Lid Driven Cavity flow in 3D

This sample is the usal benchmark test case for validating the software in three dimension. The definition of this test case involves a cube with a top lid moving with a prescribed velocity. The front, back and bottom sides are assumed to be solid and subjected to a non-slip condition. The left and right sides are subject to symmetric condition as shown in next figure.

The project can been downloaded from here. The first thing to do is downloading the zip file, and unzip the project files in a floder of your choice. Once these step are done, then start DynamFluid software, that will show you the following Dialog box:

Then, press the button which is on the right of the "Location" caption. This action will show a dialog box for selecting the folder (directory) where the project files have been unzipped. 

Afterwards, press the botton right to the "Project Name" caption, which will open a File Dialog box to select the file LidDrivenCavity3D.vac. Then press the Ok button which will open the DynamFluid project. 

The following figure shows the mesh that has been used for simulating this problem. It is comprised by 47083 nodes and 258099 linear tetrahedral elements. 

The project has been simulated for a Reynolds number of 1000. For validating the simulation is to be compared with the reference Ghia, that is a simplification (2D model) of the behavior of this problem (3D).

This problem shows symmetry in the Y axis, and for this reason, the results can be compared with the results obtained by other references in two dimensions. This is the comparison that has been done in the next figure. The horizontal velocity distribution along the mid-vertical line is compared with Ghia et al (this results were obtained for a two-dimensional geometry). The figure shows that the obtained results are in good agreement with the references. 

The vertical velocity distribution along the mid-horizontal line is also compared with Ghia et al. The next figure also shows that the results are in good agreement with the references.

Some snapshots of the obtained results are included to show the flow pattern in three dymensions.

Reference: Ghia, U.; Ghia, K.N.; Shin, C.T. High-Re Solutions for incompressible flow using the Navier-Stokes equations and a multigrid method. J. Comput. Phys. 1982, 48, 387–411.