ANSYS Fluent Lab
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Simulation of potential flow past a cylinder
Objectives
Objectives
Understand the behavior of potential flow around a cylinder by simulating the flow.
Plot the stramlines of the flow past a cylinder.
Plot the velocity and pressure fields as contour plots to visualize the flow patterns.
Display the distribution of pressure on the surface of the cylinder.
Validate the simulation results by comparing them with theoretical data.
Problem description
Problem description
Consider a two-dimensional, steady potential flow around a cylinder with a diameter of 1 m and infinite length. The flow is assumed to be ideal (potential flow), making the Reynolds number tend towards infinity. The free-stream velocity is U∞=1 m/s. Using ANSYS Fluent software, simulate this flow and plot the streamlines and contours of velocity and pressure fields. Additionally, plot the pressure coefficient on the surface of the cylinder as a function of the cylinder's theta angle. Finally, compare the simulation results with the theoretical predictions of potential flow theory.
Step 1: Geometry creation
Step 1: Geometry creation
Step 2: Mesh generation
Step 2: Mesh generation
Step 3: Simulation in Fluent
Step 3: Simulation in Fluent
Step 4: Post-Processing
Step 4: Post-Processing
Step 5: Results & Validation
Step 5: Results & Validation
The figure below compares the pressure coefficient (Cp) distribution on the surface of the cylinder. The Cp values are normalized relative to 0.5 * rho * U∞^2, where rho is the fluid density and U∞ is the free-stream velocity. In the potential flow theory, Cp is calculated as Cp = 1 - 4 * sin(theta)^2, where theta represents the polar angle of the cylinder. The results obtained from ANSYS Fluent simulation are compared to the theoretical predictions based on potential flow theory. Both results show a similar form of Cp, but with a deviation near x = 0 in the cylinder region.
FIGURE: Comparison of Pressure Coefficient Distribution for Flow Past a Cylinder: ANSYS Fluent Simulation vs. Potential Flow Theory.
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