Getting started with Flow Simulation in SolidWorks

Aim - Run a pipe flow simulation in solidworks.

Objectives -

Run a pipe flow simulation with an inlet Reynolds number of 100,1000 and 10,000.

For each of these cases do the following

1. Place line probes at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length.

2. Compare the normalized velocity profile at each of these locations

3. Normalize the velocity profile by the inlet velocity.

Theory

Calculation of Inlet velocity according to the Reynolds No.

Reynolds number = (Fluid velocity x Internal pipe diameter) / Kinematic viscosity

For R = 100

rho = 1.225 kg/m^3

Dynamic viscosity of air = 18.37*10^-6 Pa-s

D = 38mm

V= 0.0394 m/s

For R = 1000

V = 0.394 m/s

For R = 10,000

V = 3.94 m/s

Geometry

Results

1. For RE=100

At 85%

At 90%

At 95%

Velocity Comparison

Normalized velocities by inlet velocity

2. For RE=1000

At 85%

At 90%

At 95%

Velocity Comparison

Normalized velocities by inlet velocity

3. For RE=10000

At 85%

At 90%

At 95%

Velocity Comparison

Normalized velocities by inlet velocity

Results Analysis

When the Re increases :

1. Flow pattern changes.

2. Flow changes from laminar to turbulent.

According to the line probes

1. Probe nearer to the end have central region red(in the cut plot) larger than the other two.

2. This red region becomes bigger when the flow becomes more turbulent i.e; Re = 1000,10000.

3. Probe nearer to the end has higher velocity than the other two.

A/c to the cut plots , as the Re increases , the velocity tends to get more uniform and velocity reaches its peak in the probe nearer to the end.

The plots could have been more better if the mesh had been more finer.

Increasing mesh size could provide accurate results.

Conclusion

Thus, the plots are made and observed and the results are explained.