Abstract
This study compares the numerical analyzes of two commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software programs: Ansys® CFX 14.5, based on the finite volume method (FVM); and Altair® AcuSolve 13.0, based on the finite element method (FEM). For this purpose, the flow around a circular cylinder inserted into the test section of a low speed wind tunnel was simulated. The same turbulence model, κ–ω SST (shear stress transport), was used in both software, and the numerical results were compared with experimental results. Results of velocity, pressure, static pressure coefficient and skin friction coefficient are presented. A mesh test was carried out to evaluate the mesh convergence and the numerical uncertainties, which indicated greater uncertainties and sensitivity of FVM to the mesh quality. The average computing time for the FEM method was ten times greater than for FVM. Numerical results of both codes showed a good agreement with experimental results and with the literature.
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