Toward large scale parallel computer simulation of viscoelastic fluid flow: A study of benchmark flow problems

Abstract

Followed by our previous study, an OpenFOAM-based viscoelastic flow solver has been further validated through simulation of viscoelastic flow past a cylinder. The drag coefficients calculated by the Oldroyd-B model under the creeping flow in a range of Weissenberg (Wi) number are in good agreements with those reported in the literature. Using the linear Phan-Thien Tanner (L-PTT) model, time-dependent two-dimensional simulations of flow past cylinder have been carried out in a range of Wi number and Reynolds (Re) number, and revealed interesting cooperative effects of inertia and elasticity on the structural evolution of the wake behind the cylinder. The details of parallel computing strategy are analysed and discussed. The codes are evaluated for large scale parallel simulation of two-dimensional and three-dimensional contraction flow as well as two-dimensional flow past a cylinder. The key bottlenecks, which affect the scalability of parallel computing, are discussed.