Numerical simulation of flow around rectangular prism

Abstract

Abstract Using the large eddy simulation (LES), both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) simulations of the velocity and pressure fields surrounding a rigid rectangular prism at a Reynolds number of 10 5 are conducted. A finite difference numerical scheme based on a staggered grid is employed. The convection terms are discretized with either QUICK or central difference schemes, while the Leith method is employed for temporal marching. The computed mean velocity along the symmetry line is compared with experimental results as well as numerical results reported by other investigators. It is in closer agreement with the experimental results than other reported numerical results. The mean, the root mean square (RMS) pressure distribution on the prism surface, and the integral forces (lift and drag) are computed. The correlation coefficients of pressure at different chordwise locations around a square prism are also calculated. These simulations are found to be in very good agreement with available experimental results reported in the literature. Both QUICK and central difference schemes are used to discretize the convection terms, and the upwinding effect of the QUICK scheme is investigated. A grid refinement study is also conducted to evaluate the effects of grid size on the simulation results.