The Influence of Meshing Strategies on Simulation Efficiency

Meshing strategies have a direct influence on the accuracy and efficiency of CFD simulations. Once a meshing decision is made, it affects not only the types, number, orientation, and placement of grid elements, but also simulation stability, convergence, and accuracy. The mesh generation process, therefore, plays a critical role in providing accurate, timely results.

Using a marine propeller as a model, the aim is to better understand the relative merits and drawbacks of various meshing strategies. Also, this webinar focuses on simulation efficiency and its dependence on the mesh generation process.

The considered meshing strategies include two hybrid techniques and structured overset. An approach for computing simulation efficiency is introduced and the process for generating each mesh explored in detail. Best practices are highlighted with an emphasis on mesh quality, and the ease of surface and volumetric refinement. Each mesh is evaluated against the amount of time required to create the mesh, its cell count and quality, the accuracy of the results, and the time needed to run the simulation to a prescribed convergence threshold using CFD++ by Metacomp Technologies.

Topics covered include:

Defining simulation efficiency
Resolving highly curved surfaces using anisotropic refinement
Automatically generating hex-dominant and prismatic boundary layer meshes
Structured overset meshing considerations
Numerical setup and post-processing using CFD++

Travis Carrigan

Travis Carrigan is an engineer on Pointwise's Sales Team. He received his M.S. in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in May 2011, where his thesis subject was “Aerodynamic Shape Optimization of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine.” Mr. Carrigan received his B.S. in aerospace engineering in 2009 from UTA and began working at Pointwise as an intern on our Technical Support Team in 2008.

Faranggis Bagheri

Faranggis Bagheri joined Go Virtual Nordic AB as software support manager in 2014 after working 3.5 years at FS Dynamics Sweden AB as a CFD engineer, providing CFD calculations for different industries. Faranggis holds B. S. degree in mechanical engineering from Yazd University in Yazd, Iran and M.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden. Currently, she is providing technical support for Pointwise, CFD++ and FieldView for customers within Nordic region.

Brian Edge

Brian Edge has more than 15 years of experience with computational fluid dynamics and mesh generation. He joined Metacomp Technologies in 2015 and provides customers with support and assistance in the use of the CFD++ software suite. Before joining Metacomp Technologies, Brian worked for eight years in the CFD methods development group of a national laboratory. Brian holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from The Pennsylvania State University.

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