External flow analysis over a cylinder using SolidWorks (Computational Fluid Dynamics )

Aim:

To perform a CFD analysis over a cylinder with 4 different reynolds numbers.Find the velocity and pressure distribution due to the external flow of fluid over the cylinder surface.

Objective:

1. To model a cylinder of appropriate dimensions
2. To perform flow simulation analysis with a baseline value of reynolds number
3. Perform flow simulation analysis with 20%, 40% and 100% increase in the baseline reynolds number
4. Create velocity and pressure distribution plots along direction to the fluid flow.
5. Create animation for velocity and pressure for the time-dependent study

Calculations:

Baseline configuration

Velocity = 10m/s

dynamic viscosity = 1.81 x 10^(-5)

charecteristic length = 0.04m

density = 1.225 kg/m^3

Re = ρ*u*D / μ

Re = 27072

Simulation time = 0.1 sec

Computational domain length (X dir): 0.5m

Case 1 : 20% increase in reynolds number

Re = 32486

u = 12m/s

Simulation time = 0.083 sec

Computational domain length (X dir): 0.5m

Case 2 : 40% increase in reynolds number

Re = 37900

u = 14m/s

Simulation time = 0.0714 sec

Computational domain length (X dir): 0.5m

Case 3 : 100% increase in reynolds number

Re = 54144

u = 20m/s

Simulation time = 0.05 sec

Computational domain length (X dir): 0.5m

Plots

Baseline configuration

Re = 27072, Velocity = 10m/s

Velocity Distribution

Pressure Distribution

Case 1:

Re = 32486, u = 12m/s

Velocity Distribution

Pressure Distribution

Case 2:

Re = 37900, u = 14m/s

Velocity Distribution

Pressure Distribution

Case 3:

Re = 54144, u = 20m/s

Velocity Distribution

Pressure Distribution

Animation:

Animations for velocity and pressure distribution each of the cases are attatched.

Conclusion:

Hence the CFD analysis for external flow over a cylinder is done with varing reynolds numbers and variation in velocity and pressure distribution is analysed over the computational domain.