Grid Generation and Post-

Processing for Computational

Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Tao Xing and Fred Stern

IIHRHydroscience & Engineering
C. Maxwell Stanley Hydraulics Laboratory
The University of Iowa

58:160 Intermediate Mechanics of Fluids
http://css.engineering.uiowa.edu/~me_160/
November 8, 2006
2
Outline
1. Introduction
2. Choice of grid
2.1. Simple geometries
2.2. Complex geometries
3. Grid generation
3.1. Conformal mapping
3.2. Algebraic methods
3.3. Differential equation methods
3.4. Commercial software
3.5. Systematic grid generation for CFD UA
4. Post-processing
4.1. UA (details in Introduction to CFD)
4.2. Calculation of derived variables
4.3. Calculation of integral variables
4.4. Visualization
5. References and books
3
Introduction
The numerical solution of partial differential equations
requires some discretization of the field into a collection of
points or elemental volumes (cells)
The differential equations are approximated by a set of
algebraic equations on this collection, which can be solved
to produce a set of discrete values that approximate the
solution of the PDE over the field
Grid generation is the process of determining the
coordinate transformation that maps the body-fitted non-
uniform non-orthogonal physical space x,y,z,t into the
transformed uniform orthogonal computational space,
,q,,,t.
Post-processing is the process to examine and analyze the
flow field solutions, including contours, vectors,
streamlines, Iso-surfaces, animations, and CFD Uncertainty
Analysis.
4
Choice of grid
Simple/regular geometries (e.g. pipe, circular cylinder): the grid lines
usually follow the coordinate directions.
Complex geometries (Stepwise Approximation)
1. Using Regular Grids to approximate solution domains with inclined
or curved boundaries by staircase-like steps.
2. Problems:
(1). Number of grid points (or CVs) per grid line is not constant,
special arrays have to be created
(2). Steps at the boundary introduce errors into solutions
(3). Not recommended except local grid refinement near the
wall is possible.



An example of a grid using stepwise approximation of an Inclined boundary
5
Choice of grid, contd
Complex geometries (Overlapping Chimera grid)
1. Definition: Use of a set of grids to cover irregular solution
domains
2. Advantages:
(1). Reduce substantially the time and efforts to generate a grid,
especially for 3D configurations with increasing geometric
complexity
(2). It allows without additional difficulty calculation of flows
around moving bodies
3. Disadvantages:
(1). The programming and coupling of the grids can be
complicated
(2). Difficult to maintain conservation at the interfaces
(3). Interpolation process may introduce errors or convergence
problems if the solution exhibits strong variation near the
interface.
6
Choice of grid, contd
Chimera grid (examples):


Different grid distribution approaches
CFDSHIP-IOWA
7
Choice of grid, contd
Chimera grid (examples):


8
Choice of grid, contd
Complex geometries (Boundary-Fitted Non-Orthogonal Grids)
1. Types:
(1). Structured
(2). Block-structured
(3). Unstructured
2. Advantages:
(1). Can be adapted to any geometry
(2). Boundary conditions are easy to apply
(3). Grid spacing can be made smaller in regions of strong variable
variation.
3. Disadvantages:
(1). The transformed equations contain more terms thereby
increasing both the difficulty of programming and the cost of
solving the equations
(2). The grid non-orthogonality may cause unphysical solutions.
9
Choice of grid, contd
Complex geometries (Boundary-Fitted Non-Orthogonal Grids)

structured
Block-structured
With matching interface
Block-structured
Without matching interface
Unstructured
10
Grid generation
Conformal mapping: based on complex variable theory, which is
limited to two dimensions.
Algebraic methods:
1. 1D: polynomials, Trigonometric functions, Logarithmic
functions
2. 2D: Orthogonal one-dimensional transformation, normalizing
transformation, connection functions
3. 3D: Stacked two-dimensional transformations, superelliptical
boundaries
Differential equation methods:
Step 1: Determine the grid point distribution on the boundaries
of the physical space.
Step 2:Assume the interior grid point is specified by a differential
equation that satisfies the grid point distributions specified on
the boundaries and yields an acceptable interior grid point
distribution.
Commercial software (Gridgen, Gambit, etc.)
11
Orthogonal one-dimensional
transformation
Superelliptical transformations: (a)
symmetric; (b) centerbody; (c) asymmetric
Grid generation (examples)
12
Grid generation (commercial software, gridgen)
Commercial software GRIDGEN will be used to illustrate
typical grid generation procedure
13
Grid generation (Gridgen, 2D pipe)
Geometry: two-dimensional axisymmetric circular pipe
Creation of connectors: connectorscreate2 points
connectorsinput x,y,z of the two pointsDone.
Dimension of connectors:
ConnectorsmodifyRedimension40Done.
(0,0)
(0,0.5)
(1,0)
(1,0.5)
Repeat the procedure to create C2, C3,
and C4
C1
C2
C3
C4
14
Grid generation (Gridgen, 2D pipe, contd)
Creation of Domain: domaincreatestructuredAssemble
edgesSpecify edges one by oneDone.
Redistribution of grid points: Boundary layer requires grid refinement
near the wall surface. select connectors (C2,
C4)modifyredistributegrid spacing(start+end) with
distribution function
For turbulent flow, the first grid spacing near the wall, i.e. matching
point, could have different values when different turbulent models
applied (near wall or wall function).
Grid may be used for laminar flow
Grid may be used for turbulent flow
15
Grid generation (3D NACA12 foil)
Geometry: two-dimensional NACA12 airfoil with 60 degree angle of
attack
Creation of geometry: unlike the pipe, we have to import the database
for NACA12 into Gridgen and create connectors based on that (only
half of the geometry shape was imported due to symmetry).
inputdatabaseimport the geometry data
connectorcreateon DB entitiesdelete database
Creation of connectors C1 (line), C2(line), C3(half circle)

Half of airfoil surface
Half of airfoil surface
C1
C2
C3
16
Grid generation (3D NACA12 airfoil, contd)
Redimensions of the four connectors and create domain
Redistribute the grid distribution for all connectors. Especially
refine the grid near the airfoil surface and the leading and
trailing edges
17
Grid generation (3D NACA12 airfoil, contd)
Duplicate the other half of the domain:
domainmodifymirror respect to y=0Done.
Rotate the whole domain with angle of attack 60 degrees:
domainmodifyrotateusing z-principle axisenter rotation
angle:-60Done.
18
Grid generation (3D NACA12 airfoil, contd)
Create 3D block: blockscreateextrude from domainsspecify
translate distance and directionRun NDone.
Split the 3D block to be four blocks: blockmodifysplitin
direction =?Done.
Specify boundary conditions and export Grid and BCS.
Block 1
Block 2
Block 3
Block 4
3D before split After split (2D view) After split (3D view)
Block 1
Block 2
Block 3
Block 4
19
Systematic grid generation for CFD UA
CFD UA analysis requires a series of meshes with uniform grid
refinement ratio, usually start from the fine mesh to generate coarser
grids.
A tool is developed to automate this process, i.e., each fine grid block
is input into the tool and a series of three, 1D interpolation is
performed to yield a medium grid block with the desired non-integer
grid refinement ratio.
1D interpolation is the same for all three directions.
Consider 1D line segment with and
points for the fine and medium grids, respectively.
step 1: compute the fine grid size at each grid node:

step 2: compute the medium grid distribution:


where from the first step is interpolated at location
step 3: The medium grid distribution is scaled so that the fine and
medium grid line segments are the same (i.e., )
step4: The procedure is repeated until it converges
1
N
( )
2 1
1 1 /
G
N N r = +
1
1 1 1
i i i
x x x

A =
1
2 2 2
i i i
x x x

= + A
2 1
i i
G
x r x A = A
1
i
x A
2
i
x
2
i
x
2 1
2 1
N N
x x =
20
Post-Processing
Uncertainty analysis: estimate order of accuracy, correction
factor, and uncertainties (for details, CFD Lecture 1, introduction
to CFD).
MPI functions required to combine data from different blocks if
parallel computation used
Calculation of derived variables (vorticity, shear stress)
Calculation of integral variables (forces, lift/drag coefficients)
Calculation of turbulent quantities: Reynolds stresses, energy
spectra
Visualization
1. XY plots (time/iterative history of residuals and forces, wave
elevation)
2. 2D contour plots (pressure, velocity, vorticity, eddy viscosity)
3. 2D velocity vectors
4. 3D Iso-surface plots (pressure, vorticity magnitude, Q criterion)
5. Streamlines, Pathlines, streaklines
6. Animations
Other techniques: Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Phase averaging

21
Post-Processing (visualization, XY plots)


Lift and drag coefficients of
NACA12 with 60
o
angle of attack
(CFDSHIP-IOWA, DES)
Wave profile of surface-piercing
NACA24, Re=1.52e6, Fr=0.37
(CFDSHIP-IOWA, DES)
22
Post-Processing (visualization, Tecplot)
Different colors illustrate different blocks (6)
Re=10^5, DES, NACA12 with angle of attack 60 degrees
23
Post-Processing (NACA12, 2D contour plots, vorticity)
Define and compute new variable: DataAlterSpecify
equationsvorticity in x,y plane: v10computeOK.

24
Post-Processing (NACA12, 2D contour plot)
Extract 2D slice from 3D geometry: DataExtractSlice
from planez=0.5extract

25
Post-Processing (NACA12, 2D contour plots)
2D contour plots on z=0.5 plane (vorticity and eddy
viscosity)
Vorticity e
z
Eddy viscosity

26
Post-Processing (NACA12, 2D contour plots)
2D contour plots on z=0.5 plane (pressure and
streamwise velocity)
Pressure
Streamwise velocity

27
Post-Processing (2D velocity vectors)
2D velocity vectors on z=0.5 plane: turn off contour
and activate vector, specify the vector variables.
Zoom in
28
Post-Processing (3D Iso-surface plots, contd)
3D Iso-surface plots: pressure, p=constant
3D Iso-surface plots: vorticity magnitude



3D Iso-surface plots:
2
criterion


Second eigenvalue of

3D Iso-surface plots: Q criterion
( )
ij ij ij ij
S S Q O O =
2
1
( ) 2
, , i j j i ij
u u = O
( ) 2
, , i j j i ij
u u S + =
2 2 2
x y z
e e e O= + +
2
1
2
p

V
29
Post-Processing (3D Iso-surface plots)
3D Iso-surface plots: used to define the coherent vortical structures,
including pressure, voriticity magnitude, Q criterion,
2,
etc.
Iso-surface of vorticity magnitude
30
Post-Processing (streamlines)
Streamlines (2D):
Streamlines with contour of pressure
Streaklines and pathlines (not shown here)
31
Post-Processing (Animations)
Animations (3D): animations can be created by saving CFD
solutions with or without skipping certain number of time steps
and playing the saved frames in a continuous sequence.
Animations are important tools to study time-dependent
developments of vortical/turbulent structures and their interactions
Q=0.4
32
Other Post-Processing techniques
Fast Fourier Transform
1. A signal can be viewed from two different standpoints:
the time domain and the frequency domain
2. The time domain is the trace on an signal (forces,
velocity, pressure, etc.) where the vertical deflection is the
signals amplitude, and the horizontal deflection is the time
variable
3. The frequency domain is like the trace on a spectrum
analyzer, where the deflection is the frequency variable and
the vertical deflection is the signals amplitude at that
frequency.
4. We can go between the above two domains using (Fast)
Fourier Transform
Phase averaging (next two slides)
33
Other Post-Processing techniques (contd)
Phase averaging
Assumption: the signal should have a coherent dominant
frequency.
Steps:
1. a filter is first used to smooth the data and remove the high
frequency noise that can cause errors in determining the peaks.
2. once the number of peaks determined, zero phase value
is assigned at each maximum value.
3. Phase averaging is implemented using the triple decomposition.

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
' '
z t z t z t z t z t z t = + + = +
( ) ( )
0
lim 1
T
z t z t dt
T T
=

}
( ) ( )
1
0
lim
N
n
z t z t n
N
t

=
= +

is the time period of the dominant frequency

is the phase average associated with the coherent structures
random fluctuating component
organized oscillating component
( )
'
z t
( )
z t
mean component
( )
z t
t
( )
z t
34
Other Post-Processing techniques (contd)
FFT and Phase averaging (example)

FFT of wave elevation
time histories at one point
Original, phase averaged,
and random fluctuations
of the wave elevation at
one point
35
References and books
User Manual for GridGen
User Manual for Tecplot
Numerical recipes:
http://www.library.cornell.edu/nr/
Sung J. & Yoo J. Y., Three Dimensional Phase
Averaging of Time Resolved PIV measurement
data, Measurement of Science and Technology,
Volume 12, 2001, pp. 655-662.
Joe D. Hoffman, Numerical Methods for
Engineers and Scientists, McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1992.
Y. Dubief and F. Delcayre, On Coherent-vortex
Identification in Turbulence, Journal of
Turbulence, Vol. 1, 2000, pp. 1-20.