrderUpwind convection
scheme,i.e.nocorrection

Thisisrobustbutonlyfirstorderaccurate
Sometimesusefulforinitialruns
Sometimes useful for initial runs

If =1wegetthe2ndOrderUpwindScheme
AdditionalLimitersmustbeaddedtoguaranteedthe

0
1st-Order Upwind
p
Scheme
=0

2nd-Order
Scheme
=1.00

solutiontobebounded(
l i
b b
d d (C0<f<C1)

TheQUICKResolution schememaximizes
throughouttheflowdomainwhilekeepingthe

Theory

QUICK
Resolution
Scheme

Discretization (InterpolationMethods)
Interpolationschemesforthediffusiveterm:

Alwayscentraldifferenced&2nd orderaccuracy

InterpolationMethods(Gradients)
Gradientsofsolutionvariablesarerequiredinordertoevaluate
diffusivefluxes,velocityderivatives,andforhigherorder
discretization schemes.

RG

f =C0 + C0 dr0
Cell based/
Least-Squares

Thegradientsofsolutionvariablesatcellcenterscanbe
The gradients of solution variables at cell centers can be
determinedusingthreeapproaches:
GreenGaussCellBased Good,butsolutionmayhavefalsediffusion(smearingof
thesolutionfields)

GreenGaussNodeBased Moreaccurate;minimizesfalsediffusion;(strongly
recommendedfortri/tet andhybridmeshes)

LeastSquaresCellBased Thedefaultmethod.LessexpensivetocomputethanNode
Basedgradients.SlightlymoreexpensivethanCellBasedgradients.However,exactly
reconstruct linear field on highly skewed or distorted meshes (appropriate for any kind of
reconstructlinearfieldonhighlyskewedordistortedmeshes.(appropriateforanykindof
meshes)

Node-Based

Initialization
FLUENTrequiresthatallsolutionvariablesbeinitializedbeforestarting
iterations
Arealisticinitialguessimprovessolutionstabilityandacceleratesconvergence
Insomecasesapoorinitialguessmaycausethesolvertofailduringthefirstfew
iterations

5waystoinitializetheflowfield
Standardinitialization
Patchvalues
Hybridinitialization(solvespotentialequation)
FMGinitialization
Startingfromaprevioussolution

StandardInitializationandPatchValues
StandardInitialization
Generallytheuserselectsaninletboundary
underComputefromtoautomaticallyfillthe
initializationvalueswiththevaluesthatare
specifiedattheinletboundary

Patchvaluesforindividual
variablesincertainregions
g
Freejetflows(highvelocityforjet)
Combustionproblems(hightemperature
regiontoinitializereaction)
Cellregisters(createdbymarkingthe
Cell registers (created by marking the
cellsintheAdaptionpanel)canbeused
forpatchingvaluesintovariousregions
ofthedomain.
Multiphaseflows(patchdifferentphase
Multiphase flows (patch different phase
volumefractionsinoneormoreregions)

HybridInitialization
Thedefaultinitializationmethod
Thisprovidesaquickapproximationofthe
flowfield,byacollectionofmethods.

ItsolvesLaplace'sequationtodeterminethe
velocityandpressurefields.

Allothervariables,suchastemperature,
tturbulence,speciesfractions,volume
b l
i f ti
l
fractions,etc.,willbeautomaticallypatched
basedondomainaveragedvaluesora
particular interpolation method.
particularinterpolationmethod.

FMGInitialization
FullMultigrid (FMG)Initialization
Canbeusedtocreateabetterinitializationoftheflowfield
FMGInitializationisusefulforcomplexflowproblemsinvolvinglargepressureandvelocitygradients
onlargemeshes

FMGusestheFullApproximationStorage(FAS)Multigrid methodtosolvetheflowproblem
onasequenceofcoarsermeshes
Eulerequationsaresolvedwithfirstorderaccuracyonthecoarselevelmeshes

ToenableFMGinitialization,executetheTUIcommand
To enable FMG initialization execute the TUI command
/solve/init/fmg-initialization

SettingscanbeaccessedbytheTUIcommand
/solve/init/set fmg initialization
/solve/init/set-fmg-initialization

StartingfromaPreviousSolution
Apreviouslycalculatedsolutioncan
beusedasaninitialconditionwhen
changes are made to the case setup
changesaremadetothecasesetup
Usesolutioninterpolationtoinitializearun
(especiallyusefulforstartingfinemesh
caseswhencoarsemeshsolutionsare
available)
Oncethesolutionisinitialized,additional
iterationsalwaysusethecurrentdatasetas
thestartingpoint

Sometimessolvingasimplified
versionoftheproblemfirstwill
provideagoodinitialguessforthe
id
di i i l
f h
realproblem:

Actual Problem

Initial Condition

Heat Transfer

Isothermal

Natural convection

Low Rayleigh number

Combustion / reacting flow

Cold flow (no combustion)

Turbulence

Inviscid (Euler) solution

CaseCheck
CaseCheckisautilityinFLUENTwhich
searchesforcommonsetuperrorsand
inconsistencies
Providesguidanceinselecting
caseparametersandmodels

Tabbedsectionscontain
recommendationswhichthe
usercanapplyorignore

Convergence
Thesolvermustperformenoughiterationstoachieveaconvergedsolution
Atconvergence,thefollowingshouldbesatisfied:
Alldiscreteconservationequations(momentum,energy,etc.)areobeyedinallcellstoa
All di
t
ti
ti
(
t
t )
b d i ll ll t
specifiedtolerance(Residual).

TheResidualmeasurestheimbalanceofthecurrentnumericalsolutionandisrelatedbutNOTEQUALto
thenumericalerror

Overallmass,momentum,energy,andscalarbalancesareachieved
Overall mass momentum energy and scalar balances are achieved
Targetquantitiesreachconstantvalues

Res
siduals

Isentrop
pic Efficiency

Integral:e.g.Pressuredrop
Local:e.g.Velocityatspecifiedposition

Iteration Number

Iteration Number

ConvergenceMonitors Residuals
Residualplotsshowwhentheresidualvalueshavereachedthe
specifiedtolerance
Itispossibletomodifyordisablethedefault
It is possible to modify or disable the default
checkingcriterionforconvergence
(topreventthecalculationfrombeingstopped
prematurely)

All equations
converged
10-3

10-6

CheckingOverallFluxConservation
Thenetfluximbalance(shownintheGUIasNetResults)should
belessthan1%ofthesmallestfluxthroughthedomain
boundary

ConvergenceMonitors ForcesandSurfaces
Inadditiontoresiduals,youcanalso
monitor

Lift,dragandmomentcoefficients
Lift drag and moment coefficients
Relevantvariablesorfunctions(e.g.surface
integrals)ataboundaryoranydefinedsurface

Theseadditionalmonitoredquantitiesare
Th
dditi
l
it d
titi
importantconvergenceindicators

ConvergenceDifficulties
Numericalinstabilitiescanarisewithanillposedproblem,poorquality
meshand/orinappropriatesolversettings
Exhibitedasincreasing(diverging)orstuckresiduals
Divergingresidualsimplyincreasingimbalanceinconservationequations

Troubleshooting
Ensurethattheproblemiswellposed
Computeaninitialsolutionusinga
firstorderdiscretization scheme
Forthepressure
For the pressurebased
basedsolver,decrease
solver decrease
underrelaxation factorsforequations
havingconvergenceproblems
Forthedensitybasedsolver,reduce
theCourantnumber
h
b
Remesh orrefinecellswhichhavelarge
aspectratioorlargeskewness.

Continuity equation convergence

trouble affects convergence of
allll equations.
ti

AcceleratingConvergence
Convergencecanbeacceleratedby:
Supplyingbetterinitialconditions
Startingfromaprevioussolution(usingfile/interpolationwhen
necessary)

GraduallyincreasingunderrelaxationfactorsorCourantnumber

Excessivelyhighvaluescanleadtosolutioninstabilityand
convergenceproblems
Youshouldalwayssavecaseanddatafilesbeforecontinuing
iterations
Startingwithagoodqualitymeshwithappropriatemeshresolution
TheorthogonalqualityreportedinMesh>Info>Qualityshould
The orthogonal q alit reported in Mesh > Info > Q alit sho ld
haveaminimumvalueof.01andanaveragevaluethatismuch
higher

Convergencevs Accuracy
Aconvergedsolutionisnotnecessarilyanaccuratesolution
Accuracydependson:
Orderofthediscretization schemes(2nd orderschemesare
recommended)
Meshresolution
M h
l i
BoundaryConditions
Modellimitations
Geometrysimplifications
G
i lifi i
Precisionofthesolver(2d/3dor2ddp/3ddp)

AdaptionExample 2DPlanarShell
Adaptgridinregionsoflargepressuregradienttobetterresolve
thesuddenpressureriseacrosstheshock
Largepressuregradientindicatinga
shock(poorresolutiononcoarsemesh)

Initial Mesh

Pressure Contours on Initial Mesh

2DPlanarShell SolutiononAdaptedMesh
Solutionbasedmeshadaptionallowsbetterresolutionofthe
bowshockandexpansionwave.
Adaptedcellsinlocations
Adapted
cells in locations
oflargepressuregradients

Adapted Mesh

Meshadaptionyieldsmuchimproved
Mesh
adaption yields muchimproved
resolutionofthebowshock.

Pressure Contours on Adapted Mesh

GridAdaption
Gridadaptionaddsmorecellswhereneededto
resolvetheflowfieldwithoutpreprocessor

Adaptionproceedsinthreesteps:
Markcellssatisfyingtheadaptioncriteriaandstore

theminaregister
Displayandmodifytheregister
ClickonAdapttoadaptthecellslistedinthe
register

Registerscanbedefinedbasedon:

Gradientsorisovaluesofallvariables
Allcellsonaboundary
All ll i
Allcellsinaregionwithadefinedshape
i
i h d fi d h
Cellvolumesorvolumechanges
y+incellsadjacenttowalls

Toassistadaptionprocess,youcan:

Combineadaptionregisters
Drawcontoursofadaptionfunction
Displaycellsmarkedforadaption
Limitadaptionbasedoncellsize
andnumberofcells
b
f ll

Refine Threshold should be set

to 10% of the value reported
in the Max field.

Always save
case and data
files prior to
adapting the
mesh!

Summary
Solutionprocedureforboththepressurebasedanddensitybasedsolversis
identical
Setadequatesolver&solutionparameters
Set adequate solver & solution parameters
Calculateuntilyougetaconvergedsolution
Obtainasecondordersolution(recommended)
Refinethemeshandrecalculateuntilagridindependentsolutionisobtained

Allsolversprovidetoolsforjudgingandimprovingconvergenceandensuring
stability

Aconvergedsolutionisnotnecessarilyaccurate
SolutionaccuracydependsonMeshresolution,appropriatenessofthephysicalmodels,
boundaryconditions,