High-performance numerical simulation of stratified flows around a wedge in OpenFOAM

Abstract

Results of numerical simulation of a continuously stratified fluid are presented. They are characterized by a wide range of values of internal scales that are not in a homogeneous liquid. Mathematical model is based on the fundamental set of differential equations of inhomogeneous multicomponent fluid mechanics. The problem is solved using the finite volume method in an open source package OpenFOAM. To take into account the stratification and diffusion effects a new own solver was developed and tested using the standard and extended libraries of the package. A particular attention is focused at construction of a high quality computational grid which satisfies basic requirements for resolution of all the microscales of the problem in high-gradient regions of the flow. Testing of the proposed numerical model Testing was conducted for continuously stratified fluid flows around a motionless and a moving wedge-shaped body with straight and curved edges. The calculations performed in parallel regime on computational facilities of the web-laboratory UniHUB (www.unihub.ru) demonstrated complex structure of flows. High-gradient layers near the sharp edges of the obstacles have been identified. Formation of an intensive zone of pressure depression in front of the leading vertex of the wedge is responsible for generation of propulsive mechanism that results in a self-motion of the obstacle along its neutral buoyancy horizon in a stably stratified environment.

Keywords

• численное моделирование
• открытые вычислительные пакеты
• стратифицированные течения, тонкая структура